The NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee has publicly reprimanded Georgia Southern University for inappropriate behavior exhibited by its fans at the Division I-AA quarterfinal and semifinal playoff games hosted by the school in December 1999.

In addition, the committee reviewed the crowd-control policies that Georgia Southern developed and will implement beginning with the 2000 football season. The committee will not permit Georgia Southern the privilege of hosting future playoff games if the behavior of its fans attending the university's football games does not conform to the Association's crowd-control policies.

"The committee is very concerned about crowd control issues that occurred during the 1999 playoff games and conducted a thorough review of reports of unsportsmanlike conduct. The behavior of some fans detracted from the accomplishments of the Georgia Southern football team," said John Johnson, athletics director at Weber State University and chair of the Division I-AA Football Committee. "It is a privilege for any school to host a playoff game. Good sportsmanship is a standard that any university should continually uphold as a condition for hosting a playoff game. This is a standard we would apply to any university.

"We commend the university for the policies and procedures it has developed. We'll review the behavior of fans at future contests before determining if Georgia Southern or any other university is permitted to host future playoff games."