Something Very Rotten at Pacific

Even as no one is saying anything, this is downright ominous for the Tigers.

University of the Pacific officials have completed a sexual assault investigation and judicial review process that may affect the enrollment and roster status of as many as four student-athletes.
...
Sources said the case involves three men's basketball players and one women's basketball player.

Naturally Pacific won't identify the students, citing federal student privacy law -- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

According to the article, the incidents appear to date back to May, but the victim did not want to file a criminal complaint. At least one of them occurred by and to a student an on-campus. The judicial review was completed last Friday, and could result in dismissal or suspension from the school.

While the school and athletic department refused to name the students or release updated rosters -- again citing FERPA -- this is only a very temporary reprieve. The rosters are due to be released this Monday for the benefit of all the preview mags.

It appears that at least one Pacific player is very suddenly on the move.
It remains to be seen, though, if he was involved.

Senior point guard Steffan Johnson's MySpace profile lists his location as "Moscow, Idaho/Kent, Washington." Kent is Johnson's hometown. Moscow is home to the University of Idaho – and not much else.

Idaho's men's basketball coach is Don Verlin, brother of Pacific associate head coach Ron Verlin. Asked if Johnson was transferring to Idaho, Don Verlin issued the following statement through a school spokesman: "No comment."

A senior transferring in July? Especially one who was all-Big West this past season and led the team in points and assists? That doesn't raise any questions. Johnson may have been a little quick to update his MySpace page.

It is pretty meaningless in the face of what may have happened, but Pacific was expected to be one of the top teams in the Big West this season. If suspensions, dismissals and/or transfers take place as it seems that all goes out the window.