<div class="story_item_headline"> Jackson Says NCAA <nobr><font color="#006600">Investigation</font></nobr> Done; MSU Responds to Jackson </div> <div class="story_item_info"> <div class="story_item_author"> by bradlocke </div> <div class="story_item_parent"> Inside Mississippi State Sports </div> <div class="signature_line"> <span class="story_item_date">20 mins 12 secs ago</span> | 106 views | 0
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Mississippi State has just released a statement in response to attorney Don Jackson's comments this morning about how he believes the <nobr><font color="#006600">university</font></nobr> is not being supportive enough of freshman basketball player Renardo Sidney as he undergoes an amateurism evaluation by the <span class="caps">NCAA</span>.</p>
But we'll get to that in a moment. I just got off the phone with Jackson, who said it's his understanding that the Eligibility Center has completed its investigation and should have already made a recommendation as to whether there has been a violation committed by Sidney or his family.</p>
"Apparently, based on the e-mail I got from (<nobr><font color="#006600">investigator</font></nobr>) Alex Hammond, apparently the Eligibility Center has, quote, completed their investigation," Jackson told me. "They are now going to, from all indications … make a recommendation as to whether or not they believe there has been an amateurism violation. And ultimately, that recommendation will either be followed or ignored."</p>
The e-mail of which Jackson speaks is a short one sent by Hammond today informing Jackson that the NCAA's findings in the Sidney case can be found on a custodial site. It's a site only accessible by those directly involved in the case, but Jackson said he hasn't had access to it since the summer. He expects, however, to have the findings in hand later this afternoon.</p>
"It's now an issue of determining whether or not he should be immediately certified or if it's their position there were violations that a decision should be made on whether he should miss games, and if so, how many games," Jackson said. "But I guarantee you now, what they'll attempt to do at this point is totally lock me out of the process."</p>
So we just might know Sidney's fate before the day is up. Although, if there are any factual disputes, then the ultimate decision might have to be made by a committee and not the Eligibility Center. Also, <span class="caps">MSU</span> could dispute any findings if it wishes.</p>
"I think this is at least movement in a positive direction. Well, I'll say it's movement, period, not necessarily in a positive direction," Jackson said.</p>
OK, now let's hear what <span class="caps">MSU</span> officials had to say about Jackson's harsh criticism of the school's handling of Sidney.</p>
• President Dr. Mark Keenum: "We have devoted considerable resources and attention to the issues relating to Renardo's eligibility. We hired Mike Glazier, who is recognized as one of the best in handling eligibility matters with the <span class="caps">NCAA</span>. Mike advised us the most affective means for accomplishing our goal was to deal privately with the <span class="caps">NCAA</span>. We have received support in that endeavor from all areas of the university and the Southeastern Conference. We also encouraged all others with involvement in this case to handle those issues privately, not through the media. To do otherwise would be irresponsible."</p>
• Athletics director Greg Byrne: "Since the day we signed Renardo to a National Letter of Intent in May to play basketball, we have been at the forefront of the attempt to establish his eligibility. Mississippi State has cooperated fully with the <span class="caps">NCAA</span> in providing complete and accurate information and has encouraged all other parties involved to do the same.</p>
"We initially certified his academic preparation to be a student-athlete at our institution and have afforded Renardo all the support that every other scholarship student-athlete here receives.</p>
"We have spent countless hours in conversations with the <span class="caps">NCAA</span>. In fact, <span class="caps">SEC</span> Commissioner Mike Slive, <span class="caps">MSU</span> President Dr. Mark Keenum, Associate AD for Compliance Bracky Brett, outside legal counsel Mike Glazier and myself visited Indianapolis last month at the university's expense to resolve those eligibility concerns with Kevin Lennon, <span class="caps">NCAA</span> Vice President of Academic and Membership Services, and his amateurism and eligibility staff.</p>
"We continue to communicate directly with the <span class="caps">NCAA</span> for Mississippi State and in Renardo's behalf to attain his eligibility.</p>
• Coach Rick Stansbury: "It's important to know I'm very supportive of what our administration has done, starting with President Keenum, our athletic director Greg Byrne and Bracky Brett in our compliance office. I think they've exhausted all avenues in attempting to get Renardo on the floor for us. It's been a frustrating and drawn out ordeal that unfortunately we don't have a final answer for."</p> </div>
