Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 25, 1993 TAG: 9306250089
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS LENGTH: Medium
"My major concern was that if I stayed in the position, every time there was a major infraction case, the whole Virginia thing would be Schultz rehashed," he said Thursday at the national meeting of the Associated Press Sports Editors.
Schultz resigned after it was revealed University of Virginia athletes received interest-free loans while he was athletic director at the school.
The NCAA put Virginia on two years' probation and imposed mild sanctions on its football program because of the loans and other infractions.
Tom Gearhart, who was Schultz's personal assistant at Virginia, told the NCAA he informed Schultz about the loans. Schultz said again he did not know about them at the time.
"It was a minor thing," Schultz said. "But even though I did not know about it, it happened on my watch. I was responsible for it."
Schultz, who has championed integrity in college athletics, said little attention would have been paid to this incident had he held a less prominent position.
"I was a victim of what I had created," he said. "But that's as it should be; we should expect more from someone in this position."
His resignation will take effect when the NCAA finds a replacement. He said he hoped that will happen by October.
Schultz said he believed the perception of college athletics had improved and most rules violations now were inadvertent.
"We're our own worst enemy," he said. "Our rule book is hard to understand. Much of the trouble we run into is because of that."
He said a strained economy posed the greatest problem for college athletics, causing excessive concern about implementing new programs, especially ones for women as dictated by federal law.
"The problem with gender equity in 1993 is there aren't enough dollars," Schultz said.
by CNB