The Tallahassee-based Capital
Outlook newspaper has reported that the Mid-Eastern
Athletic Conference will sanction Florida A&M for its self-reported
violations involving academically ineligible student-athletes.
Outlook publisher Roosevelt Wilson indicates that
MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas "delivered the news in a June
29 letter to Joe Ramsey, special assistant to President Fred
Gainous for athletics". As a result, FAMU will have to forfeit
all MEAC games and championships won during the period 2000-2003
and refund any conference money received based on the performance
of the ineligible student-athletes.
The MEAC awards $25,000 to winners of its men's and women's
all-sports trophies. FAMU won the Mary McLeod Bethune Award
(women) in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 and the Talmadge Hill
Award (men) in 1998, 2000 and 2003.
According to the Outlook,
Thomas wrote:
"Pursuant to the Florida A&M University (FAMU) self-report
of NCAA violations and response to audit conducted by
Collegiate Proactive Solutions Inc. dated May 14, 2004
submitted to the NCAA and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
(MEAC) and after reviewing all the information submitted,
it has been determined that FAMU has committed substantial
non-compliance as it pertains to student-athlete eligibility
in the sports of baseball (2002 & 2003 seasons), football
(1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2003 seasons), softball (2002
season), women's basketball (1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2000-2001 & 2001-2002
seasons), volleyball (1999-200 seasons, men's swimming
(2001 & 2002 seasons), women's swimming (2000 & 2001
seasons), men's tennis (1999, 2000 & 2001 seasons), men's
indoor track (2002 & 2003 seasons), men's track (1998,
1999 & 2001) and women's track (1998, 1999, 2000 & 2001)."
Thomas continued: "Based upon the preponderance of participation
by ineligible student-athletes, the conference office
has determined that FAMU will have to comply with conference
By-Law 13.2.1.14 Section 14-a, b & c (participation of
ineligible players). Therefore, all contests those ineligible
student-athletes participated in will be rendered "no
contest". Any revenue received from winning the All-Sports
trophies (Mary McLeod Bethune Award and Talmadge Layman
Hill Award) must be reimbursed to the conference office.
Furthermore, any championship won during the period that
ineligible student-athletes participated will be rescinded
(football 2000 & 2001; men's tennis 2000; men's indoor
track 2002; women's indoor [track]1998, 1999, 2000; women's
outdoor [track]1998, 1999, 2000; volleyball 1999).
FAMU has a right to appeal and is still awaiting a response
from the NCAA.
