Colleges

Student loan probe includes athletic department at USF

USF's athletic department was served multiple document requests from the New York attorney general who is conducting a national probe into questionable practices in the student loan industry.

By GREG AUMAN
Published August 2, 2007

TAMPA - USF's athletic department was served multiple document requests from the New York attorney general who is conducting a national probe into questionable practices in the student loan industry.

"Like a lot of universities, USF has received multiple inquiries, and in responding to each inquiry we've found that we run a pretty clean ship," USF spokesman Ken Gullette said. "We don't expect anything different this time."

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has sent such requests to 40 athletic departments, including three in Florida - USF, Central Florida and Florida Atlantic - as well as prominent universities such as Auburn, UCLA and Kansas, according to a report Wednesday on USA Today's Web site.

Gullette said Cuomo is investigating relationships with a Clearwater company, Student Financial Services Inc., doing business as University Financial Services (UFS). Gullette said ISP Sports, a national marketing company that handles advertising on Bulls athletics broadcasts, has "an arms-length advertising relationship with UFS. ... This kind of arrangement is not improper."

Part of UFS's official Web site, www.gousfbulls.ufloans.com, advertises student loans and identifies UFS as a "proud paying sponsor of University of South Florida athletics." The Bulls' official Web site, www.gousfbulls.com, lists UFS as a sponsor but doesn't link to the company's site.

Punter breaks down during testimony

A football player attacked by a knife-wielding man broke down in sobs on the stand in Greeley, Colo., saying he had feared for his life and his career.

Rafael Mendoza, a starting punter for Northern Colorado, was left with a 3- to 5-inch gash in his kicking leg in the attack on Sept. 11, but later returned to the team.

Police and prosecutors allege the then-backup punter, Mitch Cozad, stabbed Mendoza in a bid to get the starter's job.

Cozad is on trial on charges of attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault. His attorney, however, has said another student attacked Mendoza.

Mendoza testified he had gotten out of his car at his apartment when he heard footsteps behind him, was hit hard in the head and fell. Mendoza said he saw a man swing a knife at him, miss and swing again, hitting him in the leg. He said he didn't see who the attacker was.

When asked by prosecutor Michele Meyer what his biggest concern was after the attack, Mendoza began to choke up. He said he thought of his fiancee, Meghan Gregory, upstairs in his apartment.

Later, as Meyer replayed Mendoza's labored 911 call from his cell phone, Mendoza broke down again, and Judge Marcelo Kopcow called a recess.

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Oral Roberts confirmed it will play Oklahoma State in the men's basketball's All-College Classic this December, pitting two of Eddie Sutton's sons against each other. The Dec. 20 game on a neutral court in Oklahoma City will be the first time Scott Sutton of Oral Roberts and Sean Sutton of Oklahoma State will coach against one another.

Times wires contributed to this report.

[Last modified August 2, 2007, 01:20:05]