Doc Sadler Press Conference Regarding Roburt Sallie

Opening statement

“Before we start, first I want to say thanks for coming on short notice. A couple of things: I apologize, but I had some prior arrangements and commitments that have kept me out of town the last few days and I did not get back into Omaha until about 5:30 this afternoon. I wanted to, as soon as we could, address you to answer your questions. There are a few things that I think are so important and we have a statement in this athletic department of five things that are very important to us that we try to live by each and every day. That statement consists of integrity, trust, respect, teamwork and loyalty.

 

"Although I have not had an opportunity to read some of the newspaper (articles) that have been written, one thing that I want you to know is, as long as I am the basketball coach here, the integrity of this program will never be in question. We are not going to ever, ever try to hide anything. It is just a situation that I wanted to be the person that had a chance to have the questions asked to me about this program.

 

"Saying that, I want you to understand that I am going to go through a few things here. Obviously, it is a very, very sad day for all of us because we have a young man named Roburt Sallie that wanted to attend the University of Nebraska probably as much as anybody I have ever recruited. He is not going to be able to do that. I wanted it made very, very clear that it is not anything that Roburt intentionally did. It is a situation that has come up that had to be addressed. It was a decision that was made, not by the University of Nebraska, but by the Big 12 (Council of Faculty Athletics Representatives) that he would not be allowed to attend any Big 12 school. Saying that, I know you are going to have a lot of questions, so I will be happy to answer them.

 

"Let me kind of give you my thought process and then you can go. I have visited with Roburt and that was one of the reasons that this couldn’t take place before today. The decision was made last Thursday, a week ago today. That was when Marc Boehm was made aware of the situation, that was when I was made aware of the situation and that was when Coach Osborne was made aware of the situation. That was late on Thursday afternoon. We met first thing Friday and one of the things we all agreed upon is that I needed to go and sit down with Roburt and face him and his dad and explain the decision that was made by the Big 12 faculty reps. It was a bad time because it was also during a dead period, so I wasn’t able to go on Friday. We had to actually ask for a special waiver from the NCAA. Bob Burton wrote that request.

 

"It was sometime around 9:30 Friday night that we got written confirmation that I could go, along with Eric Colbert, who is a member of my staff and also a friend of Roburt, and I felt like it would be important that he go also. (Receiving the waiver) did not take place until like 9:30 at night on Friday. On Saturday, we never actually made verbal contact with Roburt. We sent some text messages, but we made a decision to still go ahead and go out there on Sunday. I wanted to do it as soon as possible. I did do that. I sat down with Roburt and his dad and explained the situation. After that I had commitments to go to Orlando, Fla. I had made a commitment to Aleks Maric and his family to be at the NBA pre-draft camp. Even though this was very, very important (to talk to Roburt), I also felt like it was very important for me, for all the things Aleks has done for this program, to fulfill that obligation also. Saying that, it is not that we were trying to avoid anything. As I said, this is the first opportunity we have had to get back with you (the media). Saying that, I will be more than happy to answer any questions that you have.”

 

 

On when Sadler found out Sallie had enrolled

“When did I find out that he had enrolled? Two weeks ago tonight. The Thursday before we went to the Big 12 meeting. (Assistant) Coach David Anwar had been in a meeting with Andrea Einspahr in Academics, Dennis Leblanc in Academics and Jo Potuto (NU Faculty Athletics Representative) and that was on a Tuesday. On Thursday I was told we were going to file a waiver with the Big 12. At that time, Jo did not think that it was going to be an issue. Dennis called me late that Friday night about another matter and just asked me if David (Anwar) had brought me up to speed on Roburt Sallie. I said yes, he did bring it to my intention, but it is my understanding that it is just a process that we are going to go through. That is when I found out.”

 

On if Sadler recruited Sallie not knowing he would need this waiver

“Correct.”

 

On if any athletic department staff in 2006 knew Sallie would need the waiver to return to NU

“I can’t speak for Steve [Pederson], but Marc Boehm did not learn of this issue until a week ago today. Marc called me and I was in an event with Bo Pelini, Bob Burton, Paul Meyers and myself in Omaha and I found out at probably 2 or 2:30 p.m. Marc called me and asked if me if I knew about this situation with Roburt Sallie. I said yes and he said 'I am just now learning about it, tell me what you know.' That was when Marc found out about it.”

 

On why it took so long for Doc to find out about it

“More than anything, I think probably it is just a poor, poor job on my behalf and Academic Services and Compliance and (our) communication. It is inexcusable and it is not how we want to do business, but in this particular situation we did not communicate very well with them."

