THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 24, 1996 TAG: 9602240454
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
The University of Virginia now says the former executive director of the Virginia Student Aid Foundation never intentionally violated NCAA regulations in granting loans to athletes.
The settlement clears the name of Thomas E. Davenport, who, in exchange for the school's statement, dropped his federal lawsuit against the school.
Davenport lost his job as the foundation's executive director in April 1992 after an investigation determined he authorized 44 interest-free loans from foundation funds to athletes, graduate student assistant coaches and students.
The loans Davenport authorized totaled $47,168.48 and violated NCAA rules against special privileges for individuals connected with college sports.
In a joint statement released Friday, both sides agreed that Davenport authorized loans that later proved to violate NCAA rules, even though he didn't realize it.
``The parties continue to believe in the correctness of their respective legal positions, but everyone also recognizes that continued litigation is expensive and divisive,'' the statement said.
University spokeswoman Louise M. Dudley said ``everyone involved is pleased to have this over with.''
``Obviously it's not everything we wanted, but it's something,'' said Davenport's lawyer, Deborah C. Wyatt.
The NCAA placed Virginia's athletic program on probation for two years and cut the number of football scholarships it could offer by two for two years. ILLUSTRATION: Thomas E. Davenport
by CNB