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Investigation Process
Preliminary information is reviewed by the NCAA staff assigned to investigate the case. The investigator first tries to speak with the source who reported the potential violation. Usually, the staff conducts interviews both on and off campus. To protect the integrity of the case, the staff will often gather as much information as possible before contacting those directly involved in an alleged violation. In addition to conducting interviews, the staff usually obtains significant supporting docum -
Deciding the penalties
If the NCAA staff concludes its investigation and believes major violations occurred, the case is then considered by the Committee on Infractions, comprised of representatives from member colleges and universities and some members of the public. Cases are reviewed during a hearing of the committee or, when all parties agree on the violations, through a written summary disposition report. The committee then writes a report that documents its specific findings, the penalties and the supporting rea -
Enforcing the Penalties
It’s an important process that must be done correctly to ensure it is fair. It takes time to conduct interviews, collect supporting documentation, research leads and compile the actual report. If there are multiple violations, each violation must be thoroughly investigated. The uncovering of additional information can lead to more possible infractions that must be investigated. The involved schools may request additional time to respond to allegations. In the end, a standard of proof must be met -
Louisiana Western gets the death penalty
The staff was found to have committed multiple recruiting violations and allowing players to receive improper benefits. Most damning was the revelation that the school had falsified documents to allow players who failed to meet the minimum high school GPA requirements to compete in Division I basketball. Among the evidence was a high school transcript where an assistant coach had forged the signature of the principal of one of the player’s high schools.
The NCAA took the violations extremely ser -
Florida football
In 1982 the NCAA launched an investigation into possible rules violations by Pell (Florida head coahc) and his staff. By 1984 it had cited him for an astonishing 107 infractions, including paying for no-show jobs, scalping athletes' tickets, spying on opposing teams, giving free gifts to players, and many more. -
Death Penalty
“Death Penalty”; Any major school that commits major violations during the probationary period can be banned from the sport involved for up to two years. Example → SMU football had its 1987 season cancelled after massiv rule violations dating back more than a decade. -
Jackie Sherrill era at Texas A&M
The Jackie Sherrill era at Texas A&M: The coach wasn't found guilty of infractions, but felt compelled to resign in 1988 after the program was found guilty of improper employment, extra benefits, unethical conduct and lack of institutional control. -
Oklahoma Sooners football
During a one-month span, three players on the Oklahoma Sooners football team were arraigned on rape charges, one player was by another, and the quarterback was caught selling cocaine to an undercover FBI agent. This all happened after the NCAA placed them on three years probation for “major violations”, along with supplying players with airline tickets, and giving gifts to recruits. -
Fab Five
Four players - Webber, Maurice Taylor, Robert Traylor, and Louis Bullock - were found to have taken a total of over $600,000 from a booster, Martin. The fallout then came swift and severe. In 1997, coach Steve Fisher was forced out and Michigan decided to impose its own punishment by vacating five seasons of victories, including all NCAA tournament records from 1992-99. Michigan also removed all commemorative banners from those seasons, and put the program on probation for two years. -
UCLA Violations
UCLA broke so many rules and were stripped of their National championship and were placed on probation for three years. The most important rules they broke were for scholarship violations. Three softball players were given soccer scholarships, putting the UCLA Bruins over the limit for scholarship players. -
Miami Hurricane
The Miami Hurricanes football program was one of the best at the time. However they were caught with a huge financial-aid policy scam, improper implementation of drug program, and the NCAA also deemed that the university had lost institutional control. A total of 57 players were given an excess of financial aid. Three players were allowed to play after testing positive for illegal substances. As to the lack of institutional control, players were paid for not only touchdown but for viscous hits, -
UMass Basketball Vacates Final Four
Umass had to vacate their wins from their Final Four run because star Center, Marcus Camby had been receiving money from an agent while still in school. -
University of Minnesota
Jan Gengelhoff, the manager of the University of Minnesota’s academic counseling services admitted to doing over 400 homework assignments for numerous basketball players. The news was released one day before the start of the NCAA tournament, and four players were suspended for the first-round. Coach Clem Haskins was forced to resign and later on was found out that he had been paying Gengelhoff to write papers for the players. The program was put on four years probation. -
Reggie Bush Loses Heisman
Reggie Bush and his family was sued by sports agent Lloyd Lake for not repaying him close to $300,000 in gifts. The football team was ordered to cut ties with Bush, USC complied. -
2008 Memphis Tigers basketball
The Memphis Tigers Men’s basketball team was sanctioned for a series of violations following their amazing 2008 season. The most commonly known violation was when freshman star point guard Derrick Rose retroactively ruled ineligible to play after a fraudulent SAT score. The NCAA had beliefs that Rose knowingly let someone take his SAT for him. Memphis was also caught giving Rose’s brother $2,000 in travel expenses. The Tigers also had to return their $615,000 in revenue from the NCAA tournament, -
Ohio State
Five Ohio State Football players were suspended for five games as a result of receiving improper benefits. They were suspended for selling championship jerseys, rings, and memorabilia to a tattoo parlor. -
Sanctions Against USC
The NCAA announced major sanctions against USC, which involved violations committed by former basketball player O.J. Mayo and the women’s tennis team. As a result USC has been placed on four years probation, its football program received a two-year postseason ban with a reduction of thirty scholarships over three years. Athletic Director, Mike Garrett was also facing three severe sanctions, and was forced to be replaced. Pat Haden is the current Athletic Director. -
Enforcing the Penalties
It’s an important process that must be done correctly to ensure it is fair. It takes time to conduct interviews, collect supporting documentation, research leads and compile the actual report. If there are multiple violations, each violation must be thoroughly investigated. The uncovering of additional information can lead to more possible infractions that must be investigated. The involved schools may request additional time to respond to allegations. In the end, a standard of proof must be met
