PRINT THIS PAGE | E-MAIL THIS PAGE

Tuesday, March 24, 1998

Penders responds to player's criticism

By RENAE MERLE

Associated Press

AUSTIN - Texas basketball coach Tom Penders countered complaints from a few players about his coaching style on Monday while simultaneously defending his character.

"I not perfect. I have many faults, but I have never abused any player in my 30 years as a head coach," Penders told a news conference.

Penders said he would let former players, including ones now on his staff, defend his coaching style while he concentrated on defending his character.

"I have a personal belief in honesty and loyalty and doing the right thing. I have never violated any NCAA rule in my career or brought discredit to the university," Penders said.

Controversy erupted last week when freshman Luke Axtell complained about unfair treatment, alleged verbal abuse and said he planned to transfer.

Axtell, 7-foot freshman center Chris Mihm, freshman point guard Bernard Smith and sophomore forward Gabe Muoneke met with UT Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds on March 9, the day after the Longhorns were eliminated from the Big 12 Conference tournament.

Last week, Penders announced that Axtell would be suspended indefinitely for academic reasons. Later that day Axtell, second in scoring with a 13.3 points per game average, revealed that Dodds had granted him a transfer from UT.

Penders defended his decision to suspend Axtell.

"I felt I had no choice," the coach said. "It's just a suspension. Luke Axtell is still on the basketball team at Texas and I've had nothing but positive things to say about him. He played hard every night, but I still had to suspend him."

Penders said he was not aware that Axtell or other players were unhappy until March 13, and by then most of the team had left for spring break.

Texas basketball players Kris Clack and Chico Vasquez came to Penders defense Monday, saying that he was just doing his job.

"As a coach he may do something that or say something that may offend the players, but as a basketball player and a student athlete you have to take that for granted. You have to know that's going to happen," said Clack, the team's leading scorer.

Clack said Penders and other coaches do say things and yell at players, but that's expected.

Penders said he was touched by Clack and Vasquez's efforts on his behalf. "All I can say is that it brought tears to my eyes. Words cannot express the love I feel for them," Penders said.

The other players that have complained have said they are still considering their future.

"I am not going to worry about mud slinging in the papers," Muoneke said. "I think some of the name calling has been blown out of proportion."

Muoneke said he requested a transfer and is "somewhat" sure that it will be granted, but he will not reveal his destination until it has been granted.

Smith said he would wait until after a team meeting Monday evening before deciding his future. Mihm was not available for comment.

"I'm sorry that they're leaving, but then again as a coach you got to do whatever you can," Clack added. "It's just something you have to get over as a basketball player."

Clack added that Axtell never indicated during the season that he was unhappy.

"The whole year his mouth was kept shut, so I don't know if he was happy or unhappy," Clack said.

After Axtell's telephone call to the American-Statesman, radio station KVET-AM read part of his student progress report, released by UT assistant Eddie Oran.

The veteran coach on Monday said he didn't realize he could not make the information public. Federal law prohibits school officials from releasing the grades of any student without permission from the student or his family.

"I apologize if I have embarrassed Luke Axtell, our program, or the University of Texas," Oran said in a written statement. "It was totally unintentional."

UT Vice Provost Patricia Ohlendorf, who is conducting an investigation of the release, did not return calls Monday.

Penders said he could not comment about the investigation.

"This has been a very difficult year for me both physically and emotionally," he said. "Maybe God's testing my strength. I am stronger now that I've ever been."