Another black eye for Missouri

The University of Missouri announced on Thursday that it has been cited by the NCAA for 41 rules violations.

When you combine those with the 16 violations Missouri had previously self-reported, the total comes to to 57 violations for the Missouri Men's Basketball program since 1999 when Head Coach Quin Snyder replaced Norm Stewart.

Snyder, who was one of the game's hottest young coaches when he was hired after serving his apprenticeship at Duke under Mike Kryzewski, has quickly gained a reputation as someone who plays fast and loose with NCAA guidelines.

Although only one of the alleged violations in considered a major violation, the sheer number of violations during Snyder's tenure raises some troubling questions.

Aside from the most serious allegation that Associate Head Coach Tony Harvey gave $250 to former player Ricky Clemons, violations included improper contact with recruits, improper phone calls to recruits, improper participation in summer leagues by current players, and improper benefits provided to AAU coaches and parents of players.

It appears that Snyder will retain his position, but his staff will look much different in the fall.

Associate head coach Tony Harvey has been suspended with pay and Assistant Coach Lane Odom has already resigned.

It is likely that Harvey will not return either and it appears that Odom and Harvey are responsible for the many of illegal contacts and telephone calls.

Odom has already admitted to returning phone calls to the mother of Jason Conley, an NCAA violation because the phone calls were made before Conley had received his release from VMI.

Missouri acknowledges that some rules were broken, but they are steadfast in their denial that any players were paid or received improper academic help, as is the claim by former player Ricky Clemons.

Harvey is adamant in his denial. "I have not given Ricky any money, period," he told the Associated Press in a telephone interview.

Because the NCAA did not allege the dreaded "lack of institutional control," it appears Missouri will not face any serious sanctions such as a post-season or television ban.

Penalties will likely be in the form of probation, recruiting limitations and scholarship reductions.

Snyder, who has been contrite in the face of the mounting violations, has to be relieved that he is able to retain his position.

When he took the job at Missouri and immediately led the Tigers to the Elite 8, he was one of the hottest young coaching commodities in the game.

Lately, repeated brushes with the NCAA and the perception that his teams are wildly talented but underachieving have tarnished his reputation.

One of the biggest hurdles that Snyder faces in overcoming these obstacles will be in the area of public relations.

Many of these issues center around the recruitment and career of former guard Ricky Clemons.

The talented and troubled Clemons is the face of Missouri Basketball right now and that is what Snyder has to change.

Maybe Snyder really was just trying to help Clemons by allowing him to stay a part of the program despite his academic and legal issues, but the public perception of Clemons tenure has been a nightmare for Snyder and the University.

It is also reasonable that Snyder will reassess his recruiting style.

Like Billy Donovan at Florida, Snyder's teams appear at times to be talented but soft and undisciplined.

Donovan has admitted as much and has vowed to shake things up at Florida and Snyder would be wise to do the same.

At this point Snyder's course of action is clear.

He must continue to win games and he and his program must walk the straight and narrow.

It is not good enough that he was not named individually in the allegations, he must make sure that his players and staff understand that they must work hard to be successful as they begin to repair the image of Missouri Basketball at home and then nationally.