On Tuesday, the Southwestern Athletic Conference officially concluded its investigation into the allegations regarding Jackson State University’s potential unauthorized usage of practice film from the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The conference released a statement asserting that after a thorough review, which included IT analyses and interviews, there was insufficient evidence to substantiate claims of unethical conduct by Jackson State.
SWAC’s Statement
“On Friday, November 8th, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) was made aware of allegations regarding the potential unauthorized usage of practice film. After conducting a comprehensive review of the information received, which included an IT analysis provided by DVSportINC, both oral and written statements, written statements from both institutions, individual interviews, along with the consultation of legal counsel, the Conference Office does not have enough substantial evidence to prove any allegations of unethical conduct by Jackson State University,” the statement reads.
“The Southwestern Athletic Conference has officially concluded its investigation but reserves the right to review any additional information received on this matter.”
How the Investigation Unfolded
The investigation was initiated after UAPB raised concerns about potential breaches of ethics regarding the sharing of their practice footage, which they believed may have been accessed by Jackson State prior to their game on Nov. 2. The concerns arose after a UAPB player reported that a Jackson State player claimed their team was watching UAPB’s practice footage. Upon investigating, UAPB’s head coach found that the practice video had been accessed using a former player’s credentials. This unauthorized access was traced to an IP address in Clinton, Mississippi, close to Jackson.
UAPB officials did not comment publicly during the investigation, and Jackson State also remained silent. The former player implicated in the incident denied any wrongdoing and highlighted issues with credential security within the team. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, it is unclear why UAPB continued granting access to accounts after players were released.
