Kansas: Williams approved gifts to graduating players

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Roy Williams violated NCAA rules when he was the basketball coach at Kansas, approving payments to players who had used up their eligibility, the school said Friday.<br> <br> After conducting an internal review, the school said Williams preparing for his third season at national champion North Carolina approved payments to graduating players and other Jayhawk players who had exhausted their eligibility.<br> <br> The violations, which Kansas reported to the NCAA last month, were among several involving the men&#39;s and women&#39;s basketball programs, and the football program, ending in 2003.<br> <br> Most of the violations involved arranging for test preparation and transportation for prospective athletes. The school began its investigation on the same day athletic director Lew Perkins arrived on the job in June 2003.<br> <br> The university, which put its athletic department on two years&#39; probation, said the violations wouldn&#39;t carry any television or postseason sanctions, but would result in a reduction of scholarships in the football and women&#39;s basketball programs.<br> <br> In a letter dated July 1, the NCAA told the university its staff was reviewing the self-report and conducting follow-up interviews. NCAA vice president David Price told the school the investigation was expected to be completed by the fall.<br> <br> The men&#39;s basketball violation will be addressed through extra education about the rules regarding gifts. No other sanctions against the program are planned.<br> <br> Steve Kirschner, a spokesman for North Carolina, said Williams was traveling Friday and not immediately available for comment. The school planned to release a statement later Friday.<br> <br> The school said three representatives of the university&#39;s ``athletics interests&#39;&#39; Dana Anderson, Joan Edwards and Bernard Morgan gave cash and clothing to graduating student athletes and other players who had exhausted their eligibility.<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/7/130402