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Frequent caller Records show 16 calls between Price and student
Posted: Saturday November 20, 1999 02:26 PM
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Phone records show 16 calls between former Memphis basketball coach Tic Price and a female student the day after a witness claimed to have seen the woman run bleeding from Price's home. Price resigned unexpectedly Sunday night but neither he nor the university have said what prompted the move. However, the university released documents this week indicating the resignation was related to allegations Price had an affair with a 23-year-old student and assaulted her at his Germantown home. According to the phone records, 16 calls were placed between Price's office telephone and the student the day after the alleged assault Oct. 2. It was not clear whether the calls originated with Price or the student. More than 1,100 calls for more than 8,300 minutes were made from Price's cell phone to the student from May 27, 1998, through Sept. 26, 1999, the records showed. About 175 calls for nearly 2,000 minutes were made to the student using Price's calling card from Aug. 2, 1998, to Aug. 15, 1999. The university is investigating to see whether the calls broke any rules, spokesman Les Seago said. "There are policies against personal use of the telephone without reimbursing the university," Seago told The Commercial Appeal. "If we find any evidence of misuse or violation of university policy, we will take appropriate action." Seago said Price, whose whereabouts are still unknown, could be forced to reimburse the university. The university received an anonymous fax on Oct. 11 alleging Price attacked the student at his Germantown home. The fax said the woman had been having an affair with Price for more than a year. Germantown police are investigating the incident. No charges have been filed. Another anonymous fax, sent to the school last Friday, provided details about Price's alleged affair with the student. It said the woman traveled with him on recruiting visits and spent nights with him before every home game in his suite at a Memphis hotel. Athletic Director R.C. Johnson contacted Price the next day and the two began negotiations that resulted in the resignation Sunday night. Price issued a statement through one of his lawyers Tuesday saying his resignation was a result of "personal failings" and that he didn't "want to hurt the University of Memphis, my players or my staff. At some point in the future, I will issue a more detailed statement." Memphis was 30-27 in Price's two seasons, including 13-15 last season. The school has named Johnny Jones interim coach. The Tigers leave for Hawaii on Friday and meet Georgetown in Monday's opening round of the Maui Invitational.
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