DETROIT (AP) — At least three convicted drug dealers received free tickets from coaches for Michigan basketball games, a newspaper reported.
University records cited by the Detroit Free Press showed the tickets were given out by coaches to what were called friends of the program.
At least three people with criminal records received tickets through their association with Robert Traylor, who just completed his sophomore season at Michigan, the newspaper said on Tuesday. They included:
ù Sidney Dorsey, 28, convicted twice of drug charges and facing new charges of distributing cocaine, heroin and marijuana when he got tickets while Traylor was being recruited in 1994. Dorsey received tickets to 30 games from 1995 to 1997.
ù Gregory Shivers, also known as Wilfred Carter Jr., who has cocaine possession and concealed weapons convictions dating to 1985. Shivers, identified by the Free Press as a relative of Traylor’s, had received tickets to 10 games as of August 1996.
ù Quasand Lewis, 27, imprisoned nearly three years on a cocaine delivery charge, returned to prison on a probation violation, then when released, got a ticket to the Wolverines’ exhibition opener in 1995.
NCAA rules were not violated in any of those cases. But the Free Press said the ticket giveaways conflict with the athletic department’s guidelines for conduct by players and coaches.
The Michigan athletics department did appear to have violated NCAA rules when it seated recruit Willie Mitchell with a booster and another department associate during at least one game in 1994, the Free Press said.
The booster, Ed Martin of Detroit, is the central figure in the NCAA investigation of the basketball program. The associate was identified as Dennis Archer Jr., son of the Detroit mayor, who tutored basketball players. Athletic department records also officially listed the younger Archer as someone who helped with recruiting and helped with summer jobs for players.
Under NCAA rules, arranged meetings between recruits and anyone who might be considered an outside representative of athletic department interests are banned.
The university severed ties between Martin and the basketball program in March of this year. Martin declined to comment to the Free Press.
“Being part of this nationally recognized athletic program places you in a position of responsibility, and because of this, your behavior should be exemplary,” the handbook reads. “Certain actions reflect poorly on your family, team, the university and the department’s philosophy of academic, athletic and social excellence.”