Chess team stripped of Final Four for foul

Searching for Bobby Fischer again

By: Tom Holzerman

Posted: 4/1/05

Drexel's chess team has been hit with two years of probation from the NCAA after they learned of recruiting improprieties.

The improprieties have been occurring for at least five years and include providing recruits with access to controlled substances and women.

Even though he has denied all involvement with the scandalous activities, coach James "Bruiser" Flint resigned under rumored pressure from Athletic Director Eric Zillmer.

"I swear, I didn't do a damn thing wrong," Flint said. "I believe in doing things the right way. I want to win, but not this way."

"This is a dark day for Drexel chess," Zillmer said. "I knew our best season was too good to be true."

Zillmer was referring to the Dragons' Colonial Athletic Association Championship and Final Four appearance in the NCAA tournament.

As punishment, all of Drexel's accomplishments over the last five years have been expunged from the records including the naming of Corneilius McJohnsonson and Eugene Higginbottom to the All-American Team this past season.

McJohnsonson and Higginbottom graduated after last season and both were implicated in the improprieties.

The violations included the serving of highly caffeinated beverages and parties thrown with plenty of girls in tight sweaters and jeans.

"I'm so ashamed of myself," McJohnsonson said. "I shouldn't have drank all that Mountain Dew. You don't know how much shame this has brought to my family."

"All the debauchery," Higginbottom said." I had never seen women wearing sweaters that tight before. My eyes, my eyes!"

Punishment given from the NCAA was strict.

All Drexel's chess scholarships have been revoked for two years, and the team is ineligible for all postseason action.

No word yet on who will replace Flint, but Zillmer told the Rectangle he has narrowed his search down to a list of three: Bobby Fischer, Big Blue and Bobby Knight. Fischer's services, however, may be hard to procure.

"I know there's a warrant out for [Fischer's] arrest, and he's a known enemy of Homeland Security," Zillmer said. "However, he is the best available talent out there, and we want to be able to compete without violations."

There is no word yet on whether these improprieties will force Flint from his secondary position as men's basketball coach, but it is likely that Flint will step down there as well.