Fla. A&M reports 196 NCAA violations
By Heath A. Smith
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
FloridaA&M has self-reported 196 NCAA violations - most of them involving the participation of student-athletes who should have been ruled academically ineligible.
The infractions, which occurred during a recent five-year span, are detailed in documents FAMU submitted to the NCAA earlier this year. The report, which was obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat after a records request, reveals that the university was first contacted about potential problems in September 2002 after several student-athletes expressed concerns to the NCAA over eligibility certification and the disbursement of financial aid.
After 20 months of gathering facts and conducting interviews, the NCAA sent FAMU president Fred Gainous an official letter of inquiry on June3. The governing body of collegiate athletics should conclude its formal investigation in early July. In the letter, the NCAA notified Gainous that its investigation was focusing on the academic "certification of continuing and prospective student-athletes" but would be looking into other issues as well.
FAMU's report covers the period from 1998 to 2003 and was submitted in May to both the NCAA and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for review. The university has recommended penalties it would impose, including the reduction of scholarships in several sports.
In addition to the academic issues, FAMU has reported that there is no record of signed drug-testing consent forms by numerous student-athletes.
In all, the report lists 117 student-athletes in 14 sports who were not properly certified for their academic progress. The report reveals that 51 of the student-athletes involved are football players. But men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, men's and women's track, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, golf and bowling are also involved in the infractions.
Joseph RamseyII, who is serving as an interim athletic director, said the MEAC and NCAA could agree with FAMU's penalties or opt for stiffer ones.
"We had a good conversation with the enforcement committee," Ramsey said by phone from Miami Friday. "We really don't have any idea what is going to happen. The main thing is to cooperate fully with the NCAA."
MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas said that the conference would submit recommendations to the NCAA Enforcement Committee sometime next week.
In a letter written to the NCAA Sept.4, 2003, Jonathan Evans, assistant athletic director for compliance, explained specific instances where a total of six ineligible players were allowed to play in football games - four in 2001 and two in 2002. It's not known whether the MEAC will require FAMU to forfeit any wins in football or other sports.
Evans wrote that in one particular case a misinterpretation of NCAA guidelines led to the improper certifications. Evans revealed that a player mistakenly was credited with 90 hours toward his degree requirements when he had only 81 hours, which did not meet the NCAA's satisfactory progress rule.
The report concluded that lack of staffing and inadequate resources led to many of the miscalculations by the compliance office. In some instances, courses that needed to be retaken because of a failing grade or incomplete were counted twice.
Ramsey said measures to help correct these problems are being implemented, including the hiring of an additional assistant athletic director for compliance by Aug.1. Also, a new software program allowing faculty and advisors to more accurately monitor the academic progress of students will be operational by January.
Ramsey said the compliance office's budget would be increased by 15 percent to improve staffing and upgrade equipment.
Ramsey also said the university would help the athletic department - which is expected to end the fiscal year with a $700,000 deficit - with some of the costs.
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/sports/9016696.htm
