S. Vincent | 3:39 a.m. March 12, 2008
I had the pleasure of covering the men's volleyball team for two years, and I have nothing but pleasant things to say about Coach Peterson. He is as good a man as you can find, and he was an outstanding volleyball coach. I wish him well.
lezoave | 5:37 a.m. March 12, 2008
Definitely some hard-core violations that clearly gave BYU a huge advantage on the court. Personally if I were a player being recruited, I'd at least ask for a scooter or free bus pass... it has to be a better perk than use of a bicycle. Was it at least a ten speed?
J. Verimann | 6:49 a.m. March 12, 2008
It is sad but typical that this BYU administration turned on Coach Peterson and forced him to resign over an issue so inconsequential.
Comments continue below
BlueCoug | 6:54 a.m. March 12, 2008
I played on the BYU volleyball team with Tom Peterson and know him to be a man of honesty and integrity. It's sad that BYU chose to "throw him under the bus," so to speak, to satisfy the demands of this witch hunt by the NCAA that was spurred strictly by jealousy from rival schools and coaches of BYU's volleyball success. I wish all the best to Tom and his family.
Cam Caldwell | 8:58 a.m. March 12, 2008
Ouch!

This response from Dr. Peterson suggests that there is big discrepancy between what the university claims and what he thinks. BYU has a moral obligation to respond.
Ben | 9:37 a.m. March 12, 2008
Yet again the NCAA shows its interest in detail is more based on trying to create a facade at the expense of the student-athletes (and coaches). The NCAA rules are written with an American student in mind and really make it difficult for a lot of foreign students to be able to use an athletic scholarship to gain an education...and isn't that what athletic scholarships were originally about?

How do the rules address a foreign student who arrives and has his housing fall through? Working usually isn't an option. And a ride from the airport is a violation? C'mon! Give me a break. Well, maybe we could leave a bicycle there for them. No? Maybe they could hitchhike. No? What a joke.

We're behind you Coach Peterson.
BlueCoug | 10:00 a.m. March 12, 2008
Unfortunately, the NCAA does not have the ability to make common-sense exceptions on a case-by-case basis, so the letter-of-the-law rather than the spirit-of-the-law has to be followed. BYU may have disagreed with the overall decision, but they were probably forced to throw the NCAA a bone and make Coach Peterson a scapegoat, even though the bottom-line purpose of the rules, gaining an unfair recruiting advantage, was never the intent, nor the outcome, of BYU's violations.
Amazed | 9:56 a.m. March 12, 2008
I find it amazing that the volleyball program runs on 4.5 scholarships. Try that in BBall or Football. So roughly 3 quarters of your team are non-scholarship athletes. Seems to me that the NCAA should worry about other things like allowing more scholarships.
CougarAlumni | 10:31 a.m. March 12, 2008
I played under Tom and have the highest regard for his ethics and character. He's a giant in the industry and I wish him well. We know the NCAA rules are challenging and designed to level the playing field for all teams and the NCAA determined that we (Go Cougars!) did not follow these rules exactly as written so a probation and penalty were assigned. I can appreciate that� Certainly we pushed the envelope a bit too far and we probably bit off more than we could chew. The next time we have the opportunity to recruit a Stellar Cuban National Team Player and Defector to Provo Utah we should probably think twice. The rules are there to level the playing field and I believe we gave ourselves an unfair advantage. 3King
choreomarch | 11:07 a.m. March 12, 2008
What a colossal waste of talent and resources. I wish *I* could say I was guilty of such conscientious "violations." Not sure I could afford 18 months of silence to win the honor, though.
Cougar Alum | 11:15 a.m. March 12, 2008
BYU preaches one thing and does another, they don't they stick up for their coaches, rather they frame it as the "coaches decision". BYU step up to the plate, be honest.
Solution! | 11:25 a.m. March 12, 2008
Am I the only one who thinks this is all nonsense? Why do we NEED these NCAA rules at all? What is so wrong with giving these student-athletes a FAIR inducement for services provided? If the university can hire a scholarship accounting student to perform some bookkeeping, why can't it provide a bicycle to a volleyball player? My view: Let the player shop his abilities in the free market, just like anyone else with a particular capability. I've never had anyone clearly explain to me the moral downside of an athletic freemarket system. The big boys will still be the big boys, the have-nots will still have not, but at least the players will finally be compensated fairly for the value they provide to their school. AND we can send the NCAA and their "letter-of-the-unnecessary-law" attorneys back into the adult freemarket world to get a real job that provides an actual service.
Re: Amazed | 11:43 a.m. March 12, 2008
I know from trying out for the men's tennis team that there was (about 6 years ago) only one scholarship for the whole team, while the women's teams generally have scholarships for each player.

