As the season begins for the Ball State University basketball team, allegations by former coach Ronny Thompson still linger and university records indicate at least one of them is true.
In a column by Michael Wilbon in the Washington Post, Thompson said the situation at Ball State was so bad he had to buy basketballs for the team. In the column, Thompson compared the equipment at Ball State to what one would find at a recreational center in a poor neighborhood.
A receipt obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request showed six basketballs were purchased for $40 each on June 28, 2006, at Kessler's Team Sports in Richmond.
Matthew Keiser, Thompson's lawyer, said the receipt proves Thompson was telling the truth about his time at Ball State.
"All that Ronny has been presenting consistently is the truth," he said.
Keiser said it is his understanding that former assistant coach Bill Howze bought the basketballs.
"Ronny was told by Ken Brown that the prior coach had wiped out the equipment," Keiser said.
Though Brown, the deputy director of athletics, declined to comment, former coach Tim Buckley said he and his staff never took anything from the university.
"If they'd like to come and check my home or office they can," Buckley said.
He said he left all the equipment at the university after he left.
"[My] staff did not take anything from Ball State University," Buckley said.
Buckley, who is now an assistant coach at Marquette University, said he never had to buy equipment while he was the Cardinals' coach.
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tom Collins defended the university and said Ball State had sufficient equipment.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
