Savannah State placed on NCAA probation
for three years
May 20, 2006
INDIANAPOLIS --- The Division I Committee on Infractions has
placed Savannah State University on probation for three years,
restricted expense paid visits in football and adopted a number
of penalties that were self-imposed by the institution in a
case involving major violations in its football program.
The case was resolved through the summary disposition process
rather than a formal hearing before the Committee on Infractions.
Summary disposition is used when there is agreement among the
institution, the NCAA enforcement staff and involved parties
as to the facts of the case. The Committee on Infractions reviewed
the agreement and the penalties recommended by the institution.
The case includes a finding of unethical conduct against a
former assistant coach, several recruiting violations, impermissible
summer workouts with football prospects before their initial
full-time enrollment and several prospects' receipt of impermissible
benefits, including free housing. There were also findings
against the institution for lack of institutional control and
failure to monitor its athletics program.
The former assistant coach was terminated by the university
in November 2004 and disassociated from the institution for
10 years. In addition, the committee has given the former assistant
coach a seven-year show cause order. This means that if the
former assistant coach seeks employment or affiliation in an
athletically related position at an NCAA member institution
before May 18, 2013, he and any involved institution will be
requested to appear before the Committee on Infractions to
consider whether the member institution should be subject to
show cause procedures, which could limit his athletically related
duties at any such institution for a designated period.
In a major infractions case against Savannah State University
in 1998, the Division II Committee on Infractions also ruled
that there was a lack of institutional control. In both the
1998 and the current case, it was found that institutional
staff members misunderstood NCAA rules and the institution
did not have an adequate compliance program in place to monitor
the activities of the coaching staff.
The committee noted it has seen a recurring theme in other
infractions cases in recent years that there are difficulties
faced by small, understaffed and under-funded institutions
during the transition from Division II to Division I.
"As the committee observed in an infractions case involving
an institution in a similar position as Savannah State, institutions
making the move to Division I must have a heightened sense
of awareness with respect to compliance during the period of
transition and such institutions need to take deliberate steps
to adequately prepare for the elevation to Division I status,” the
committee report said.
Though the former assistant coach participated in an initial
interview by NCAA enforcement staff during the investigation,
he provided false information and refused repeated requests
for additional interviews, the committee said in its report.
The former assistant coach did not respond to the written warnings
that the Committee on Infractions would consider his unresponsiveness
as a sign that he does not contest the allegations.
The case involved numerous infractions committed by a former
assistant coach who, during the summer of 2004, provided or
arranged for lodging and meals for eight prospective student-athletes
before their initial full-time enrollment at the institution.
Also in the summer of 2004, the former assistant coach observed
16 student-athletes and prospects in impermissible athletically
related activities, and provided transportation to several
prospects. When prospects are brought to campus during the
summer before their initial enrollment, the institution has
an obligation to monitor these prospective student-athletes,
the committee said, especially noting how they are paying their
living expenses and monitoring out-of-season workouts in which
they may be participating.
The committee found that the former assistant coach also violated
the principles of ethical conduct by encouraging a student-athlete
and several prospects to purchase and use NCAA-banned substances.
In the summer of 2004, other members of the football coaching
staff, including the head football coach, learned of the details
of the former assistant coach's involvement in summer workouts
with student-athletes and prospects. They also received information
indicating the former assistant coach was promoting the use
of anabolic steroids, the NCAA-banned substances referenced
earlier. Despite being informed of this information, the other
members of coaching staff failed to notify the athletics administration.
The committee found that the institution had prospects sign
the National Letter of Intent although the institution was
not a member of the National Letter of Intent program. During
January 2004, the former head coach hand-delivered copies of
the National Letter of Intent to at least seven prospective
student-athletes prior to the initial signing date in the sport
of football. When the institution reclassified to Division
I, it failed to subscribe to the National Letter of Intent
program.
During the 2000-04 academic years, staff used the National
Letter of Intent with prospective student-athletes.
During the 2004-05 academic years, two student-athletes received
athletics aid although they were ineligible because they did
not meet NCAA transfer requirements after transferring from
a two-year collegiate institution.
There was an agreement that Savannah State lacked institutional
control during and following its move from Division II to Division
I. The institution's failure to monitor the former assistant
coach's actions led to failure by the institution to monitor
its athletics program, the committee said.
The penalties in the case are as follows:
* Public reprimand and censure.
* The institution will be placed on probation through May 18,
2009.
* Reduction to 36 practice activities allowed, beginning in
spring 2006 and continuing through spring 2007. (Note: the
institution cancelled the 2006 spring football practice period).
* The institution is limited to no more than 27 expense-paid
visits in the sport of football for the 2006-07 academic year,
representing a reduction of two visits from the average number
of annual visits during the past three years. NCAA rules allow
for a maximum of 56 expense-paid visits per year.
* The former head coach was reprimanded for his involvement
in NCAA violations. The former head coach resigned on March
18, 2006.
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