This is a Title IX issue, where schools have to have equal numbers of scholarships across the board. It is the football team that makes the difference. You have what, 50-some scholarships in one male-only sport that have to be made up in others. This is why wrestling and men's gymnastics programs were cut, and this is why men's soccer couldn't become D1 again.

In essence, the term 'equal' in Title IX has been determined to mean "total number of women's scholarships must equal total number of men's." While it's probably not equal in the eyes of most male student-athletes, it does create lots of opportunities for our daughters in an effort to counter past discrimination.

Whether you agree with that or not, that's the general reasoning behind it.
choreomarch | 12:21 p.m. March 12, 2008
(To Cougar Alum) If its any consolation: this really wasn't the "coach's decision." Tom loved coaching at BYU.
MN Doug | 12:18 p.m. March 12, 2008
Classic NCAA. USC will likley get their wrists slapped (if anything) after sports agents gave Reggie Bush HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of dollars, but BYU gets 3 years probation for giving rides from the airport, loaning bikes, and helping a young man stay out of Cuba.
BYU's "support" makes me ashamed to be a BYU alumni. I hope Tom can make Utah Valley's team a force and knock BYU off it's perch in the years to come. BYU administration makes me sick.
What a raw deal!! | 1:05 p.m. March 12, 2008
Thrown under the bus...

NCAA itching to get some negative press on them pistol packin Mormons...string 'em all up!

Worse....BYU AD appears to be helping tie the rope!
More than meets the eye | 1:13 p.m. March 12, 2008
Interesting how the speculation evolves as facts come to light. The comments following this story go after the coach, maybe the player, the booster, the fans, or the NCAA, and then BYU, but as it turns out, everyone involved is just doing what they think is best. The rest of us have no idea what judgement to cast, but since we are on the outside looking in, maybe we don't have that right any way, given our lack of information and the biased perspective of an outsider view we all come from. Give it a rest!
Regarding Title IX | 1:34 p.m. March 12, 2008
Get rid of it, or fix it! Why, in an effort to counter past discrimination, do we reverse our discrimination, entirely?

Now nearly all of our daughters, who want to play college sports, have that opportunity coupled with a scholarship. That serves one side of the equation, while the majority of our sons, who want to play sports, no longer have that same opportunity. In other words, equal amounts of scholarships not only does not equally serve the need, but cuts in to the other side of the equation's needs.

I am telling all my daughters to play golf. Bad or good, they are bound to find a full ride scholarship through college, because there isn't enough interest among the girls, for these college programs--that we created, for equality--to exist. Someone's got to take the scholarship, and rather than forfeit what girls could do without, my girls are going to take that scholarship, so I can pay for my sons to play football, basketball, soccer and whatever else they have devoted themselves to doing, on top of school, all these years.
Herman F | 1:33 p.m. March 12, 2008
Its defrinatley a raw deal for small technical violations. I agree with Lezoave, he should have held out for a Moped and a bus pass!
Las Vegas Nut | 3:15 p.m. March 12, 2008
I blame the system man... Its a conspiracy man... Its all a conspiracy.
former coug | 9:38 p.m. March 12, 2008
Typical NCAA rules enforcement. I agree that USC will get little penalty for major violations (and who knows how many others got big $) while BYU is punished for such minor stuff.

