The University’s appeal to the NCAA regarding sanctions over “textbook-gate,” violations stemming from the widespread misuse of University textbook funds by 201 student-athletes across 16 varsity sports, was denied Tuesday.
The NCAA determined that the University had failed to monitor student-athletes and therefore allowed the accruement of impermissible benefits. The punishment includes the vacation of 21 Crimson Tide football victories between 2005 and 2007, as well as vacating individual victories for intentional wrongdoers in both the track and men’s tennis programs, a $43,900 fine and three years of probation for the entire UA athletic program that will end on June 10, 2012.
The University’s appeal centered around the vacation of wins penalty. UA officials argued that the punishment was excessive and an abuse of discretion by the Committee on Infractions for not considering the University’s cooperation in the ensuing investigation.
In a statement, UA president Robert Witt expressed disappointment in the NCAA Division I Infraction Appeals Committee’s ruling.
“The Appeals Committee acknowledged that their decision in our case is not consistent with the NCAA’s prior textbook and vacation-of-wins cases,” Witt said. “We are disappointed by the committee’s inconsistent decision given the negative impact the decision has on hundreds of uninvolved student-athletes and their coaches.”
Alabama Athletics Director Mal Moore expressed his own level of dissatisfaction, but also remarked that the denied appeal will force the program to take steps toward the future.
“We’re very disappointed that the committee missed the opportunity to follow its precedent set in recent cases, the precedent we followed due to the nature of the case,” Moore said. “We are eager to move forward while continuing to build a program that not only is successful on the field, but also reflects the values of our university.”
The vacated wins for the football program include every victory in the 10-2 campaign of 2005, including the 31-3 victory over No. 5 Florida at Bryant-Denny and the 13-10 Cotton Bowl victory against Texas Tech.
Current head coach Nick Saban’s 2007 squad will only count victories against Tennessee, the first game where intentional textbook violators were suspended, and the Independence Bowl victory over Colorado, dropping the third-year Tide coach’s offical Alabama record to 28-8.
The vacations do not count as losses or forfeits and are considered to have not been played in Alabama record books.
No games from the Tide’s 2009 BCS National Championship season were vacated.
