1986 Article
NEW NU COACH DENIES TICKET SALE
Mike ConklinCHICAGO TRIBUNE
The conviction of a former
South Carolina basketball player for fraudulent use of a car has widened into allegations of an illegal ticket-selling network among Gamecock players during Bill Foster`s tenure as coach.
But the new Northwestern coach, who learned of the situation when he returned to Chicago Tuesday from a clinic in Greece, denied any wrongdoing.
''All I know is when I was there we did everything by the rules, and tickets were out of our (coaches`) hands,'' said Foster.
An NCAA enforcement official said the association hasn`t decided whether there will be an investigation.
Northwestern athletic director Doug Single, who said he has discussed the matter with Foster, indicated 100 percent confidence in his recent NU appointee.
''At this point, I`m just aware of allegations, and what I understand, after our brief conversation, is that much of it is up for conjecture since it`s coming from one kid involved in numerous difficulties,'' said Single.
''Knowing Bill`s ethics, I`m sure there will be no problems. No one has called me to say Bill is involved in anything.''
A conviction in absentia Monday of former Gamecock star Jimmy Foster, who is playing pro basketball in Australia, touched off the ticket-selling allegations. The 25-year-old Foster (no relation) was arrested for breach of trust with fraudulent intent for taking a car from a dealer after reportedly failing to make payments.
Reached by telephone in Melbourne by the Columbia (S.C.) Record, Foster accused school boosters of handing out cars, trips and money to Gamecock players.
He also said a ticket network in which players sometimes received 100 percent mark-up for their season-ticket books was in operation at least from 1980-85 and that all coaches knew of it.
Dave Blank, a Gamecock graduate assistant at the time who is now at Northwestern, told the Associated Press: ''What we tried to do was put players in touch with people looking for season tickets. That was the extent of it. The money never passed me.''
Foster`s allegation concerning the ticket network was confirmed by four other Gamecocks, according to the Columbia Record.
''Jimmy had problems while he was with us,'' said coach Foster, ''and we tried to help. But it was always within the rules. I`m shocked and surprised at all of this. I don`t know the players` motivations for saying what they have.''
The NCAA has outlawed the sale of tickets by players since 1980, according to enforcement representative Missy Conboy.
''If coaches have knowledge, or have a part in it . . . if they were selling to a known booster, or if a coach was acting as a broker, then the penalties would be more severe,'' she said.
South Carolina athletic director Bob Marcum said he doubted the charges, but indicated the school would follow up on them.