Worse than that is BYU's administration. Support your people! They threw those black football players under the bus before they were even tried (found NOT guilty) and now they throw their coach under the bus. Not classy, not professional, not ethical and not Christian.
Samgray | 9:54 p.m. March 12, 2008
"More than meets the eye" must be independently wealthy and secure in this
world. It would please me, as one of Tom Peterson's supporters, to see the "Eye" guy thrust out at a time when he would find it hard put to replace his career/job. Even more so to experience the unbelievable stress of forced silence (being forced to sign legal documents at the threat of losing severance pay if he discusses his forced resignation even with family or friends, much less advisors). Not much chance to process such a horrendous blow to one's position and future is it. "Eye" needs to have a few punches thrown at him and his family.
Then let's see how much REST he gets!!!
Dorr | 9:56 p.m. March 12, 2008
NO NCAA PENALTIES AGAINST PETERSON! Money amounts were reported incorrectly and sensationally connected to a young man who never became a recruit for the BYU team. This was not Cala. Cala, whose training was done in Canada, was employed by a Springville, Utah, Company. Cala being over paid by a booster in Canada ia a bogus statement. Cala was paid in U.S. money as was required. The quote, "Recruit the hell out of him," attributed to Coach Peterson was a misquote. Why were "serious infractions" observed before Peterson became head coach at BYU? Why was assistant BYU men's volleyball coach, Grayson DuBose, refused an interview supporting Peterson? Why was Peterson's other assistant coach not penalized for misinformation or recruiting infractions but promoted to interim coach by BYU? Why did Mr. Holmoe "appreciate the NCAA for its thoroughness and willingness to work with BYU in such a cooperative and helpful manner" when BYU was unwilling to do the same for Coach Peterson? What "self-report of violations" towards Coach Peterson has BYU made? Why is Mr. Holmoe "pleased to move forward" after the hurt and disruption of a person and his successful career?
Spanky | 10:35 p.m. March 12, 2008
I'm very disappointed. And all this time I thought BYU was the Lord's university and was above reproach in all things. Well, it looks like winning in sports is more important.
Re: Spanky | 10:52 p.m. March 12, 2008
Your obvious BYU hatred disqualifies you from offering any meaningful opinion.
spanky? | 11:15 p.m. March 12, 2008
Are you kidding? Do you even understand any of this article? You are obviously merely an anti-BYU propagandist. All of these so-called 'violations' are rather a sign of charity misconstrued by the strict constructionist view of the rules of the NCAA, who no doubt involves certain members who enjoy finding any faults whatsoever with BYU.
VB_Fan | 12:58 a.m. March 13, 2008
The BYU president should call Dr. Tom Peterson immediately, offer him a job as head coach, and apologize for past wrongs. BYU administrators and employees who have treated Dr. Peterson with less than the respect he deserves should be reprimanded. BYU should apologize publicly and compensate Dr. Peterson for lost income since he was terminated and reimburse him for travel expenses connected with the NCAA hearing in December. In a recent publication, it was reported that the BYU interim coach will continue as head coach because BYU administrators are interested in treating him fairly. The thought of BYU being interested in treating a head VB coach fairly is as laughable as the thought that loaning two bicycles to university students in snow country gives the team an unfair advantage on the court. It is as laughable as having kind people help a poor immigrant who was never recruited and never played any sport at BYU be deemed an NCAA violation worth $17,000. These statements would all be laughable if it were not for the unecessary personal losses suffered by Dr. Peterson and his family. Because of these losses, the statements are tragic and ironic, not laughable. Reinstate Dr. Peterson. Today.
VB_Fan | 1:12 a.m. March 13, 2008
It's been reported that Dr. Tom Peterson is the only coach to lead a team to the National Championship at two different universities. His record is even more remarkable than has been mentioned. As a long time BYU fan and past student, I watched the BYU team lose in a CLOSE heartbreak final game to Lewis University and take second place. This was the year that Lewis was stripped of their title because of NCAA violations. If the NCAA rules had allowed, BYU would have been the top team that year as well! But, to earn the title, they had to wait for a new year. Best Wishes to Dr. Peterson. Hopefully, he'll be back in the game soon!!!
CA_Cougar | 1:28 a.m. March 13, 2008
BYU should do something to compensate Dr. Peterson and his family for the terrible treatment. The violations as reported in the press release are ridiculous compared to those that are reported at other universities. They should not have led to Peterson dismissal. If his firing had anything to do with the NCAA violations, how could the recruiting coach under Dr. Peterson possibly have been promoted to head coach? "No, the thought makes reason stare." We cougars know him to be ethical and moral in his beliefs and behaviors, so innuendo and silence won't work to make BYU look better. Treat BYU fans with more respect than this. We've been loyal and true-blue. We deserve better. Treat Dr. Tom Peterson with the respect he has earned over the years as a church member, missionary, BYU player, student, PhD graduate, assistant coach, head coach, BYU supporter, and role model for the rest of us! He deserves better. Always gracious at alumni events after the games in California, Dr. Peterson made it clear to fans that all kudos and credit belong to "the guys." Dr. Tom Peterson is a class act. We miss him as our BYU head coach. We want him back.
Just Curious | 1:41 a.m. March 13, 2008
In regard to Coach Peterson's forced resignation in August, 2006:
