Call From Geno Auriemma To Little-League Star Mo'ne Davis Prompts Complaint
STORRS, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Be careful who you dial these days.
The American Athletic Conference has confirmed it received a complaint from another school after UConn coach Geno Auriemma made a congratulatory phone call to Little League World Series pitching star Mo'ne Davis.
Conference spokeswoman Chevonne Mansfield says the conference is working with UConn to review the facts of the complaint.
Auriemma said Wednesday he talked to the 13-year-old Philadelphia girl for about two minutes at Little League headquarters last month after someone in the Philadelphia 76ers organization suggested it.
He said he told Davis he was impressed by the way she was handling the pressure of the Little League World Series and to make sure people were treating her like a baseball player and "not like, oh, look at this girl playing baseball."
"I want to say congratulations. I say congratulations," Auriemma said. "She is 13 and the conversation lasts about two minutes and she hangs up. How about a school turned us in as a recruiting violation because we are not allowed to talk to her until July 1 of her junior year?"
"It shows you what is wrong not only for things that go on but also with some of the people that I coach against," he added.
Mo'ne, who is also a standout basketball player, said during the tournament that she hopes to play point guard for UConn someday. Her Taney Dragons team reached the Little League semifinals.
Mo'ne isn't in high school and under NCAA rules is not yet considered a prospective athlete.
But a university spokesman said UConn is still trying to determine if any violation occurred.
Auriemma said he has never seen Davis play basketball and doesn't know if she is "a superstar or can even reach the basket."
"There's guys playing college basketball driving around in cars that cost more than my house and we're worried about a phone call that I made?" he said.
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