THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 8, 1995 TAG: 9507080532
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWS SERVICE
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
A former Princess Anne High and ODU basketball player has sparked an NCAA investigation of the men's basketball program at Florida International University.
Joe Leake told FIU athletic director Ted Aceto and the NCAA in a letter that he was paid almost $5,000 by FIU, including $2,000 cash in an unmarked envelope from former coach Bob Weltlich.
Told this week of Leake's accusations, Weltlich called them ``ludicrous'' and said Leake, a 6-foot-3 guard, was a disgruntled ex-player.
Leake's letter also said that several teammates received thousands of dollars in checks from the university.
FIU controller Jim Ketzle said the checks were issued by mistake in the spring of 1993 from the meal-money portion of the athletic scholarship fund. He estimated 12 to 15 athletes, not just basketball players, received checks. Administrators caught the mistake in the fall of 1993 and Aceto said the players were told they had to return the money.
But former starting point guard Matt Tchir said Thursday that he received an FIU check for ``a couple of hundred dollars'' and has not been told to repay the money.
In a two-page letter to Leake on June 15, NCAA director of legislative services Stephen Mallonee said: ``The enforcement staff will investigate . . . and will handle any potential violations of NCAA legislation.''
Aceto, who said he never received the letter from Leake, said the NCAA hasn't informed him of any investigations.
Mallonee wouldn't comment on the status of pending investigations.
Leake, a former All-Tidewater selection, played at ODU from 1990-92. He started 14 games as a freshman but received less playing time as a sophomore and decided to transfer. Leake says FIU recruited him but didn't offer a scholarship initially so he decided to go to Hampton University in late 1992. A few weeks later he transferred to FIU. Leake says Weltlich had continued to recruit him. Weltlich says Leake made the effort to get to FIU.
Leake said his initial meeting with Weltlich in January 1993 ended with Weltlich handing him an unmarked envelope. After leaving Weltlich's office, Leake said he found $2,000 in the envelope. He and Weltlich never talked about the money, he said.
``In my two years at Old Dominion, I had never received a cash award like that,'' Leake said. ``I knew it was a violation.''
Leake's parents, Joe Leake Sr. and Margaret, said their son told them of the $2,000 in January 1993. Their advice: Keep it, and keep quiet.
``I told him not to ask questions and don't be stupid with the money,'' Leake's father said. ``I said, `Just don't throw it away on junk food.' If there was drugs or guns, I wouldn't support it.''
Said Weltlich: ``That's totally absurd. That's so preposterous. You're talking 25 years of coaching, and there's never been so much as an accusation against me.''
Six other FIU players contacted by The Miami Herald said they hadn't heard of Weltlich giving Leake $2,000.
Leake also says Weltlich reimbursed him in cash for $278 in travel and lodging fees in 1993. Weltlich denied the accusation.
In addition to Leake and Tchir, three other former players confirmed receiving checks from FIU: Nicolls, James Mazyck and Eric Lawson. Nicolls' check went to an old address in Texas and was returned to the FIU business office. Mazyck and Lawson - who later repaid the money - said they cashed checks in excess of $1,000.
Leake, who averaged 7.7 points a game in his only season, said he received and cashed three checks from FIU totaling almost $2,600. He said he didn't tell the coaches about it and never was told to be on the lookout for wayward checks.
In early May 1994, Leake received a note from assistant coach Ed Riggan asking for $1,531.36, the amount of one of the checks he cashed. Leake refused; he said several players had received similar checks and not been asked to repay. He said he was being picked on for leaving FIU.
Leake said Weltlich told him to transfer after Leake got into a fight with teammate James Eason in April 1994. Weltlich said Leake chose to leave the team.
In May 1995, Leake said, he requested his transcripts from FIU in order to enlist in the Army. The FIU registrar refused, according to Leake, saying he owed $4,648 in tuition for 1994 summer school.
Leake, whose legal name is Army Joe Leake, said he never attended summer school in 1994. He said he originally assumed the $4,648 total came from the $2,600 he received in checks from FIU and the $2,000 in cash from Weltlich. FIU Controller Ketzle refused to discuss what or why Leake owed, citing student confidentiality laws.
``I didn't want any of this to come out,'' Leake said. ``After I found out I would have to pay one check back, I decided I would pay it back and return to FIU this fall. After I called the registrar and they said I had an unpaid balance, I decided I had no choice. No way I was going to pay to go back to school.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Joe Leake
by CNB