I’m no fan of Lute Olson, but it’s possible that someone in his office sent the letter without his consent. I know in my current job (US Navy), and in previous ones, letterhead with pre-printed signatures are kept for ease of distributing memos. Usually the pre-signed letterhead is kept under lock and key for obvious reasons, but we did have one incident a few months ago that someone stole a few sheets of letterhead to give himself a recommendation for another job. It came to roost when the prospective employer called to confirm the recommendation. Something of that nature could have occured. Still, it will be interesting to see how the NCAA acts or if they’ll give it the USC treatment :-)

it’s a small violation and it doesn’t look to me like there was any malicious attempt to get a leg up. It looks to me like an honest mistake. Now before I give a final judgement I want to know what the NCAA uncovers, but it doesn’t look like a big deal to me.

The NCAA is really going after the big-time violators!

?What?

I’m no big Lute fan, but this seems pretty minor, really. I mean face it, he’s seemed pretty confused lately.

At first glance it does seem that, at least in respect to Lute directly, this is not a major violation. The AP’s article on this matter would make it seem that a member of the athletic staff believed that Lute wanted such a letter sent out and did so on his behalf, though Lute denies such knowledge or intent. Whatever the source of the letter, Lute is taking the fallout.

However, a Rivals.com column, quoting the Pac-10’s compliance director, describes this AAU program’s relationship to the UA program.

“The letter expressed how important this tournament is to the Arizona basketball program’s recruiting.”

The letter does not relate to any particular UA players or recruits, which likely will minimize any NCAA reaction. The problem for UA is that the letter does seem to have linked this AAU camp to the basketball program in a way which stretches the NCAA rule, at least. Think if a Ben Howland-signed letter were to be sent to boosters soliciting donations to the Pump brothers, or to Fairfax HS athletics.

They were great competition in the 90s. I was happy they won a National Championship. I’m more concerned with winning our first NC under Coach Howland and therefore schools like UNC, Duke, Kansas and the constantly rotating Team X that rises to prominence (Usually led by one or two exceptional talents. see Carmelo Anthony) before sliding back into the pool teams fighting for tournament success.

Olson and UofA are having a hard time adjusting to the new landscape of college basketball. Doesn’t affect me one bit.

This is nothing compared to what has gone over at you know where. The soap opera around Olson is funny though.