College Quotebook – December 3rd – December 10th
by Nicholas Lozito
Jailhouse Confessions
“When I first got here, they did, they did everybody. I mean, they do A.J. and Rickey. If they need money, they’d go to Harvey. He, he’d get it for ’em… But it was him first, and I stopped messing with him. I stopped talking to him and (expletive) and then went to Lane.”
— In recorded telephone conversations made from Boone County Jail and reported by The Columbia Daily Tribune, former Missouri guard Ricky Clemons claims that Tigers assistant coach Tony Harvey gave money to current players Arthur Johnson (A.J.) and Rickey Paulding. Clemons, who was then serving time for sexual assault, also said he received money from assistant coach Lane Odom.
“As I have said all along, I respect the process of the investigation and until the university and the NCAA reach the conclusion of this process, I will not comment on individual allegations or stories.”
— Missouri head coach Quin Snyder
“Just know it’s bigger than Tony Cole. He got a couple hundred dollars… That’s nothing. That’s a rain check.”
— Clemons, in a conversation from jail with Amy Stewart, a Missouri law student and wife of Missouri associate athletic director Ed Stewart, where he claims to have received more money than former Georgia player Tony Cole, who said he received hundreds of dollars from coaches and boosters, which eventually led to the downfall of Jim Harrick at Georgia.
The President and His Wife
“It has been a nightmare for me personally ever since the athletic department asked me to spend some time with him, and continues to be so. Carmento’s actions were well intentioned but ill-advised under the circumstances. Her contacts with him were against my advice and without my encouragement and support.”
— Missouri president Elson Floyd, who, along with his wife Carmento, have acted as mentors to Clemons. Clemons had telephone conversations from prison with Floyd’s wife, Carmento, who was advised by her husband not to speak with Clemons. Floyd has found himself under heavy scrutiny since the junior college transfer pled guilty to an assault charge in April. Clemons was accused of attacking Jessica Bulge, who described herself as his former girlfriend.
“And I ain’t talkin’ about no Delta Delta Delta, either,” said Carmento, referring to a nearly all-white sorority, “I’m talking about Delta Sigma Theta,” (a historically black sorority).
— Carmento Floyd, wife of Missouri president Elson Floyd, in a taped conversation with Rickey Clemons while he was in prison, discussing the type of woman Clemons will try and find after he is released from jail. Clemons’ former girlfriend, Jessica Bunge, is Caucasian.
Knight Fires Back
“This was just garbage, filthy garbage. If that’s what SMU produces, then they really ought to be proud of it.”
— Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight, 63, in a radio interview after Southern Methodist fans heckled him on December 1.
“I went over and told the policeman and said, ‘The next person that comes by there and calls us any one of three really rotten names, and I gave him the names, I’m going over to the stands and I’ll put him right in your lap.”
“I thought today about writing a letter to the president of SMU, but I’m sure that wouldn’t do any good. That must happen at every game, and he must condone that kind of thing.”
— Knight continued.
“That’s just life on the road.”
— SMU athletic director Jim Copeland in response to Knight’s comments
If Only Coaches Could Play
“Looking at Providence, they have some quality seniors. I think they have guys that are older than my assistants! I’m going to see if I can get Tyrone Weeks into the game against some of these guys.”
— Rhode Island coach Jim Baron jokes about entering assistant coach Tyrone Weeks into an upcoming game with Providence. Rhode Island went on to win the game 89-79.
Mic Check, Mic Check, 1-2-3
“Whose is this? It ran out, and I’m sure I’m going to say something profound, so I don’t want you to lose this opportunity.”
— Pennsylvania head coach Fran Dunphy, coming off a loss to Saint Joseph’s, realizes a tape recorder ran out during the post-game press conference.
“Are you a Penn Student? I thought you guys had like 1600 (SAT scores)… I was never agitated. I think those three guys were just absolutely wonderful.”
— St. Joe’s coach Phil Martelli refutes a reporter’s comment that he was agitated by officials during the Hawk’s win over Penn.
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