 

On why there was no conversation between Compliance and the coaching staff on Sallie’s recruitment

“(It) is not unusual. I wouldn’t have conversations with Jo Potuto at that particular time. According to Jo, she made it aware to Coach Anwar on Tuesday before we went to the Big 12 meetings, two weeks ago this past Tuesday. (One thing) she asked about was did his prior enrollment at Nebraska trigger the Big 12 rule? According to Jo, Dennis, David, Andrea; Jo did not think it was going to be a big deal. I did not find out about it until Thursday.”

 

On why Sallie wasn’t told a waiver was being filled

“I do not know. I do not know. If you are asking why I didn’t tell him, it was because I assumed that it was just a process. That it was not going to be a situation where he was going to be denied. That was my feelings on the information I had. That is the reason I did not say anything to Roburt.”

 

On if Sallie knew he was enrolled in classes

“Again, the meeting that I had with Roburt’s dad and Roburt, no. He is saying that he never enrolled in class. He says to his knowledge, he has never been enrolled at the University of Nebraska.”

 

On if Sallie says he didn’t know, then did someone else enroll him and who

“(That process) is not uncommon. I think that is the way it is done a lot here. Someone in Academic Services and in this particular case it was Dennis (Leblanc) with, according to Dennis, Roburt’s wanting to be enrolled.”

 

On if he knew about discussions between Sallie and Academic Services about Sallie’s options

“Yes, I was pretty well informed on those issues. It was my understanding that Roburt was going to attend class up to a census date and then he would have to make a decision on what he wanted to do at that time. If he was going to stay enrolled in classes past that census day, then financially he was going to have pay tuition and things like that. Yes, I was pretty much aware that he was going to attend class, but I did not know that he had enrolled in class. That was a discussion that we have had recently with Dennis and (Academics and Compliance); and it was on my behalf and on their behalf, it was poor communication. The blame goes here and it goes to the basketball program. It is my responsibility.”

 

On if he knew about Big 12 Rule 6.2 in 2006

“The only reason I knew about the rule was because it was told to Roburt several times that if he enrolled, and Roburt was well aware -- Dennis told him several times, Gary Bargen told him several times and my coaching staff, not in my presense, that he could not enroll and if he did enroll it would trigger this particular rule. If (Sallie) ever wanted to come back to a Big 12 school, that (he) would not be able to. It is my understanding, and I hate to talk like this because I wasn’t there, but the reason I am saying this is because all the parties agree, is that he made a statement that junior college is not going to be an option; if he could not get cleared, then his wishes were to try to go play overseas and then someday hopefully get back to the NBA.”

 

On who Sallie said that to

“He told Dennis Leblanc, he told Gary Bargen and Eric Colbert, one of my assistants, (all) were present during that statement.”

 

On how they interpreted Sallie’s comments regarding enrollment

“I can not answer that. I do not know what they interpreted it as. It was my understanding that he was attending classes, but not enrolled. That is my interpretation. I do not know how they took that statement. I can not answer that question.”

 

On if Academics knew Sallie would be in jeopardy, why they didn’t tell Sadler

“It was poor communication on our staff and Academics. Let me tell you this. I do not want you to go in any other direction. Nebraska has a lot of strengths, and I’ve talked about them, and our Academic Services is second to none. Their record stands on its own. By no means is this a reflection of that. When you look at what they have done, I don’t think you can question very much except pat them on the back and say great job. In this particular situation, we did not do a good job of communicating. I could sit here and give you reasons or excuses that might sound good, but there are not any. Nebraska and Roburt Sallie suffer in this situation.”

 

On if all avenues have been followed for Sallie

“That is my understanding. Obviously, I don’t think you can ever say never. I think he is still committed to wanting to come here and I think that spirit is what makes him a special player. As far as Nebraska is concerned, I believe that we have done everything within in the rules to the point that we can’t go any further. I don’t know of anything else that we can do to get Roburt Sallie in a Nebraska uniform. Nebraska has done everything that they can do.”

 

On why he thinks the Big 12 denied the waiver

“I do not know. I do not know why they denied it. To me, I think we as coaches and administrators, a lot of the time sit around and talk about doing the right thing. I am sure they have their reasons for not doing it. I have not had a chance to talk to any of them. I am not convinced this is the right, but I was not asked.”

 

On why the waiver wasn’t filled before May when it could have been earlier

“You are right. It could have been, but it wasn’t. I think it goes back to again, poor communication and that is unacceptable, but that is the fact. It just was that way. It is a normal process at this time of year for Academics and each sport get together to make sure they go over all the different kids. Jo Potuto gets involved and obviously she was involved in the case two years ago, but according to her, she did not realize that we had signed Roburt Sallie (in fall 2007). She did not realize it until his name came up when we were going through the normal process of Compliance and Academics (in May 2008).”

