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The NCAA News -- March 15, 1999

Infractions appeal: Louisiana State University

The NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee has upheld two penalties and vacated one penalty imposed by the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions against Louisiana State University's men's basketball program.

The university appealed penalties that reduced the number of initial financial aid awards permitted in men's basketball during the current season and 1999-00 and that reduced one athletically related financial aid award in 2000-01. Those penalties were upheld. The university also appealed a penalty prohibiting postseason competition in men's basketball in 1999. That penalty was vacated.

The Infractions Appeals Committee determined that the postseason ban was an inappropriate penalty. The Infractions Appeals Committee said the penalty was inappropriate in this case because there were no findings of lack of institutional control or findings of unethical conduct involving the former head men's basketball coach and the former assistant men's basketball coach. In previous cases, the Committee on Infractions had not imposed a postseason ban without a finding of lack of institutional control or unethical conduct. The Infractions Appeals Committee determined that the postseason ban unduly impacted uninvolved student-athletes and coaches.

In its decision, the Infractions Appeals Committee attempted to balance the nature of the violations with the lack of findings of unethical conduct and institutional control. In addition, the committee considered corrective action taken by LSU, case precedent, the university's cooperation and the impact on current student-athletes and coaches.

The Committee on Infractions issued its report on LSU on November 18, 1998. The violations in the case originated from cash payments totaling approximately $5,000 made by a representative of the institution's athletics interests to a former student-athlete at the university while the student-athlete was a prospect and after signing a National Letter of Intent. The violations also included other impermissible recruiting contacts as well as impermissible telephone calls and provision of medical and rehabilitation services and meals.

The university filed its notice of appeal on November 19, 1998. A written appeal was received on December 22, 1998. The Infractions Appeals Committee heard the case January 27, 1999.

LSU appealed three penalties:

  • Prohibition from participating in postseason competition in men's basketball following the 1998-99 season.

  • Reduction of initial financial aid awards in men's basketball during the 1998-99 and 1999-00 academic years, limiting those awards to no more than four initial awards during that two-year period.

  • Reduction by two in the number of permissible financial aid awards in men's basketball during each of the 1999-00 and 2000-01 academic years.

    The members of the Division I Infractions Appeals Committee who heard the case are: Katherine E. Noble, Big Sky Conference; Terry Don Phillips, Oklahoma State University; Robert A. Stein, executive director, American Bar Association; Marilyn V. Yarbrough, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; and Michael L. Slive, commissioner, Conference USA (chair).

    The public report on this case from the NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee has not been completed. The report will become available at a later date.