The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is firing back on an initial choice made by a NCAA Division I Committee Infractions panel to ban the university from postseason play tied with a five year probation penalty because of inconsistencies with the university’s self-assessed findings.
Penalties include:
- five years of probation
- a postseason ban for the football
- men’s and women’s basketball and baseball teams
- a vacation of all wins in which ineligible student-athletes participated
- and scholarship reductions for 11 of the university’s teams
The UAPB athletics program and the university, who in a press release stated that it self-imposed a number of penalties and self-reported errors to the NCAA, says it is exploring options to appeal the decision made by the Committee.
According to reports over a span of five academic years the university failed to follow certain rules on the education and training of staff members who allowed ineligible student-athletes to compete.
“No way SWAC should be a Division I league,” tweeted Troy Schulte.
The NCAA says UAPB let more than 120 ineligible players play/receive benefits from 07-12 http://t.co/eevMttOUmi pic.twitter.com/Xbd6D0yRe9
— HBCU Gameday (@HBCUGameday) November 6, 2014
On Wednesday UAPB Chancellor Dr. Laurence B. Alexander thanked the Committee for the “attention given to the [UAPB] appeal initially assessed” but says he is displeased with the additional penalties slapped on by the Infractions panel.
“…we remain disappointed even with the reduced penalties imposed by the Committee,” said Alexander in a press release. “…[we] will take the next several days to explore whether any further appeal options should be pursued,” he said.
A report released by the NCAA revealed that Arkansas Pine-Bluff allowed more than 120 ineligible student-athletes to participate in games. If there is no appeal, UAPB will vacate wins spanning every sport from 2007-2012, including the 2010 men’s basketball SWAC championship.
“Dr. Alexander, Director of Athletics Lonza Hardy Jr., and the entire Department of Athletics staff remain committed to insuring that the eligibility certification process is in full compliance with all NCAA rules and regulations,” according to the university’s website.
