 Ball State head coach Billy Taylor
The MAC's very own version of "team trauma" continues to make off the court news in the wake of former head coach Ronny Thompson's resignation, compounded by two players who have had recent encounters with law enforcement.
Probe Produces No Results
Ball State issued a press release on Thursday indicating that it had concluded its internal investigation into notes that included racial slurs that were found in the men's basketball office. The origin of the notes has been a matter of considerable speculation and suspicion and it appears the recently concluded investigation has failed to shed any light on the origin of the notes.
In the release, Gene Burton, Ball State's director of public safety, advised that "all available leads in the case have been exhausted without positive results and the investigation is at an impasse pending the emergence of new information." Burton added that "The evidence at hand has led to no suspects."
University spokesman Tony Proudfoot indicated to the Associated Press that the investigation is considered closed unless additional information arises. The documents were subjected to fingerprint testing but no useable prints were uncovered according to the Associated Press report.
The investigation was launched following the "discovery" of notes in June that were allegedly slipped under the door of the men's basketball offices and contained racial slurs directed at the coaching staff.
Perryman, Ford Arrested
Meanwhile, a player that had originally indicated in April that he was going to leave the program but had a change of heart after meeting with new head coach Billy Taylor, has worked his way off the team again.
Junior guard Jalon Perryman, who averaged 3.7 points per game in 23 games last season for the Cardinals, was arrested recently when he was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. Perryman was a passenger in a car that was pulled over by Indiana State Police. Perryman was also found to have had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for failing to appear for a hearing and was booked into Delaware County Jail. The warrant was later waived after he agreed to appear at a rescheduled hearing. Perryman was released on a $6,000 bond.
The off the court news continued for the Cardinals when JUCO transfer, forward Kevin Ford, was arrested this past Sunday after he contacted police to retrieve two pieces of ID that were confiscated by a local tavern after Ford, who is under the legal drinking age of 21, presented the ID's in an attempt to enter the tavern. Ford reportedly became belligerent and would not leave the tavern doorway.
Ford contacted the police trying to get his ID back and was then arrested after being given a breathalyzer test. According to a report in the Ball State Daily News, a campus newspaper, Ford had to be threatened with a Taser by police when he refused several commands to put his hands behind his back. Ford, a transfer from Southern Idaho, indicated he did not know that the tavern was restricted to those over the age of 21. He was released on $2,000 bond from Delaware County Jail. The tavern shredded the ID's.
Update: Subsequent to the original posting of this story, Ball State head coach Billy Taylor issued a statement indicating that both Perryman and Ford will not be with the team after meeting with both players. Perryman has decided to leave the prorgram while Ford has been dismissed from the team.
"I am very disappointed the situation has not worked out for either of these two young men," said Taylor. "Jalon and I reached a mutual decision agreed to be in his best interest, while Kevin has been dismissed from our program. It's an unfortunate situation, however we wish both Kevin and Jalon the best as they move forward."
Tip-off cannot come soon enough in Muncie.
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