As sports fans and followers of the college recruiting game, we’re used to seeing some pretty shady stuff go on between coaches, players, and boosters. Whether it’s $100 golden handshakes to football players at postgame tailgates, negative recruiting tactics amongst coaches, or high school prospects who work the system for personal gain - there’s a lot of shady stuff hiding in plain sight.
(You are correct, ladies. This story *is* WAC indeed.)
And while a lot of stuff we’ve heard whispered and seen ourselves probably would constitute NCAA infractions of one sort or another, it’s important to keep these things in perspective. After all, shady recruiting or breaking NCAA practice guidelines isn’t illegal, no matter what rival fans might claim. You know what is illegal, though? Fraud, embezzlement, forgery, perjury, and animal abuse - they’re not your garden variety NCAA violations, but they’re what former University of Nevada soccer coach Terri Petraw claims occurred during her tenure with the Wolf Pack. Ruh-ro.
This is one hell of a bizarre story. Petraw, along with a geology professor and a former University cop, have been filing lawsuits against the school for at least a year, alleging all sorts of terrible things happening in Reno. But now, the Nevada Supreme Court has given the plaintiffs the opportunity to present evidence for their claims in hopes of assembling a grand jury.
From the RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL:
Former coach Terri Patraw, geology professor Richard Schweickert and former UNR police officer Lane Grow claim UNR and Nevada System of Higher Education officials are involved in criminal activity and conspired with the state attorney general’s office and local law firms to cover it up.
Their petition includes allegations of fraud, embezzlement, bid rigging, falsification of evidence and public documents, perjury, abuse of power, forgery, witness intimidation, civil rights violations, and animal abuse, Patraw said in an e-mail announcing the hearing.
They also say the UNR Police Department was used “as a tool to protect the public corruption operation and to harass and intimidate whistle blowers,” and said the attorney general’s office provided financial support and legal protection for UNR officials.
“This is a very important matter of public concern as taxpayers are being defrauded out of millions of dollars by university officials,” Patraw said. “We intend to present evidence that UNR is a racketeering influenced corrupt organization — a RICO operation.”
I live in Illinois, so I know a thing or two about government and university corruption. But if Petraw’s claims are even partially true, this could be one of the more galling examples of corruption in higher education ever. Nobody seems to have specifics about the alleged crimes, but it’s clear that Petraw is one hell of a disgruntled ex-employee. She also has a series of charmingly unhinged blogs accusing basically everyone in the state of Nevada of conspiring against her. I wonder if her apparent inability to land any sort of coaching job since being dismissed has anything to do with her anger - clearly, regardless of the merits of the lawsuits, these are people with major issues of one kind or another.
7:20 pm on September 10th, 2009
GO UNLV!!!
11:36 pm on September 10th, 2009
First off it Nevada and not Nevada-Reno. Secondly, Patraw can’t get a job because she is basically crazy. I don’t completely know the background on her but she resigned and the rescinded her resignation (within a few hours) and UNR wouldn’t accept it. Obviously UNR wanted to get rid of her but if you resign don’t cry foul by screaming that the university is doing all of these things when you don’t have much proof.
3:56 pm on October 21st, 2009
As a fomer Administrator at the University of Nevada, Reno, I can tell you that the University Administration is absolutely corrupt. You would not believe the things I have seen. While Terri Patraw has issues there are many many others that were treated in the same way and have since moved on. Pablo simply doesn’t know what he is talking about. There is plenty of proof. A state hearing officer ordered the University to reinstate Officer Grow immediately.
10:41 pm on April 21st, 2010
Terri Patraw does not have issues. That is the problem folks. You buy the corrupt UNR administrations crap. Patraw has proved over and over that UNR lies. She never resigned. There is your first clue. She was retaliated against. She won the grand jury. UNR is on NCAA probatation because they retaliated against Patraw for doing the RIGHT thing. AD Groth is corrupt, President Glick is corrupt. Patraw is too damn ethical and straight for this sorry corrupt institution. Her only issue is that she seeks and demands justice. See this doozy of a blog for all you need to know about who is telling the truth.
http://blog.terri-patraw.org/
Pablo and PL shame on you for speaking when you know NOTHING.
UNR doctored her personnel files and got caught. What more do you need to know. Shame on you!
10:44 pm on April 21st, 2010
UNR is sorry corrupt. Patraw is right! Keep it up
10:43 am on September 13th, 2010
TP is definitely deranged! it is obvious that several of the posts above “corruption unr” and “PL” are indeed Terri posting away.
She cannot get another coaching job at this juncture…she may have had she gone her way and just let it lie-she was wrong - but nope, she has filed countless court filings and each and every time they have ruled against her…her lawyers have quit on her as they found out like everyone knows that she is just plain nuts. the grand jury may be reviewing things but one has to wonder if she cooked her own goose…grand jury can also determine that she is the root of the problem. the administrators she deviles in her comments are some of the most respected in their field…google Groth-see the awards! she is and will always be a “kook”
11:25 am on May 6th, 2011
Patraw’s lawyers have never quit on her. She has 4 of them…renoborntrue. Please stopped stalking Ms. Patraw. She has reversed ever ruling against her to date.
Her whistleblower case was reversed because you Cary Groth committed perjury and other bad acts.
Patraw is the smartest person I know.
At least you admit she won the grand jury investigation.
Did you read the latest filing where the UNR lawyers admitted they engaged in Fraud at the district court. They admitted Groth is a liar too!
I guess you really know nothing.
Groth has no respect from anyone in her field. Ask anyone in the business locally and nationally.
11:26 am on May 6th, 2011
Renoborntrue claimed to be a former lawyer living in California. But Renoborntrue is a liar. Want proof:
RENOBORNTRUE LIVES IN RENO NEVADA:
Here is RENOBORNTRUE’s IP ADDRESS:
75.15.200.34
adsl-75-15-200-34.dsl.renocs.sbcglobal.net
Someone just got caught with their pants down.
11:27 am on May 6th, 2011
One more thing. Patraw NEVER resigned from UNR. Get over the lies people.