Missouri says Snyder unintentionally broke rules, denies Clemons was paid

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri basketball coach Quin Snyder unintentionally violated NCAA rules, the university said in a formal response to NCAA allegations.

Missouri's response also included a firm denial Snyder's former top assistant gave a player $250.

"There was no specific intent to violate any rules in the men's basketball program," the university said in the more than 150-page response that arrived Thursday at NCAA headquarters. It was posted Friday on the school's Web site.

The university said it would not challenge the allegations, although it asserted most violations were unintentional, and in all cases qualified as secondary violations, not major ones.

The university added that it had "self-reported" many of the recruiting violations and had already imposed "appropriate, meaningful sanctions," such as making Snyder and current and former basketball staff members sit out recruiting for specified periods.

Missouri agreed "there were occasions when head coach Quin Snyder did not ensure an adequate environment of compliance among his staff."

The university disagreed that there was evidence that Snyder did not reinforce to his staff the importance of adhering to NCAA legislation.

As punishment, Snyder started serving a two-year probationary period on July 1, during which he must meet specific standards to show NCAA rules compliance, the school said. He must also forgo seven days of off-campus recruiting during July.

Snyder also had his base salary frozen for two years starting Thursday, and "a public letter of reprimand" will be given to the coach. Missouri is also reducing scholarships for 2005-2006 from 13 to 12.

The report said Snyder and former assistant coach Lane Odom already completed "community service" and other penalties imposed by Missouri.

The university response specifically challenged the NCAA's allegation that former assistant coach Tony Harvey gave ex-player Ricky Clemons $250 in cash during November 2002. The school said the allegation is based on "totally insufficient" evidence, including Clemons' bank records.

Harvey has denied giving Clemons money. Clemons has said he received cash from Missouri basketball personnel. He was dismissed from the team last summer.

The response said the NCAA agreed June 18 to drop the phrase "at all times" from an allegation that Snyder repeatedly failed to maintain an atmosphere of NCAA rules compliance.

The NCAA infractions committee is to conduct hearings on the Missouri allegations Aug. 13-15 in Seattle.