HF responds to Ian's claims

Disputing Ian's claim that UH picks the players for drug testing, HF said:
"The NCAA does random testing so nobody in our department chooses those people. I can refute that right off the bat. Just knowing how that's handled, that's not an issue." (HA)

"Through the comments (Sample) made, he had no evidence of it. He pretty much says it himself. But we will do a thorough review, because we take it very seriously." (HSB)

HA Note: "Independent of the NCAA's random tests, Frazier said the university also conducts its own drug testing of all new athletes during their first week of classes as well as periodic random tests throughout the year."


About why UH does that extra drug testing, HF said:
"I'm a big proponent of drug testing. I probably know more about drug testing than most people you would encounter," he said. "I speak nationally on panels about drug testing, so I would know if there are any irregularities within our testing program — first hand." (HA)

HA Note: "Referring to fans who may be disillusioned by his depiction of the team, Sample wrote: "...what kind of world were they living in? (A) world that doesn't do drugs and drink alcohol? A world that sometimes doesn't take the easy way out and have a paper written for them here or there?" "

HA Note: "Frazier, who is waiting to receive a copy of the book from Watermark, said he learned of Sample's allegations after receiving an e-mail directing him to the MySpace page last Friday. On Sunday, he convened a review committee consisting of himself, assistant athletic director for compliance and eligibility Bill Bryant, faculty athletics representative Peter Nicholson, and other administration representatives. There is no time frame for the review to be completed, he said."

HSB Note: "Frazier said yesterday it is possible the UH athletic department will be investigated by the NCAA due to allegations by former football player Ian Sample -- even though Frazier and others claim the accusations, including rigged drug testing and academic fraud, have no basis.

But Frazier finds the allegations serious enough to conduct his own meetings to look into them. He said he has huddled with officials from upper and lower campus five or six times since last Friday on the matter, sometimes bumping other items on his agenda."


About how he can't speculate on the damage Ian's claims have caused UH, HF said:
"I can't go by what's on a blog. Anybody can post on a blog. Anybody can say what they want on a blog. We have to deal with reality. Hopefully, with our review committee, we'll find the answers to reality. And that's what we'll deal with." (HA)


Asked if the NCAA will investigate UH, HF said:
"It's too early for me to tell right now. We will know very quickly." (HSB)


About how UH is already starting their own investigation, HF said:
"The alleged things reported on the Internet are under review by the university. We've already had four or five meetings since Friday. This takes precedent over some other things." (HSB)


About Ian's claim that papers are bought and sold by student-athletes, assistant vice chancellor for undergraduate education and student academic athletic services Ron Cambra is looking into it and said:
"This is a big issue nationally, and not just with athletics. Herman has asked us to sit down with the advisors and review with them, if they've seen discrepancies. We're going to look at everything he's brought up. Some of this, to be perfectly honest, is hard to monitor. I suspect even on upper campus there are always students looking to cut corners." (HSB)


About how UH's athletic academic advisors warn all incoming student-athletes about plagirarism and other forms of cheating, Cambra said:
"They go over with them very carefully their responsibilities as students." (HSB)