�The technical nature of the NCAA allegations did not warrant the BYU athletic department taking the action it did against me,� said Peterson. �If the
NCAA allegations were the basis for the university�s decision, it does not make sense that my resignation would have been demanded even before the allegations
were formulated and fully investigated by the NCAA. I understand that the buck stops with the head coach," adds Peterson. "But I have some trouble with the idea that my then assistant and recruiting coordinator, who was in at least as good, if not
better, position than I to have discovered and prevented these violations, was promoted to interim head coach while I was forced to resign. I can't shake the sense that some political maneuvering was taking place behind the scenes and that the university decided to designate me as a scapegoat.
JWT | 2:53 a.m. March 13, 2008
Congratulations to Dr. Tom Peterson, his wife Sheryl, sister Brenda, and pro-bono attorney Steven Andersen for the opportunity to break your long months of silence. Congratulations on the expected no additional sanctions on Coach Peterson. Well done. Thank you, too, for the work done to keep the Lewis and Peterson family names untarnished. Anyone who knew Brenda and Tom's parents Ruth Lewis and Parlell Peterson knows the contributions they, their siblings, and the next generations made to the Provo-Orem communities over the decades. We who knew them understand the importance of your efforts and the magnitude of gut-wrenching sorrow caused by the actions taken by BYU in August 2006. Since the August press release we have felt as if we were collectively "kicked in the gut." We have been dumbfounded by the lack of information and our own inability to act because we did not know how we could act. We cared then. We care now. We can only imagine the horrible experiences you've faced the last 18 months. Thank you for standing up under the pressures and for caring enough about the rest of us to share your thoughts in the form of a press release. You are appreciated.
Bring Peterson Back | 3:11 a.m. March 13, 2008
Honestly, they should start chanting this in the Smith Fieldhouse whenever BYU plays. This wrong needs to be righted.
Longtime BYU Fan | 5:44 a.m. March 13, 2008
I'm sad and disappointed in Tom Holmoe, in Fred Skousen, and in BYU for their shoddy treatment of what appears to be a good man and coach. I will be equally sad and disappointed in Cecil Samuelson if nothing is done to rectify this situation.
BYU Fan | 8:56 a.m. March 13, 2008
When I first heard about Tom Peterson's resignation one of the words that came to mind was politics. Well, it looks like that has been confirmed since there doesn't seem to be any other logical explanation behind all this. I'm ashamed that BYU directors and administrators would act in such a way - and all at the expense of one of the best coaches in the business. At the very least they owe Peterson an apology. I suppose it's fruitless to hope they could swallow their pride and egos and reinstate him as volleyball coach - even more so considering they made such a terrible decision in the first place. I wish Peterson and his family all the best in the future.
VP supporter | 11:22 a.m. March 13, 2008
If you were to GOOGLE Tom Holmo, it might be interesting to see what was thought of his performance at CAL
A BYU Alumnus | 4:30 p.m. March 13, 2008
I have admired Dr. Tom Peterson for many years, as his manner of coaching has upheld standards which I hold for BYU. I admire him even more for the manner in which he has responded to this current difficulty. Why were not the administration, players, and community poised to recognize his positives and stand behind Dr. Peterson when technical problems (apparently complicated and existing before he came to BYU) showed themselves? Where was the professional mentoring? What happened when a team player's vindictiveness and jealousy included a parent of influence who put pressure on the athletic department to insist that Dr. Peterson be removed? Should not their stories also be told in all honesty? Did not the leader of the athletic department act in a way not completely in accordance with maturity? Did not an assistant coach refuse to admit personal responsibility which could have supported Dr. Peterson? Please come forward so that the true picture may become clear to those of us who wish to remain admiring alumni. One hundred years of image is not worth the destruction of an honest man, and that is a message I have heard many times at BYU.
confused watcher | 9:44 a.m. March 14, 2008
On following the NCAA/BYU volleyball news, I think it looks like BYU legal counsel did all possible implicate BYU's own coach. This seems counterintuitive. Did BYU attack the coach in hopes of saving an image? Something is wrong here. Will accountability ever really be assigned?
Ralph | 12:41 p.m. March 14, 2008
The BYU legal counsel and BYU absolutely did everything they could to attempt to place blame on the head coach. NCAA stated to BYU that the coach should have legal representation at the meetings between BYU, NCAA and Tom Peterson. When Tom Peterson approached the BYU lawyers requesting their support, he was refused. These actions go well beyond
just the legal counsel, it includes the administration staff. As commented in another post in a response to the SL Trib article on this subject, when a student player can threaten the coach with "I hold your career in my hands" and "I can bring you down" (father is executive at BYU) because he is disgruntled because he lost his starting position and then the coach is removed prior to NCAA's release of any findings. Makes one wonder about politics entering the game.
Ralph | 12:57 p.m. March 14, 2008
The various articles being published in the media are unfortunately based on what limited data has been released in the 3 press releases. I have encouraged Tom Peterson to release his response to NCAA publically (in excess of 100 pages) to the media. I doubt if he will because of his nature not to publicly criticize individuals and certainly not to appear to criticize BYU due to his devotion to the university.

