The worst scandals in college sports history

Sports

The worst scandals in college sports history

A look at the worst scandals in college sports history.

PENN STATE FOOTBALL; Years of child sex abuse by longtime assistant Jerry Sandusky (left) tarnished the image of the school and legendary coach Joe Paterno (right).

BOSTON COLLEGE BASKETBALL: In 1978-79, players Rick Kuhn, Joe Streater and Jim Sweeney were persuaded to fix nine Eagles games during the season. Kuhn and two money men were handed 10 years each in prison.

SMU FOOTBALL: Southern Methodist boosters funneled thousands of dollars to football players through a slush fund that was administered by school officials, including former Texas governor Bill Clements. The NCAA gave the program the "death penalty" -- forcing it to the sidelines for the entire 1987 season -- and the Mustangs have never regained their national stature.

GEORGIA FOOTBALL: In the early 1980s when Vince Dooley's program was playing for national championships, university professor Jan Kemp publicly criticized the school for allowing athletes to continue playing sports and stay in school after they failed remedial classes.

TULANE BASKETBALL: In the 1980s, star forward John "Hot Rod" Williams was accused of accepting more than $8,000 to shave points in several games. He was later acquitted, but the school dropped the team until 1989.

MARYLAND BASKETBALL: On June 19, 1986, star Len Bias died of a cocaine-induced heart attack shortly after being drafted by the Boston Celtics as the No. 2 overall selection. In October, a university panel found that the basketball staff had stressed athletics over academics. On October 29, coach Lefty Driesell resigned as head coach.

MICHIGAN BASKETBALL: In the early 1990s, several players, including star forward Chris Webber, were paid by a booster and factory worker from his gambling operations. All records, including two Final Fours, featuring the so-called Fab Five recruiting class, were vacated, Michigan was put on two years of NCAA probation and head coach Steve Fisher lost his job.

BAYLOR BASKETBALL: In 2003, Bears transfer Patrick Dennehy was slain by teammate Carlton Dotson. Coach Dave Bliss instructed his players to lie to the NCAA by telling investigators that Dennehy was dealing drugs. Dotson pleaded guilty to murder, Bliss was fired and Baylor self-imposed penalties of a one-year postseason ban and a loss of scholarships.

GEORGIA BASKETBALL: In 2002, head coach Jim Harrick and his son, Jim Jr., provided high grades to players in classes they never or seldom attended and paid players' expenses. The elder Harrick, who led the Bulldogs to NCAA tournament appearances in 2001 and 2002, resigned and his son was fired.

INDIANA BASKETBALL: Legendary coach Bobby Knight was fired in 2000 after allegedly grabbing a student's arm. Knight was warned earlier in the year about his behavior after an investigation into accusations he choked one of his players during practice in 1997, an act caught on videotape.

USC FOOTBALL: Reggie Bush, winner of the 2005 Heisman, was stripped of the award after it was revealed that his parents were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by an agent. Southern California coach Pete Carroll left for the NFL, but the Trojans were stripped of 30 scholarships and given a two-year postseason ban.

OHIO STATE FOOTBALL: Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel admitted that he knew several of his star players were trading memorabilia for cash and tattoos in violation of NCAA rules, but sat on that information for 10 months until after the players participated in a 12-1 season that resulted in a Sugar Bowl win over Arkansas. Tressel was forced to resign, Ohio State vacated the 2010 season and was hit with NCAA probation and a loss of scholarships.

MIAMI FOOTBALL: A total of 73 Hurricanes football players have been implicated in the latest scandal to hit the Miami program. A booster, Nevin Shapiro, subsequently jailed for running a pyramid scheme, allegedly dispensed money, prostitutes, cars and vacations to the players. Shapiro said coaches and university officials knew of his gifts. The case is pending before the NCAA.

ARKANSAS FOOTBALL: In 2012, coach Bobby Petrino initially said he was riding alone when he was injured in a motorcycle accident. It was subsequently learned that Jessica Dorrell, a former Razorbacks volleyball player, was with Petrino and had had an extramarital affair with him. Petrino had paid Dorrell $20,000 and set her up with a job in the athletic department. Petrino was fired.

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PENN STATE FOOTBALL; Years of child sex abuse by longtime assistant Jerry Sandusky (left) tarnished the image of the school and legendary coach Joe Paterno (right).

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