The fallout could lead to additional personnel moves, too, Emmert said.
Miami President Donna Shalala said she was "frustrated, disappointed and concerned" that the NCAA may have compromised the investigation. Potuto said she was surprised, describing the enforcement staff she dealt with as "open-minded" to investigations.
"I don't know about a rogue one or two people, but it is not at all representative of my experience with the enforcement staff people that I dealt with over the years," Potuto said. "Generally we found them (the enforcement staff) to be exceedingly fair to the point that we sometimes thought it impeded forceful investigations."
Just last week, Emmert told The Associated Press he was pleased that the number of salacious and high-profile cases that dominated 2011 -- a list that included the football programs at Miami, Ohio State and Penn State -- had dissipated, though he was cautious about another big scandal popping. Within days, the hoax about Manti Te'o's girlfriend broke, and Emmert was briefing two NCAA committees on the Miami case.
"The NCAA Executive Committee expects the enforcement program to operate within approved procedures and with the highest integrity," said Lou Anna K. Simon, the NCAA's executive committee chair and Michigan State president. "Although we are deeply disappointed in this turn of events, we strongly support the actions President Emmert is taking to address the problem."
What Emmert wants now is answers about how this "severe issue of improper conduct."
"My concern is that the policies and procedures are consistent with our values," Emmert said. "Whether it produces good information or no information, there's no way to cut corners on this. It's a very difficult task, but you don't do things inappropriately."
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