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The NCAA News -- November 8, 1999

Infractions case: Morgan State University

Morgan State University has been placed on one year of probation by the Division I Committee on Infractions for secondary violations of NCAA bylaws involving extra benefits and failure to report information relating to possible violations of NCAA legislation in its football program.

Secondary violations are those that provide only a limited recruiting or competitive advantage and that are isolated or inadvertent in nature.

The NCAA's enforcement staff originally had recommended that the case be processed as a secondary case. However, the committee decided that because some of the alleged violations occurred only one year following a previous case involving the university, it should be reviewed under procedures for major infractions cases.

Following a hearing, the committee determined the violations to be secondary.

The committee found that during 1996-97, members of the football coaching staff arranged or provided transportation to five football student-athletes between the campus and their homes at no cost.

Specifically, on at least five occasions, round-trip car transportation was provided to the student-athletes between the campus and their homes, a round-trip distance of 1,450 miles. On several occasions, cars rented by an undergraduate student assistant coach were used.

Though the former head coach and a former assistant coach were aware that such transportation had been provided, they did not inform the director of athletics or the director of compliance.

Failure to report the information about the transportation and knowledge of student-athletes utilizing athletics department telephones for personal use during the fall of 1996 led to the finding of failure to report information relating to possible violations of NCAA legislation.

The university took corrective actions and imposed its own penalties. Among actions the university has taken is to require that the entire football coaching staff attend a rules education session.

A meeting also was conducted with football student-athletes to review the NCAA's awards and benefits rules.

The committee adopted as its own the following penalties proposed or self-imposed by the institution:

  • In the spring of 1998 an assistant football coach was relieved of his coaching duties.

  • The number of days during which the football staff could engage in evaluation activities during May 1998 were reduced by 10 days.

  • Letters of reprimand were issued to the former head football coach and an assistant football coach.

    The following additional penalties were imposed by the Committee on Infractions:

  • The Division I Committee on Infractions shall make a public announcement of its decision.

  • One year of probation from June 5, 1999.

  • During the period of probation the institution will continue to develop and implement a comprehensive educational program on NCAA legislation, provide a preliminary report to the NCAA regarding its compliance and education program and file a compliance report indicating progress made during the probation period.

    The members of the Division I Committee on Infractions who heard this case are: Jack H. Friedenthal, committee chair and professor of law, George Washington University; Frederick B. Lacey, attorney and retired judge, LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRea; James Park Jr., attorney and retired judge, Brown, Todd & Heyburn, Lexington, Kentucky; Yvonne (Bonnie) L. Slatton, department of physical education and sports studies, University of Iowa; David Swank, professor of law, University of Oklahoma; and Thomas E. Yeager, commissioner, Colonial Athletic Association.