 

On when she realized Sallie was signed

“Two weeks ago Tuesday.”

 

On Potuto’s comment earlier in the week

“She told me that the reason it did not trigger her (memory) is because she did not realize we had signed Roburt Sallie (in the fall). When she realized that we had signed Roburt Sallie, two weeks ago on Tuesday, that is what triggered her recollection of him being here before.”

 

On what Sadler says to fans that feel this loss will make or break the program

“No question it is a setback, but I hope, in the building process and where we are at and I preach this and have talked about this, that this program has to get bigger than any coach or player. Obviously we were counting on Roburt. He would have been a great asset to our program I believe that and he will be missed, but we will find a way to fight and scrap and get on the floor and do the things that we have been doing for two years.”

 

On if Sallie withdrew from classes the same week he enrolled

“It is my understanding that he withdrew on a Monday. The next Monday.”

 

On if Sallie withdrew or someone did it for him

“It is my understanding that Dennis Leblanc withdrew him with Roburt in the office. That is what Dennis is saying.”

 

On Sallie remembering differently

“Roburt doesn’t ever remember enrolling in class. He doesn’t remember withdrawing from classes.”

 

On if Dennis misunderstood what Roburt wanted to do

“Anything is possible, but that is speculating and that is what has got us here now. People speculating and that is why I wanted to be here, not to speculate. I think it is important that we get the facts out there. I said from day one that is what this program is going to be about. We are not going to hide behind issues. I understand where you guys are coming from, and that because I wasn’t in town it leads to speculation sometimes. That is not good. Now the facts are being put out there.”

 

On if someone else could have put out the facts earlier in the week

“I wanted to. It is my responsibility.”

 

 

Statement on hiring of Walter Roese as assistant coach

“This other thing obviously has also been a process, a very difficult process that I have shot a lot of different ideas around with a lot of different people trying to figure out and do the best thing for the basketball program here. It has been a difficult decision because, for what I hope are good reasons, there were a lot of people that wanted to be a part of this program as an assistant coach. I got a chance to visit with a lot of good people, but this is one person that I have known for a long time when he came over from Brazil to play at Houston for my closest mentor, the guy in charge of me being a coach, Coach Pat Foster. I have known him for 20 years, 15 years, don’t hold me to the exact date. One of the things that separated Walter from a lot of different people is that, first of all, it would be his international recruiting ties. Everybody has great coaches and everybody can recruit, but I think that for us to get to the level that we want to, to compete year in and year out in the Big 12, we might need to go in a little bit different direction. That was the reason that I hired Walter. Obviously, you look at his resume and it is very, very impressive. I know he and his family are looking forward to coming here and helping us become champions. The places that he has been in the past have been champions and I hope that he helps us do the same.”

 

On Walter’s recruiting ties paying immediate dividends

“I hope so. I think all of us had better still be recruiting. Coach Osborne asks me about every time I see him if we have a big man, so when your boss is asking that question, you better be trying to find one. Is there anybody out there right now? No. As we all do forever, we are trying to find that next guy.”

 

On if Roese could bring a 6-10 player in his pocket (asked jokingly)

“If he does, I won’t turn him down, but not that I know.”

 

On when he realized he was going to have to look outside the box in recruiting

“I think that has been pretty much from day one. We want to recruit Nebraska first and foremost, and I think if you look at the teams that have been successful at Nebraska, they have had Nebraska kids on that team. I believe that for those kids it is a little more special. Right now we are kind of in that period where there may just be one or two guys that can help us win a Big 12 championship (in the state). I am familiar enough now with Nebraska to where I can do that. I think I have always been one to think outside of the box.”

 

 

On how much of his soul he has put into recruiting and specifically the Sallie situation

“Obviously, Roburt is a great story because you have got to have people like Roburt Sallie that believe in what you are doing and want to be a part of something as bad as he wants to be a part of (Nebraska) to get over that hump. Roburt Sallie is a unique person in that he doesn’t care if he is playing against (San Antonio Spurs guard) Tony Parker, he thinks he is going to beat Tony Parker. That is the kind of confidence you need. Yes, it is disappointing. It is disappointing to everybody in this room I hope. It would be a lot more fun covering our team with him than without him, but facts are facts and we move on.

 

"It is disappointing because he wanted to be here so bad. I have said this so many times, I am going to coach for a long time I hope. Kids only get a chance to play three or four years. It is disappointing more for him probably than me. What I mean by that is not to be able to see him get to do what he really wants to do and that’s to be at Nebraska, that is the disappointing thing. He is going to have a lot of opportunities. We are going to do everything we can to help him. You are going to get a chance to see him play (somewhere). End of story."