Rozitis issues statement
Former Hawaii center Davis Rozitis, who was mentioned in the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations against UH and in UH’s subsequent response, issued a statement in defense of himself and former coach Gib Arnold on Saturday.
UPDATE: UH athletic director David Matlin did not comment on Sunday.
Here’s the statement in full:
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As a University of Hawaii graduate and former Scholar Athlete of the Year I believe it is my responsibility to stand up for what’s right. I believe the the University has done me, my team mates, and Coaches a great disservice by setting us up to fail.
The allegations I am accused of as well as Coach Arnold are simply not true and are blown way out of proportion.
The incident I have been ruled ineligible for further shows how the total lack of guidance by the University and the compliance office set us up to fail. Knowing I needed to move items into my dorm and not owning a car I specifically went to compliance and asked if I could borrow a friends car. They gave me permission to do so. A friend of mine had a car, but was off Island, so I asked his girlfriend if I could borrow his car to move stuff into my dorm while he was away. She let me use it. Neither he nor his girlfriend were season ticket holders or associated with UH. They were not boosters as explained to me by UH compliance.
The next day when I told Coach Gib I could give some players a ride to a team function he asked me whose car I had. I told him it was a friends and he was not a booster or season ticket holder and I had permission. He immediately held a team meeting and told us at that time that as student-athletes we have to be very careful as we live in a glass house and should even stay away from the appearance of doing the wrong thing. He was very adamant and taught the team that we needed to look out for each other and stay away from any possible situations that could endanger our eligibility. This is the meeting that the NCAA claims that Coach Gib told us to “hide” my “major violation”. This is not true. I was there and Coach was only making it very clear to be careful about what actions we take as student-athletes. There was never any kind of cover up to hide this incident.
After the meeting Coach met with me, and I told Coach that my friend was not a season ticket holder or a booster, as the compliance department had explained in approving my actions in advance. Coach then called my friend. My friend explained to Coach that he wasn’t even aware the car was loaned as he was not on Oahu. He further told Coach he nor his girlfriend were boosters just friends. Coach asked him to pick up the car as he did not want his players driving other people’s cars to avoid even the appearances of any wrongdoing.
This was a good lesson for all of us and a teaching opportunity for Coach Gib. Years later I was questioned about this incident by our compliance officer Amanda Paterson and the NCAA. After the meeting, I asked Amanda if this was a problem. She specifically told me that this was not a violation and I should not worry. Never In my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that my University, the school my team mates and I so proudly represented over the years would fire my coach and take away our hard earned victories to serve their own agenda. This is wrong! As I told Coach Gib, one of the greatest lessons I learned from him while playing for The University Hawaii was about Ohana and how in Hawaii we support our family. In this situation I’m saddened that The University of Hawaii Administration has not supported us and has made this decision that has negatively affected the lives of so many student-athletes and coaches who worked extremely hard for the people of Hawaii and its University.
Aloha nui loa,
Davis Rozitis
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Wow ! This puts a whole different light on the alleged violations. Maybe some of the other alleged violations might stick, but this one puts a bad light on the University.
After I read this my first reaction was exactly the same as #1 above; “WOW”! We only got to hear what the University put out and it sounded like he end of the earth, and now this comes out from Davis. This makes me wonder if there is some kind of back peddling and cover up by the UH administration/athletic department. If he checked with compliance and got the OK, how come this was one of the NCAA listed allegations? Then they rollover and self impose, what is the truth? Please keep this kind of info coming, good to be able to hear both sides!
This is sad to hear. I was surprised that the University took victories away from our student athletes who worked so hard to represent our state. If the University is trying to cover their butts on the backs of our student/athletes than this is pathetic.
My question to Davis. Exactly what did you tell the NCAA investigators and why didn’t you make a public statement last year ?
Hon2255..
The letter came out in January 2015?
Davis playing pro ball in Latvia …had to read…as his letter stated..appeared with Amanda , uhadmin everything okay..Amand a , no worry , no real problem
Hon2255, no matter what you think of Gib tenure and team..this thing is getting worse by day, weeks, months. Smart, high character, doctorate, brains of state highest educational institution..?
Not!! This letter, and , watch.. more will speak up..defend Gib, team and allegations, because student athletes, their families and WE FANS are getting screwed..Norm Chow , retention..UH okole backwards. .
hope Davis and Gib , team, staff get cleared and make UH and new coup Eran and new coaching staff..have tough time..they must feel like fan support super divided!
You missed the point. Why didn’t Davis come public with this info a long time ago when this crap first broke out. It may have stopped things dead in the tracks.
#6:
more important question is why “upper campus” is putting the “diss” on the basketball program???
why did the NCAA list this as a “violation” when it was cleared by UH Compliance Office? if, in their wisdom, now that’s giving much to much credit to the NCAA, why not make Amanda take the hit for causing this violation instead of the basketball program (coaches and players)?
why did the NCAA chose to say that the meeting was used by Gib to ask players to deny/cover up the alleged violation? did other player(s) testify differently? why? what was their motive/intent?
btw, there was a small/short article in this morning sports section that the NCAA is investigating the “phantom” class and grades given to athletes the past 20 years – UNC has 90 days to respond! talk about “lack of institutional control” – surely someone in the administration knew of this and did everything to keep it under wraps!!!!!!!!!!
minimum penalty is deleting all the grades for those involved even it translates to retracting the “degree” awarded to those students, disallowing all the “wins” where these athletes participated in games, and highly encourage the ACC to kick UNC out of the conference!!
btw, did you know that the head of the NCAA Compliance office is now the SEC Commissioner? is there a “connection” to the “change of heart” for players who sought medical hardship, transferred, and will not have to sit out a “redshirt” year??? where is the TRANSPARENCY that is so sorely needed to fix the NCAA image?
where is Congress to fix the NCAA who routinely turns their heads when Power5 schools are involved with a small slap on the wrist; if anything!!! or, is there a lawyer who is willing to say the NCAA is discriminating in punishment doled out to BCS member schools versus all others?? all past and present NCAA employees should be subject to cross examination under oath.