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</span> | permalink <span class="signature_email_message" id="email_content_message_5499189"></span></span> </div> </div> <div class="story_item_content"> <div style="FLOAT: left"> <div class="story_item_images"> <div class="newline"></div> </div> </div> Mississippi State has just released a statement in response to attorney Don Jackson's comments this morning about how he believes the <nobr><font color="#006600">university</font></nobr> is not being supportive enough of freshman basketball player Renardo Sidney as he undergoes an amateurism evaluation by the <span class="caps">NCAA</span>.</p>
But we'll get to that in a moment. I just got off the phone with Jackson, who said it's his understanding that the Eligibility Center has completed its investigation and should have already made a recommendation as to whether there has been a violation committed by Sidney or his family.</p>
"Apparently, based on the e-mail I got from (<nobr><font color="#006600">investigator</font></nobr>) Alex Hammond, apparently the Eligibility Center has, quote, completed their investigation," Jackson told me. "They are now going to, from all indications … make a recommendation as to whether or not they believe there has been an amateurism violation. And ultimately, that recommendation will either be followed or ignored."</p>
The e-mail of which Jackson speaks is a short one sent by Hammond today informing Jackson that the NCAA's findings in the Sidney case can be found on a custodial site. It's a site only accessible by those directly involved in the case, but Jackson said he hasn't had access to it since the summer. He expects, however, to have the findings in hand later this afternoon.</p>
"It's now an issue of determining whether or not he should be immediately certified or if it's their position there were violations that a decision should be made on whether he should miss games, and if so, how many games," Jackson said. "But I guarantee you now, what they'll attempt to do at this point is totally lock me out of the process."</p>
So we just might know Sidney's fate before the day is up. Although, if there are any factual disputes, then the ultimate decision might have to be made by a committee and not the Eligibility Center. Also, <span class="caps">MSU</span> could dispute any findings if it wishes.</p>
"I think this is at least movement in a positive direction. Well, I'll say it's movement, period, not necessarily in a positive direction," Jackson said.</p>
OK, now let's hear what <span class="caps">MSU</span> officials had to say about Jackson's harsh criticism of the school's handling of Sidney.</p>
• President Dr. Mark Keenum: "We have devoted considerable resources and attention to the issues relating to Renardo's eligibility. We hired Mike Glazier, who is recognized as one of the best in handling eligibility matters with the <span class="caps">NCAA</span>. Mike advised us the most affective means for accomplishing our goal was to deal privately with the <span class="caps">NCAA</span>. We have received support in that endeavor from all areas of the university and the Southeastern Conference. We also encouraged all others with involvement in this case to handle those issues privately, not through the media. To do otherwise would be irresponsible."</p>
• Athletics director Greg Byrne: "Since the day we signed Renardo to a National Letter of Intent in May to play basketball, we have been at the forefront of the attempt to establish his eligibility. Mississippi State has cooperated fully with the <span class="caps">NCAA</span> in providing complete and accurate information and has encouraged all other parties involved to do the same.</p>
"We initially certified his academic preparation to be a student-athlete at our institution and have afforded Renardo all the support that every other scholarship student-athlete here receives.</p>
"We have spent countless hours in conversations with the <span class="caps">NCAA</span>. In fact, <span class="caps">SEC</span> Commissioner Mike Slive, <span class="caps">MSU</span> President Dr. Mark Keenum, Associate AD for Compliance Bracky Brett, outside legal counsel Mike Glazier and myself visited Indianapolis last month at the university's expense to resolve those eligibility concerns with Kevin Lennon, <span class="caps">NCAA</span> Vice President of Academic and Membership Services, and his amateurism and eligibility staff.</p>
"We continue to communicate directly with the <span class="caps">NCAA</span> for Mississippi State and in Renardo's behalf to attain his eligibility.</p>
• Coach Rick Stansbury: "It's important to know I'm very supportive of what our administration has done, starting with President Keenum, our athletic director Greg Byrne and Bracky Brett in our compliance office. I think they've exhausted all avenues in attempting to get Renardo on the floor for us. It's been a frustrating and drawn out ordeal that unfortunately we don't have a final answer for."</p> </div>
