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CNN Live At Daybreak
Baylor University Players Told to Lie?
Aired August 18, 2003 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Baylor University head basketball coach, or ex-coach, Dave Bliss, resigned in early August over accusations of fraud in his program, but now investigators have information even more damaging to his reputation and to their program.
Here is CNN's Ed Lavandera.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Since the death of Patrick Dennehy, investigators have been looking into NCAA rules violations in Baylor's basketball program. Investigators want to know whether Dennehy and some other players were being paid improperly to play basketball.
According to published reports in the "Fort Worth Star-Telegram," and confirmed to CNN by the university's lead investigator, head coach Dave Bliss allegedly asked several players and an assistant coach to give university investigators false information to protect the basketball program. Bliss reportedly suggested that Patrick Dennehy be portrayed as someone involved with drugs.
The "Star-Telegram" quotes Bliss as saying that: "If there's a way we can create a perception that Pat may have been a dealer, even if we had to kind of make some things look a little better than they are, that can save us."
Baylor assistant coach Abar Rouse taped three hours of conversations between himself, Bliss and several other players in late July.
CNN has heard a small portion of these recordings, much of which is difficult to understand because of poor audio quality. But in this portion, you can hear Bliss coaching the players on what to tell investigators.
DAVE BLISS, FORMER HEAD BASKETBALL COACH, BAYLOR UNIVERSITY: You tell the story, tell your own stories, and then at the end of it, just add the fact that, you know, in your (UNINTELLIGIBLE) these guys would call, you know, and knock on the door and come over and go in the back room and do all that stuff.
LAVANDERA: The university's lead investigator tells CNN that Bliss was confronted about these conversations last Friday and admitted to the conversations. Bliss was said to be shocked that he had been recorded.
Repeated attempts by CNN to reach Bliss and assistant coach Rouse have been unsuccessful.
Baylor University officials say they feel betrayed by Bliss, who resigned as head coach on August 8.
ROBERT SLOAN, PRESIDENT, BAYLOR UNIVERSITY: I'm outraged not only by his own deception, but his efforts to enlist players and assistant coaches in this scheme.
LAVANDERA: According to the Fort Worth newspaper, Bliss told them he was -- quote -- "completely wrong" in what he did, and that he knows he's disappointed a lot of people.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired August 18, 2003 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Baylor University head basketball coach, or ex-coach, Dave Bliss, resigned in early August over accusations of fraud in his program, but now investigators have information even more damaging to his reputation and to their program.
Here is CNN's Ed Lavandera.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Since the death of Patrick Dennehy, investigators have been looking into NCAA rules violations in Baylor's basketball program. Investigators want to know whether Dennehy and some other players were being paid improperly to play basketball.
According to published reports in the "Fort Worth Star-Telegram," and confirmed to CNN by the university's lead investigator, head coach Dave Bliss allegedly asked several players and an assistant coach to give university investigators false information to protect the basketball program. Bliss reportedly suggested that Patrick Dennehy be portrayed as someone involved with drugs.
The "Star-Telegram" quotes Bliss as saying that: "If there's a way we can create a perception that Pat may have been a dealer, even if we had to kind of make some things look a little better than they are, that can save us."
Baylor assistant coach Abar Rouse taped three hours of conversations between himself, Bliss and several other players in late July.
CNN has heard a small portion of these recordings, much of which is difficult to understand because of poor audio quality. But in this portion, you can hear Bliss coaching the players on what to tell investigators.
DAVE BLISS, FORMER HEAD BASKETBALL COACH, BAYLOR UNIVERSITY: You tell the story, tell your own stories, and then at the end of it, just add the fact that, you know, in your (UNINTELLIGIBLE) these guys would call, you know, and knock on the door and come over and go in the back room and do all that stuff.
LAVANDERA: The university's lead investigator tells CNN that Bliss was confronted about these conversations last Friday and admitted to the conversations. Bliss was said to be shocked that he had been recorded.
Repeated attempts by CNN to reach Bliss and assistant coach Rouse have been unsuccessful.
Baylor University officials say they feel betrayed by Bliss, who resigned as head coach on August 8.
ROBERT SLOAN, PRESIDENT, BAYLOR UNIVERSITY: I'm outraged not only by his own deception, but his efforts to enlist players and assistant coaches in this scheme.
LAVANDERA: According to the Fort Worth newspaper, Bliss told them he was -- quote -- "completely wrong" in what he did, and that he knows he's disappointed a lot of people.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