I do know what is in the NCAA presentation as my wife accompanied her brother to the hearings.
pastplayer | 1:25 p.m. March 14, 2008
I can't believe you guys will not post my comment made yesterday. People deserve to know that there is truth to what he did. And BYU is not the bad guy. There is plenty of ignorant praise posted. Why can't they see the other side?
Greg | 2:43 p.m. March 14, 2008
I'm embarrassed to have attended and be an alumnus of a place that would do such a thing to someone. I'm sure stuff like this happens other places as well, but it seems particularly hypocritical coming out of BYU. I guess they figure they can get away with it since they have such a captive customer base.
Chris P. | 8:24 p.m. March 14, 2008
I don't believe anyone contests that technical violations occurred, pastplayer (The NCAA report seems to suggest that Peterson does not contest the facts). People are only questioning why the violations warranted Peterson's forced resignation and seek explanation of BYU's apparent overreaction.

If you have more information to shed light on the situation, it would be worth hearing.
Dissapointed | 7:52 p.m. March 19, 2008
There doesn't seem to be any denial from anybody that these infractions occured. I think Peterson is a good guy and well respected but this isn't the first time the team has been under investigation and you would think that after the initial investigation they would have cleaned up their act.
Chris P | 10:28 p.m. March 20, 2008
It was a witch hunt, disappointed. Read the NCAA report and Peterson's statement. The NCAA was looking for a way to get BYU and they found something. It wasn't really a second investigation, but a reopening of the original investigaiton with additional scrutiny and to view everything in the most negative light--like a misunderstood $2 wage differential. Scrapping around more, the NAA had to strech to find actions by non-BYU actors who were simply responding to situations in a human manner.

BYU got in the NCAAs cross hairs somehow, and the NCAA was determined to find something to justify a reprimand. Its most sad that the Uni choose to try and manouver out of the NCAA sights by blaming the coach in order to preserve its rep.
Dorr | 9:20 p.m. May 1, 2008
Coaches are like U.S. presidents. It takes a certain number of years to overcome one's predecessor's decisions and recruits. As a team gets closer and closer to championship play, the coaching becomes more critical. Coach Patchell has talent, or Coach Peterson would not have chosen him as an assistant, but he is not a seasoned coach. He has been working with Coach Peterson's talented recruits who could have won a national championship. It is sad for the young men that they did not make it. Constantly running for national championships is way different from winning national championships.
Montana Mormon | 7:24 p.m. Nov. 6, 2008
Tom Peterson and I were missionary companions in Guatemala. I have also followed Tom's career to the extent that I could while living in the hinterlands of Montana. Tom is a man of impeccable integrity--of that I have implicit confidence. I'm glad to see that Tom finally was able to break his silence. Congratulations to Utah State University for having the good sense to put him back in the saddle. Tom will rise above this debacle and be an even better coach and human being. Go Tom!!! (Garth)

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.

Advertisement
previousnext

Latest comments

good luck cougs against the falcons! after watching a now 0-10 team almost...

TCU plows past Utes, 55-28

Before you make a comment like that man, why don't you go do some research,...

BYU honors slain soldier

It's sad when a truly Great One is taken. I'm sure he'll be a Great One on...

Collie is amazing. Alex Smith was amazing. I hated him when he was at the...

Glad we got in our Fiesta and Sugar Bowl trophies when we did. TCU will be...

5A: Wolverines showed heart

DAVIS WAS LUCKY #4 WASNT PLAYING.. CUZ THEN HE WOULDVE POUNDED DAVIS LIKE HE...

TCU plows past Utes, 55-28

"By the time you play BYU you will be lucky to be back in the Top 25!" Do...

Okay let's get this straight. If Utah wins a game they were outplayed in...

4A soccer all-state first team

Tell me why Sky View and Mountain Crest got snubbed from the first team and...

RSL advances to MLS Cup

We made it to the final!!! The first major league title for the state of...

Advertisements
Advertisement