TV News: Showtime to Air New Documentary Disgraced on March 31

In a press release:

NEW SHOWTIME^® DOCUMENTARY “DISGRACED” DETAILS MURDER AND SCANDAL IN BIG-TIME COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Revealing Film on Baylor University Basketball Player Patrick Dennehy To Premiere At South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in March, Followed by World Television Premiere March 31 on SHOWTIME

A presentation of Showtime Documentary Films and SHOWTIME Sports, DISGRACED examines the tragic events surrounding the 2003 murder of Dennehy, to which fellow teammate and friend Carlton Dotson pled guilty in the only known instance in the history of the NCAA where one student-athlete was convicted of murdering another. Through first-hand accounts from students, investigators, family and friends, DISGRACED calls into question the plea and conviction of Dotson.

The film also includes exclusive and revealing interviews with former head coach Dave Bliss, who directly addresses the attempted cover-up and secretly recorded statements he made in 2003 that implicated him in NCAA rule violations. The violations, revealed in part by whistle blower and then assistant coach Abar Rouse, ultimately led to Bliss’ resignation and a partial ban on NCAA play for the Baylor Bears basketball team.

“This is a complex story, told through powerful first-person accounts, about both a senseless murder and an attempted cover-up of NCAA rule violations that still reverberate within Baylor University and collegiate athletics to this day,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “DISGRACED is yet another provocative, compelling and culturally relevant documentary delivered with the inside perspective that has become the hallmark of unscripted programming from SHOWTIME Sports.”

Recruited by Coach Bliss, Dennehy was a standout player with a bright future until the 6-foot-10 forward went missing under a set of bizarre circumstances. The murder and then the attempted cover-up of improper payments to players rocked the Baptist university in Waco, Texas. Ultimately, Dotson pled guilty and the university and Bliss were cited for multiple NCAA rule violations. Bliss essentially was ousted from NCAA basketball for 10 years.

In contemplating his involvement in the attempted cover-up, his 2003 resignation and his religious faith, Bliss said, “A question that a man always has to ask himself when he goes through something like I went through, are you in a better spot than you were before? Was it worth it? And the answer to me is yes.”

Bliss recently returned to coaching at Southwestern Christian University in Oklahoma competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Directed by Pat Kondelis, DISGRACED is produced by Bat Bridge Entertainment. The film exemplifies the network’s commitment to delivering diverse and compelling sports programming. It is the latest in an expansive lineup of unscripted programming from SHOWTIME Sports. Additional titles include “PRISON FIGHTERS: 5 Rounds To Freedom,” “ONE & DONE” (Ben Simmons), “RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE: The Lawrence Phillips Story,” “KOBE BRYANT’S MUSE,” “PLAY IT FORWARD” (Tony Gonzalez), “IVERSON,” “I AM GIANT: Victor Cruz,” “THE DREW” (Baron Davis), and “DEAN SMITH.”

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Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.