NCAA violations and Self Imposed Death Penalty San Francisco Dons men's basketball

—john lo schiavo

the dons remained elite program 1980s, perennially ranked in top 20, , had captured 6 consecutive conference titles 1977–82. however, san francisco s success on court came @ price. ncaa placed dons on probation 2 times in late 1970s booster/alumni interference program , recruiting improprieties coaches. each ncaa investigation led dismissal of san francisco head coach, leading san francisco chronicle sportswriter glenn dickey call program totally out of control. in light of these , other revelations, school president rev. john lo schiavo, lifelong basketball enthusiast , all-city power forward in youth, let known after second ncaa case resolved in 1980 shut down high-profile program if there further incident.

despite lo schiavo s warning, improprieties continued. exclusive invite-only booster organization called dons century club committed hundreds of thousands of dollars illegal recruitment of players, paying off family members, , covering travel expenses, while other alumni giving or lending players large sums of money, paying them no-show jobs, providing lavish gifts, picking pricy restaurant , entertainment tabs. basketball players continued receive special academic treatment; many marginal students @ best, , @ least 1 incident occurred in player threatened student, , incident swept under rug school officials. commonplace tutors take tests , write papers players. situation came head in december 1981, when all-american guard quintin dailey found guilty of assaulting female student. during subsequent investigation, dailey admitted taking no-show job $1,000 month @ business owned prominent usf booster, while booster had paid dailey $5,000 since 1980.

true word, on july 29, 1982, lo schiavo announced shutting down basketball program—the first time division university had voluntarily shut down major sport under such circumstances. lo schiavo said dons program once source of inspiration, respect , pride university , city. however, recent scandals had resulted in usf being perceived being hypocritical or naïve or inept or duplicitous, or perhaps combination of those. under circumstances, lo schiavo felt responsible course shutter program. in prepared statement, lo schiavo later said, hope 1 day may possible restore men s intercollegiate basketball team. possibility depend upon whether responsible university convinced factors destroyed program not going beset again.

his decision made international headlines, degree while visiting san francisco, queen elizabeth ii pulled lo schiavo aside ask when reinstate basketball program. drastic was, move applauded several members of coaching fraternity.

san francisco reinstated men s basketball in 1985, without overzealous booster club, dons century club. in place green , gold club, group of boosters under direct control of athletic department.