NORMAN, Okla. —
Twitter messages sent to high school players in February violated NCAA rules and nearly resulted in a one-game suspension for Oklahoma co-offensive coordinator Jay Norvell, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
Among the documents released to the AP this week under Oklahoma's Open Records Act were letters between university compliance staff and members of the NCAA's rules enforcement staff concerning the fallout from Norvell's use of Twitter.
The NCAA initially wanted to suspend Norvell for one game but the university successfully appealed. Oklahoma learned of the NCAA's decision not to suspend Norvell on Dec. 4, about a month before the Cotton Bowl game between the 12th-ranked Sooners and No. 10 Texas A&M.
Oklahoma has had a series of major NCAA violations in recent years and is still on probation for the latest case involving ex-men's basketball assistant coach Oronde Taliaferro. Previous cases involved the football team and ex-basketball coach Kelvin Sampson.
In this case, Norvell sent nine Twitter messages on Feb. 21 to six prospects who were high school juniors, according to a university letter sent May 14 to Chris Strobel, the NCAA's director of secondary enforcement.
"Norvell had intended the tweets to be direct messages; however, upon sending the messages, he instantly realized he had selected the incorrect messaging option and inadvertently posted the messages as public tweets," according to the letter from Jason Leonard, Oklahoma's executive director for athletics compliance, and Connie Dillon, the university's faculty athletics representative.
Six of the tweets contained what OU deemed to be "written offers of financial aid to juniors, which was prior to the permissible date in which an institution can provide written offers of aid to prospects."
Norvell immediately reported the violation and "further indicated that he understood 'written offer' to be offers made through traditional general correspondence" pursuant to NCAA rules, the OU letter said. "Norvell did not realize that something as impersonal as a direct message could or would be considered a written offer of financial aid pursuant to NCAA rule."
OU also said Norvell sent a letter to the six prospects, telling them he had violated an NCAA rule and rescinding the offer, although he said in those letters that Oklahoma still would recruit them. The university required Norvell to attend a 2012 NCAA rules seminar and banned the football staff from sending general correspondence and electronic correspondence for two weeks to the six prospects.
The university said it also provided specific rules education to its entire football staff pertaining to written offers of financial aid, electronic correspondence and the use of social media during the recruiting process.
and the university should reduce the remaining number of in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts with the prospects by two.
Gomila said that similar future violations "may result in the head coach being suspended from all coaching-related activities" for at least one game.
The university filed its appeal of Norvell's suspension on Oct. 23, citing similar cases at Iowa, Clemson, Mississippi, Memphis and Tennessee.
In a Dec. 5 response, Strobel said the NCAA enforcement staff had "reevaluated" the case and set aside Gomila's recommendation. The letter did not give a reason for the NCAA's change of heart.
Oklahoma Sports
Related Photos
-
Jay Norvell, Oklahoma co-offensive coordinator, answers a question during a news confeence in Norman, Okla., Monday, Sept. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) Associated Press
Discussion
NCAA nearly suspended OU assistant over tweets
- Oklahoma Sports
-
-
Thunder season ends as fatigued Durant flames out
Whether it was frustration, disappointment, exhaustion or all of the above, Kevin Durant understandably hung a low head after Wednesday’s 88-84 loss to Memphis that saw the Thunder bow out of the NBA playoffs.
-
Thunder on the ropes after loss to Grizzlies on Monday
-
Stoops against recruiting deregulation
Early this month, the NCAA put the brakes on some rule proposals that would have deregulated college football recruiting. No limits on correspondence — written or verbal — were among the rules the governing body was prepared to ditch, along with moving up the age of when a high school player becomes recruitable.
-
Rockets beat Thunder to avoid sweep
The Houston Rockets finally found a way to close out a game in their playoff series with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
-
Westbrook out indefinitely with meniscus tear
-
Sooner tackle Johnson goes fourth to Philadelphia
When Lane Johnson played his last college football game in January, he wasn’t sure where his NFL stock was. Thursday night while sitting at Radio City Music Hall in New York for the 2013 NFL Draft, he had a much better idea.
-
Thunder holds off Rockets rally to win game two
Russell Westbrook relishes the moments when an opponent challenges him and his Oklahoma City Thunder teammates and it becomes time to respond.
-
Thunder rout Rockets in first game of playoffs
-
Leedey’s Ward signs with Sooners
Oklahoma’s baseball program received a highly coveted letter of intent Wednesday afternoon. Drew Ward, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound infielder from Leedey, signed with the Sooners. Getting him in an OU uniform next season, however, is far from a done deal.
-
Smart's decision a surprise to best friend, teammate Forte
Phil Forte was caught off guard when Marcus Smart filled in his high school teammate and Oklahoma State University basketball teammate and roommate about his decision to stay in Stillwater another year instead of opting for the NBA Draft.
- More Oklahoma Sports Headlines
-
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
