FLAGSTAFF — The Arizona Board of Regents did not discuss Book Richardson's arrest by federal agents or the future of the basketball program during Thursday's meeting in Flagstaff.
Lynn Nadel, a UA professor of psychology and cognitive science and chair of the Arizona Faculties Council, called the scandal "an evolving issue where we don't know what the deal is."
Richardson is alleged to have accepted $20,000 in bribes from sports agents in exchange for steering UA players to their company as pros. Some of the money was then used to buy recruits for the UA, according to federal documents.
"What I think one can say, and I’ve already spoken to our AD (Dave Heeke) about this and to the president about this is, the University is going to do what’s right. They’ll live up to the levels of integrity sports programs at the University of Arizona have always been associated with," he said. "This is a shock, and we need to find out what it means. I think the university is going to do anything it can to get back on track. That’s all that’s sayable.”
Nadel's statement came one day after Regents chair Bill Ridenour called Richardson's behavior "absolutely unacceptable."
"We will maintain our responsibility as stewards of the public trust, especially our students, alumni and fans, in the days and weeks to come," he said.
