The Division II Committee on Infractions has placed Texas A&M University-Kingsville on probation for two years, reduced grants-in-aid in football, and imposed a one-year postseason ban in football for violations of NCAA legislation governing conditions and obligations of NCAA membership, institutional control, and eligibility certification.

The committee found that the university had permitted 23 student-athletes, most of them in football, to compete while ineligible under NCAA rules. It also determined that the institution failed to satisfy the conditions and obligations of NCAA membership when it did not withhold four football student-athletes from competition when it knew or should have known they were not eligible.

During a three-year period, the committee found the following improper certifications:

12 student-athletes, including 11 football players, had not earned the minimum number of academic credits toward their designated degree programs in the previous academic year.

Nine student-athletes who participated in football, baseball and women's volleyball had not met two-year college transfer requirements.

One football player had not spent a year in residence at Texas A&M-Kingsville after transferring from another four-year institution.

One football player competed though he had exhausted his eligibility after completing 10 semesters of full-time enrollment.

The committee noted in its finding regarding obligations and conditions of membership that two NCAA enforcement staff members met with university officials in September 1999 and expressed concern about the eligibility of several football student-athletes. The university permitted the student-athletes to compete after receiving the information. The student-athletes later were determined to have been ineligible.

The university disagreed with the violation, stating it had acted responsibly since matters were still under review. However, the committee concluded that a violation had occurred, emphasizing that participation should not have been permitted until the issue had been resolved.

With regard to the lack of institutional control, the committee determined that the university failed to control and monitor its football program in applying legislation relating to initial- and continuing-eligibility certification.

The university imposed a number of corrective actions, which were considered by the committee. Among the actions, the university:

Accepted the forced resignation of the former compliance coordinator on February 8, 1999.

Restructured several staff positions within the athletics department to provide greater oversight for compliance issues and to enhance operating procedures. For example, the combined position of director of athletics/head football coach has been dissolved.

Created the position of academic counselor to assist the compliance coordinator in the areas of full-time enrollment, degree accountability of courses, course registration and other responsibilities.

Expanded the faculty athletics representative's role in compliance.

Made substantial changes in eligibility certification procedures.

The university also self-imposed the following penalties:

Reduced grants-in-aid equivalencies in football by three for the 2000-01 academic year and by one for the 2001-02 academic year.

Forfeited all football contests played during the 1998 season.

Limited the number of transfer students in football to 10 over a two-year academic period.

Issued a public statement of responsibility for athletics compliance.

Placed the football, volleyball, baseball and men's track and field programs on university probation for two years.

Required that the director of athletics and all personnel responsible for administering the athletics compliance program attend a NCAA regional compliance seminar annually.

The Committee agreed with and approved of the university's actions but imposed the following additional penalties:

Public reprimand and censure.

Two years of probation from September 20, 2000.

The institution's football team will end its 2000 season with the playing of its last regularly scheduled, in-season contest and shall not be eligible to participate in any postseason competition or exempted contest.

In addition to the self-imposed reduction of three football equivalencies for the 2000-01 academic year and one for the 2001-02 academic year, the university will further reduce football grants-in-aid by four equivalencies annually in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 academic years. Under current rules, this limits the institution to 33 total equivalencies for 2000-01, 31 for 2001-02, and 32 for 2002-03.

Because of the participation of several ineligible student-athletes in football, volleyball, baseball, and track and field in 1996-97 through 1999-00, all team and individual records relating to performances of these student-athletes will be vacated, including any participation and performance in NCAA championship competition.

The university will continue to develop and implement a comprehensive education program on NCAA legislation and submit periodic reports to the NCAA.

At the end of the probationary period, the university's president will provide a letter to the committee affirming that the university's current athletics policies and practices conform to all requirements of NCAA regulations.

As required by NCAA legislation for any institution involved in a major infractions case, Texas A&M-Kingsville is subject to the NCAA's repeat-violator provisions for a five-year period beginning on the effective date of the penalties -- in this case, September 20, 2000.

The members of the Division II Committee on Infractions who heard this case are: Larry D. Blumberg, professor of mathematics/statistics, Washburn University of Topeka; Les Brinson, chair, professor of psychology, North Carolina Central University; Michael J. Marcil, commissioner, North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; and Julie Warrington, associate athletics director, University of Northern Colorado.

A copy of the complete report from the Division II Committee on Infractions is available on NCAA Online at www.ncaa.org.