Nevada cleared of most serious allegations

The University of Nevada athletic program said Tuesday that the NCAA's 10-month investigation into the university's athletic program has found no lack of institutional control and no gambling-related issues.

The NCAA launched an investigation into the program after women's soccer coach Terri Patraw filed a whistle-blower complaint alleging she was fired in retaliation for reporting rules violations within the Nevada athletic department. The most damning allegation claimed that men's golf coach Rich Merritt, who has since resigned, bet on sports.
Groth said the NCAA did not have any surprising findings and that she felt great relief that the investigation portion of the case had closed.
The case will not be closed until after the NCAA's Committee on Infractions views the investigation's findings. Groth also said the university has not been issued a "Notice of Allegations," which is a written document that outlines what the investigation found. However, she was told over the phone last week that the program was cleared of the two most serious allegations and that the university had permission to announce that information.

Patraw said Tuesday that "given all of the information concerning gambling and the lack of institutional control provided to the NCAA, this news is unbelievable."
Patraw said she supplied the NCAA with information she believes supports her claims, and that the university is not completely out of the clear.
"The NCAA Committee on Infractions has the final say and can hand down additional charges," Patraw said. "I look forward to what the NCAA Committee of Infractions has to say about this information."
When asked if she had contacted Patraw since being cleared of the two main allegations, Groth said: "Terri has nothing to do with this. This is an NCAA investigation."