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The stories are in order as they appear in this content area:
UM athletics inquiry panel sends final report to regents (Missoulian).
Dickenson raring to play following minor operation (Great Falls Tribune).
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UM athletics inquiry panel sends final report to regents
By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian
Late Monday, the UM Athletics Inquiry Panel released its final report to the Montana Commissioner of Higher Education, the state Board of Regents and University of Montana officials.
After a six-week investigation, the panel charged with investigating the nearly $1 million deficit in UM's athletic department developed a 71-page document filled with 42 findings and 26 recommendations. The report will be discussed by the regents at their Thursday meeting in Havre.
Late Tuesday, UM President George Dennison was one of the few people who had the opportunity to wade through the document.
"I thought it was pretty comprehensive," Dennison said. "I think it was very accurate and I'm impressed by the work the panel put into it."
"I'm also gratified that they didn't find issues that went beyond what we thought the issue was - in terms of how the problem developed and when it developed."
John Mercer, regent chairman, said he was still working his way through the report and was reluctant to comment about the panel's discoveries.
"I'd like to give panel chairwoman Diane Barz the opportunity to present the report to the board before I comment on it," he said. "I think that's only right and appropriate."
Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns was out of town and could not be reached for comment.
Missoula County Attorney Fred Van Valkenburg said he has not yet read the report and will wait until the regents discuss its findings on Thursday before he considers further investigation.
At their final meeting on May 14, panel members said they did not have time to fully examine all spending records in the department.
Rich Ochsner, a panel member and retired Missoula city police detective, said he doesn't believe the deficit was due to intentional wrongdoing or intentional misappropriation of funds. However, a random review of a minute selection of department expenditures revealed a culture of spending that appears, in many cases, to be beyond state guidelines.
After his review of some of the procurement-card records - state credit card accounts billed to UM athletics - Ochsner said last week: "There's definitely smoke there, but I don't know if there's a blaze."
Dennison said he hopes the regents approve UM's deficit-reduction plan, which he and other UM officials will present on Thursday.
Some items in the plan include: raising ticket prices for UM football and basketball games, adding $2 per semester to the student athletic fee, funneling more revenue to athletics from the concession sales and profit from Grizzly logo wear.
On Monday, the plan received a stamp of approval from a campus committee that includes student government leaders, faculty, staff and UM officials.
"We think it's a good one," Dennison said, and he hopes the regents have the same response.
It's time to move forward, he said.
"The whole situation has been very difficult for the people in athletics, and that's most regrettable," Dennison said.
"The people there are very good people and work very hard."
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Dickenson raring to play following minor operation
By Great Falls Tribune
Dave Dickenson continues to be plagued by knee problems, but the former C.M.
Russell High and University of Montana star doesn't expect to miss any football this summer.
Dickenson, the starting quarterback for the British Columbia Lions, is expected to be ready for training camp this weekend, after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, the Lions coach and general manager says.
Wally Buono said Dickenson underwent the minor operation Friday.
"Dave had surgery to re-trim some cartilage from his original tear," Buono said in a written statement. "We expect to see Dave at training camp and participating in our two-a-days."
The Lions play exhibition games June 5 and June 10, then open the regular season at home against Hamilton on June 18.
Dickenson led CMR to two state Class AA championships and guided the Montana Grizzlies to a national NCAA Division I-AA championship in 1995. The 5-11, 185-pounder underwent surgery on the same knee in early December to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, suffered during practice in preparation for the CFL playoff semifinals.
Dickenson, 31, rejoined the CFL last season after two years as an NFL backup, signing a four-year deal with the Lions reportedly worth $375,000 annually.
After shaking off a slow start, he was a finalist for the CFL's outstanding player award last season, leading the league with a 112.7 pass efficiency rating. He passed for 5,496 yards and 36 touchdowns against just 12 interceptions.
Dickenson was the CFL's MVP in 2000, leading the Calgary Stampeders to the Grey Cup title game.
Source: Tom Griz Fan
May 19, 2004
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