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Richard Stevens: NCAA charges spell trouble for Lobos coach Rocky Long

By Richard Stevens
Saturday, September 15, 2007

University New Mexico Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs shuffles papers stamped "Confidential" while talking to reporters during a news conference. The school announced Friday the NCAA has made allegations of rules violations against the UNM football team.

Photo by Michael J. GallegosTribune

Tribune

University New Mexico Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs shuffles papers stamped "Confidential" while talking to reporters during a news conference. The school announced Friday the NCAA has made allegations of rules violations against the UNM football team.

Video

Athletics Director Paul Krebs discusses the NCAA's allegations of violations by the UNM football program (video 1 of 2).

Athletics Director Paul Krebs discusses the NCAA's allegations of violations by the UNM football program (video 1 of 2). Watch »

Video

Athletics Director Paul Krebs discusses the NCAA's allegations of violations by the UNM football program (video 2 of 2).

Athletics Director Paul Krebs discusses the NCAA's allegations of violations by the UNM football program (video 2 of 2). Watch »

There are words on our lips today that aren't what University of New Mexico football fans want to hear: integrity, honesty, ethics, principles.

No, let's kick these words aside for a while. For at least four quarters.

After all, there is a football game to be won in Arizona. If the Lobos beat the Wildcats, it could be a huge factor in pushing the Lobos to another meaningless bowl game.

The only word that should matter today is win - something oh, so important to so many shortsighted Lobos fans.

But the despicable NCAA has distracted us. The NCAA has brought another reality to our wide world of sports.

The NCAA has reminded us there is a right way and a wrong way to pursue athletic achievement. The NCAA says there is a possibility Rocky Long's football program deviated a bit from the straight and narrow.

At this point, the NCAA claims are only that - allegations.

Maybe Long's program tried to falsify transcripts in order to make some jocks academically eligible.

Maybe a few of Long's assistant coaches broke some NCAA rules and lied to the NCAA about their cheating.

Lying and cheating.

Two more words.

There is really no question as to where accountability lies in this issue.

"In any large organization, accountability rests at the top of the organization," said Paul Krebs, UNM's vice president in charge of athletics.

You could read that to mean Krebs is responsible, except that Krebs was not at UNM when the rules are claimed to have been broken.

So, the man alone at the top is Long. It's his program, his assistants.

It's difficult to believe Long knew of or condoned such actions by his staff. Oh, Long has turned his head a bit too far over the years in punishing his jocks for their wayward deeds. He has sometimes put winning on a higher scale than proper punishment - put winning on a higher scale than community perception of UNM's values.

But Long isn't a cheat, a liar. Which doesn't mean he isn't accountable.

A possible spin for UNM, if the NCAA is correct, is that two of the three cheating coaches are gone and only two of the five players involved ever donned a Lobos jersey.

Not a good spin. Doesn't wash.

If the NCAA claims are accurate, a Lobos coach should be fired. Not Long, but definitely the mystery assistant, who has not yet been named. The bet here is Krebs will do that. He appears to be a leader blessed with both vision and integrity.

Long's punishment will come from the NCAA. There should be sanctions and Long's program - and Long - will suffer some embarrassment.

In 1979, lying and cheating to make Lobos eligible was called "Lobogate."

As for Long, he probably should get a quick lecture from Krebs - a tough talk consisting of a few more words: "Start paying better attention, Rocky."