In September of 2005 Ball State University hired the law firm Bond, Schoeneck & King to help resolve major NCAA infractions involving the book-loan and softball programs.
"When the university stepped into the textbooks, I think they felt like they needed a little help," Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tom Collins said.
The firm's Collegiate Sports Practice Group, which specializes in dealing with the NCAA, has charged the university $90,904.93 through January. That money comes out of the university budget, however, and does not take away athletic department money.
The firm has handled infractions cases for more than 60 Division I programs during the past 16 years, according to its Web site. Among those have been the University of Kansas, which paid the firm $477,000 from 2000 to 2003, and The Ohio State University, which paid them $511,000 from 2003 to 2006, according to a New York Times story.