After discussion surfaced two weeks ago about the recruitment of convicted felon Rodney Woods, University officials deemed the Athletic Department’s actions acceptable. Despite the bad press, the University was able to turn the other cheek.
On Thursday, the Athletic Department was slapped by accusations of sex, drugs and alcohol — 17-year-old high school tailback Lynell Hamilton, a devout Christian, told a California paper that all were offered to him during an official recruiting trip in 2002.
Now, just days after unveiling its signing class of 2003, the Athletic Department has no more cheeks to offer, and it is left standing with two black eyes.
Head coach Mike Bellotti and Athletic Director Bill Moos answered questions Friday about the University’s recruitment of student-athletes, but because of student privacy laws and NCAA regulations, neither would specifically comment on Hamilton’s recruitment.
“Some of what has recently been said in the media is wrong and inaccurate, but unfortunately we cannot discuss specifics because of NCAA rules and privacy conditions,” Moos said.
Bellotti agreed.
“Even though the allegations in question fly and come at me, I really cannot do anything other than say we run our program in a first-class manner,” he said.
Hamilton, ranked the nation’s No. 7 running back by Rivals.com, was recruited by Oregon, Colorado, Alabama A&M, Michigan and San Diego State. He signed with the latter Wednesday.
On Thursday, the Stockton, Calif., newspaper The Record published a story indicating that Hamilton wanted to attend the University but was talked out of it.
“Oregon was my No. 1 choice,” Hamilton told The Record. “But they blew it for both of us.”
According to the report, former Duck tailback Onterrio Smith served as Hamilton’s “host” for a weekend recruiting trip in October. Hamilton told the paper that over the course of the weekend, he went to a party where alcohol and marijuana were readily available, and the football star said he was also put in a situation where a female offered him sex.
It wasn’t the first time such things had crept into the recruitment process. In fact, the report said, Hamilton claimed such goodies were available at each location — Oregon just happened to be
the worst.
“Every trip I went on — sex, drinking, drugs — they were all available to me,” Hamilton told The Record. “I didn’t do it because that’s not who I am. I’m a Christian. God was with me on those trips.”
At Friday’s press conference, Bellotti would not confirm whether Smith did indeed host Hamilton, but he did say that recruits are usually matched to players who play the same position. Bellotti also said that recruits, whose visits are mostly filled by meetings and tours, are usually given free time at night to spend with their host. The content of that free time, he added, is up to the recruit.
“We want the recruit to be the most important person,” Bellotti said.
After the trip, according to The Record, Hamilton went home and told his parents about the fringe benefits he was offered. They told the paper they weren’t mad at their son, but they began to question the Athletic Department.
“You’ve got to pick a host who has better judgment,” Hamilton’s father, Leo, told The Record. “It’s your responsibility as a school to make sure things don’t happen.”
Soon after, the report said, Hamilton’s father called Bellotti to complain of the allegations. Bellotti said he would conduct an investigation and get back to the father, but the elder Hamilton said that never happened, according to the paper.
On Friday, Bellotti would not say whether he received such a phone call from Hamilton’s father, but he did say he has received one phone call like it during his tenure. Bellotti also confirmed that an investigation was conducted during the fall about certain allegations, but he would not say what the investigation was about or what the results of the investigation were.
Moos said University President Dave Frohnmayer and Vice President for Administration Dan Williams were all contacted about the situation.
Little more was said Friday, although Bellotti indicated he would like to clear both his and the University’s name of any wrongdoing. But because of NCAA regulations, Bellotti couldn’t comment on an athlete signed by another school. Furthermore, he could not discuss the allegations because doing so would violate student privacy laws, perhaps of current athletes.
“I think the people in this program right now are committed to doing things the right way,” Bellotti said.
Bellotti did not sign a tailback in the 2003 recruiting class. According to The Record, Hamilton very much wanted to join the program.
In the end, however, Hamilton’s parents chose for him and against the University.
“I was upset that I couldn’t make the decision for myself,” Hamilton told The Record. “But I’m OK with it now. I’m 100 percent committed to San Diego State.”