A-House…excellent points, by someone else other than Bickerton or Gib making statements to clear things up, clarify, shows corruption,, or possible, collusion, insider politics of UH , NCAA, and others..
we , alumnus of UH, are fed up.. clean house NCAA , UH ADMIN..
sad good people hurt.
I feel sickened to congratulate Eran and new staff, they are part of coup to rid UH MBB of Gib and team..sad
#6. Because while the investigation was being done, and before the violations were announced, NCAA mandates that no one say anything. Cloak and dagger.
The arbitration results from Arnold’s $1.4M claim against UH should be a good measure of Chancellor Bley-Vroman’s handling of the investigation of the NCAA allegations and associated responses.
Yeah #6 ADmrVT is totally spot on. You are only putting this out for an agenda that is to back up the administration.
On top of this can’t wait to hear this biggie about loaning an I-pad to Fotu. A violation more than likely. But to say this is a cover up, when Akana was suspended for being responsible to loaning the I-pad. That is the reason why he was suspended according to the news media which they got the press release from UH.
On top of this UH not supporting the young man Mr. Fotu, and having him suspended. Come on UH telling Mr. Fotu you are guilty and we will not have your back on this. Was there any consultation with the young man. UH the so called institution of higher learning needed to back him up and have the team pay the price as a team if there were to be sanctioned. Terrible, Terrible, Terrible.
Is there a conspiracy with the NCAA to get Gib due to his USC days? The NCAA telling the administration behind closed doors to deal. Attorney for Gib go and have this investigated for if this is true this should go to the legal judicial system of the United States because this is a conspiracy to ruin a man’s profession and livelihood.
SA now get those statement from players who were investigated that said things that were negative. We the public wants to know who made allegations that made Gib the culprit. If their statements are the truth have this proven in a court of law under oath (real oath). Then and only then we will find the real truth from anyone who may have had a reason to do so against their former coach.
This account by Mr Rozitis certainly sounds a lot more plausible than all the sleazy drivel and innuendo coming from the UH administration and the NCAA…!
This account by Mr Rozitis certainly sounds a lot more plausible than all the highly questionable drivel and innuendo coming from the UH administration and the NCAA…!
Omg the same fool Not an Expert is the same multi psychocotic person with multiple names on this blog answering himself on the very next entry hidden under another name. He does the same thing on Warrior Insider as Eagle , Cp3 , poor boy. What a nut.
If the administrators had spun the allegations and colluded with the NCAA a lawsuit against the UH is eminent on the half Coach Gib. If facts can be found that the NCAA had made an effort to get UH to collude against Coach Gib, they themselves will face a big law suit. The skeletons will be coming out of someone’s closet.
Alot of lying went on in the investigation.. he could still be lying. We wont ever know really. Of course hes going to protect himself and his coach then blame others for his violation, he has no choice. Gib didnt teach them honesty. If he did, they would have came clean the first time, there wouldnt have been multiple interviews with the same individuals, He could be trying to take the spot light away from the more severe infractions but judgment day is coming soon. Better to vacate the wins then have harsher penalties.
UH ADMIN & NCAA = EVACUATION APERTURES.
Good coomments from Gary and Chris on Sports Animals today..
just discussing Davis letter, and questions it raises.
Davis real courageous to speak up.
Standup guy.
Hope UH or powers, ncaa, or compliance , agenda people
get served justice..
Davis good job.
Aloha.
Comments by animals..not coomments!
Wow, UH people..messing everyone up!!
Mako, you are the very one who must have a lot of web names and throw out crap. For your information I am not Eagle, Cp3 or poor boy. You are a person who has no clue and you doing such shows how idiotic one can be.
It is interesting that right after Davis Rozitis’ statement, Ferd Lewis writes an article with unsourced information that, while pointing to potential problems with UH’s control over the Athletics program, presents Arnold in a very negative light.
It is all a conspiracy!!!Bigger than Watergate,Iran Contra!!! President needs to appoint a special prosecutor to bring leaders of this coup up on charges. poorboy and not an expert are onto something. Fire UH admin, compliance, AD, President and hire Gib back! Banish Eran to Las Vegas where he can conspire with Riley Wallace to take over Centenary! And the NCAA needs to show who they worked with to set all this up. Don’t forget Fisher. He probably was an inside conspirator. If things don’t get a full public airing UH could lose REAL FANS like poorboy and not an expert. I, for one, can feel the tears welling up already.
Yeah, I would have thought Dave be the GrimReaper.
NCAA slapped UNC with 5 level 1 violations including “lack of institutional control” so don’t know what penalties will occur but serious. I will wait for this to play out but it is obvious Gib and attorney engaged in full court pr press. Everything will be decided by NCAA. May not like it but that is how it goes. Mediation on the 1.4 mil is separate issue and that will be settled also. All the statements, etc are just noise at this point. Can’t wait for this drama to end so everyone can move on.
And now UH filed a lawsuit against Arnold. I thought the whole point of termination without cause was to avoid a lawsuit. All UH seems to have accomplished is giving Arnold a crack at an additional $1.4M as a termination without cause penalty.