View from the Corner Desk

More on Awrey

I'm not sure if the Randy Awrey ordeal interests my readers. (Actually, I'm not sure if I have readers at the blog either, but I digress). With his Northern Michigan (and Iron Mountain) connection, I figure some may be interested. So I'm going to pass on these links to downstate reporting.

The who: Randy Awrey, one of many stars on NMU's 1975 football national championship team. He has coached at SVSU for nine seasons, and prior to the victories being forfeited, was the winningest coach in school history.

The what: SVSU's allegations, as reported by The Saginaw News, are that Awrey got his sons (and football team members) Tony and Robert, lower-than-market rent at off-campus apartments. Two assistant coaches received leases at the same apartment complex. In exchange, the apartment got free advertising. The former athletic director allowed this, the article states. However, the Saginaw News looked at the documents and came up with the same conclusion Awrey did: he did pay full rent for his sons.

In the "background facts" portion of the university's letter to the NCAA, investigators reported a line item of "FB Coach's son. 1/2 rent due," on resident history reports for both of Awrey's sons in 2005-06 -- two credits for $1,703.75 each. However, a receipt of $3,407.50 (exactly twice the $1,703.75) paid by Randy Awrey on July 26, 2005, negates the finding.

As for the $2,907.50, that comes from two cash payments of $923.75 -- one to each Awrey son -- along with a pair of $256.25 items called "conversion errors" on the resident history reports. (Saginaw News)

Be sure to read the whole article, I don't want to crib too much, but don't want to gloss over anything. The wording is still a bit murky. The News seems to imply, without stating it, that the other half the rent was being paid regularly already, so after Awrey paid the $3,400, his sons had in fact paid full rent, so they received no extra-benefits.

Follow along with a calculator through all the math if you want--I did--and you start to see this is so messy, it's hard to wrap your mind around. It's really shoddy accounting work by the principles (Awrey, the apartment folks) and, honestly, I'm not quite sure I can keep up with the facts presented in the story close enough to know whether something did or did not go on. In all likelyhood, probably not, but the accounting is so ugly it can cause doubts.

Regardless of whether or not there was a violation, SVSU says any game Tony and Robert played in will be forfeited, (which should include the victories over NMU in both 2005 and 2007, and MTU in 2005. Awrey was declared ineligible before the 2007 game), and the university is docking itself scholarships.

Reactions: There's a column at the Saginaw News from Mencina that states:

I've seen a lot of documentation. I've listened to those who would talk. I'll tell you that Awrey has made some mistakes -- and those statements pertain to both his 2005 suspension as football coach, and his Friday firing.

But I have yet to be convinced that he's tried to steal money, hide compensation, or cheat either the school or any student-athletes.

Midland Sports Editor Chris Stevens writes the public is sympathetic to Awrey.

My question is this: If Mrs. Awrey were writing the checks to pay the rent, would there be a problem?

When it comes to taking care of one's family, the public is understanding, especially if it seems, like in Awrey's case, that he's just a dad being a dad.

SVSU's side? It's not talking. It gave the local press a 26-page internal review and issued a no comment to everything else.

My take: What a mess. And what a shame.

Everyone is at fault here for making it a mess, too. There's a lot of talk SVSU administration wanted Awrey out anyway. One article stated there's been five athletic directors during his time as football coach. It sounds like the athletic department down there is a mess, period. Doesn't sound like a fun place to be. If, in fact, it was just a dad paying his son's rent and he's being vilified for it so SVSU has a convenient way to fire him (even though his contract was set to expire anyway), well, that's just nuts. SVSU likely set itself and football program back quite a bit, because in the court of public opinion, they look pretty bad right now, and who would want to step into that situation as a player or incoming coach?

As for Awrey, he was a top coach in the conference. He'll bounce back fine, I'm sure. There are plenty of head coaching jobs that open up, I'm sure he'll get one.

And as for the lasting impact on U.P. college football, it could be positive that SVSU shot itself in the foot like that. U.P. kids play for Tech, Northern or SVSU. They probably aren't looking at SVSU the same without Awrey. Maybe Tech and Northern will get more homegrown recruits.