NCAA grants 30-day extension in New Mexico case

 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -The NCAA has granted a 30-day extension in an academic fraud investigation involving New Mexico’s football program after a request by one of the parties.
The development is a minor delay that will postpone the university’s response to the NCAA until Jan. 7. When athletic director Paul Krebs disclosed the investigation in September, he said New Mexico planned to respond by Dec. 7.
“We will not submit our report yet,” Krebs said Monday. “We’ll make sure it’s done on time, but we don’t want to submit it any earlier than we have to.”
The NCAA is looking into four potential rules violations involving three members of New Mexico’s coaching staff. None of the coaches has been identified, but Krebs has said two are no longer on staff.
Head coach Rocky Long is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Krebs said the 30-day extension was requested by “someone no longer associated with the university.” NCAA investigators agreed, granting more time to all parties.
Krebs said New Mexico is close to completing its response but will hold it because of the possibility that new details could emerge during the extension.
“If more information becomes available, the NCAA will update you on it,” he said.
However, Krebs said there has been no additional evidence, information or charges since the NCAA notified New Mexico of the investigation in a Sept. 6 letter.
The assistant coaches are accused of helping four prospective student athletes and one student athlete already enrolled at New Mexico to improperly obtain credits through correspondence courses at Fresno Pacific University.
Only two of the five played for the Lobos. No current players are involved in the case, which dates from the spring of 2004 and fall of 2005.
New Mexico is conducting an internal investigation and likely will self-impose penalties. The school must appear before the NCAA’s infractions committee next spring, and a verdict would be issued at that stage.