ASU issues statement to clarify remarks made about NCAA investigation

July 21, 2010 -- The July 21 issue of the Jonesboro Sun contained an article regarding Jay-R Strowbridge, a men’s basketball transfer student-athlete who decided to withdraw from Arkansas State.  The statements attributed to Strowbridge regarding a conversation with Dean Lee, Director of Athletics, are not accurate and ASU believes it is necessary to correct this misinformation. 

“While it is true that the NCAA has an ongoing investigation involving men’s basketball and other programs,” Lee said, “the possibility of a postseason ban has never been suggested.”

“Based on the nature of the violations and our understanding of NCAA case precedent, we would not anticipate a postseason ban,” Lee continued.  “I did not and would not have told Jay-R that there was a high possibility of a postseason ban because there is not.  This was confirmed by Jay-R’s comments on the Rob and Rod show which aired on 103.9 FM this morning.”

The matters currently under investigation occurred before head men’s basketball coach John Brady and his staff were hired at ASU.

“All of our student-athletes should feel confident that their careers at ASU are not at risk due to the failures of the past.  Upon discovering those failures, ASU promptly took corrective actions and self-reported violations to the NCAA.  While we certainly will have penalties related to the current investigation, we do not believe those penalties will affect eligibility for postseason play in basketball or any other sport,” Lee concluded.
 

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