Saturday, December 13, 2008

Alabama State penalized for NCAA violations

The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions has penalized Alabama State University for major and secondary violations in its athletics programs, primarily in football.

The case involves a lack of institutional control and a failure to monitor by the former head coach. The violations included academic fraud (considered by the committee to be among the most serious violations of NCAA rules), recruiting violations, extra benefits, and ineligible participation and financial aid.

“A revolving door of administrators at the institution, including within the department of athletics, was a prime factor in the institution’s inability to establish a viable compliance program, which ultimately resulted in the institution’s failure to exercise institutional control,” the committee stated in its report.

Penalties for the violations, including those self-imposed by the university, include five years of probation; a ban on postseason football in 2009; a reduction in recruiting activities; athletics scholarship reductions; vacation of records; a compliance program review; and a two-year show-cause order for the former head coach.

This show-cause penalty is specifically intended to increase monitoring of the former head coach and enhance his rules education.

During the 1999-00 to 2004-05 academic years, university staff members arranged for fraudulent academic credits for eight football student-athletes when their original letter grades were changed without approval from the appropriate university administrators. Six of these student-athletes avoided ineligibility status due to the grade changes.

During the 1999-00 to 2002-03 academic years, numerous football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball student-athletes were allowed to practice, compete and receive athletics scholarships while ineligible. The committee found the university failed to employ an adequate and consistent procedure for certifying and monitoring the eligibility of student-athletes, which resulted in the violations.

Additionally, seven football student-athletes and six prospective football student-athletes received impermissible inducements and extra benefits in the form of lodging, utilities or meals at no cost from the summer of 2000 to the end of the 2001-02 academic year.

As early as 1998, the committee has warned repeatedly of the elevated risk of violations when prospective student-athletes are on campus before their first full-time enrollment. The committee has stated that institutions have an increased responsibility to be vigilant in tracking these prospective student-athletes to assure compliance with NCAA rules.

During the 1999-00 to 2001-02 academic years, though, two prospective football student-athletes and several ineligible football student-athletes participated in impermissible out-of-season workouts conducted by the former strength and conditioning coach. The former strength coach, along with the football coaching staff, also conducted winter conditioning activities.

Based on the violations in this case, the committee found the university exhibited a lack of institutional control over its football program. The committee noted a general lack of compliance education and monitoring institution-wide.

In particular, the committee stated that the university created an environment that facilitated violations of NCAA rules across several university departments and offices, including housing and residential life, financial aid and as athletics. The committee found that the former head coach failed to monitor his and his staff’s activities for NCAA rules compliance and failed to maintain an atmosphere of compliance among his staff and within the football program. The committee noted that a head coach has “an affirmative obligation to create an environment of compliance where coaches understand their obligation to avoid rules violations and to timely report any violations that occur.”

The penalties, some of which were self-imposed by the institution and adopted by the committee, are as follows:

• Public reprimand and censure.

• Five years of probation (December 10, 2008, to December 9, 2013).

• Two-year show-cause order for the former head coach (December 10, 2008, to December 9, 2010).

• No postseason competition for the 2009 football season.

• Reduction of official paid visits in football during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 academic years from 56 to 46. (Self-imposed by the institution.)

• Withheld all football coaches from engaging in recruiting activities for two weeks in December during December 1-14, 2003. (Self-imposed by the institution.)

• Reduction in football scholarships to 58.74 during the 2004-05 academic year and 54.11 during the 2005-06 academic year from the limit of 63. (Self-imposed by the institution.)

• Limit the total number of student-athletes who can receive partial scholarships, known as “counters,” in the football program during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 academic years. The number was reduced to 80 from the limit of 85. (Self-imposed by the institution.)

• Limit the total number of football student-athletes receiving partial scholarships in the football program for the first time, known as “initial counters,” during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 academic years. This number was reduced to no more than 20 from the limit of 30. (Self-imposed by the institution.)

• Due to competition by ineligible student-athletes, the university forfeited all regular-season football contests in the 2000 and 2001 seasons. The university also forfeited the 2001 Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. (Self-imposed by the institution and adopted as a vacation by the committee.)

• The university shall vacate all football contests won by the university in 2000 and 2001, including the conference championship. The individual records of the ineligible student-athletes should be vacated as well. Further, the record of the former head coach will be reconfigured to reflect the vacated wins and recorded in all publications in which football records for the affected seasons are reported, including media guides, recruiting material, electronic media and institutional and NCAA archives. Any public reference to these vacated contests should be removed from the athletics department stationary, banners displayed in public areas and any other forum in which they may appear.

• The university must initiate a review of its athletics compliance program by a competent, external agency as soon as one can be scheduled.

The members of the Committee on Infractions who reviewed this case are Josephine (Jo) R. Potuto, the Richard H. Larson Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Nebraska College of Law and chair of the committee at the time the Alabama State case was heard; Eileen Jennings, general counsel at Central Michigan University; Alfred Lechner Jr., attorney; Dennis Thomas, the commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and formerly director of athletics at Hampton University; Jack Friedenthal, professor at George Washington University National Law Center; Bonnie Slatton, professor of physical education and sport science, University of Iowa; and Thomas Yeager, commissioner of the Colonial Athletic Association.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

ASU's Barlow fires defensive coordinator

Alabama State's Coach Reggie Barlow appears to be clueless in Montgomery! What's next--fire the waterboy?




Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow is now looking for two coordinators. Sunday morning, Barlow notified defensive coordinator Tony Pierce that his year-to-year contract at the school wouldn't be renewed. Barlow also fired linebackers coach and assistant head coach Brian Williams.

"There is no tension or bad feelings -- this is just the business side of this," said Pierce, who has served as ASU's defensive coordinator since 2003. "He called me in and told me he wanted to go in a different direction. I said, 'God bless you and good luck.' I appreciate everything ASU has done for me and my family. And I appreciate Reggie for allowing me to hang around another two years after he was hired. He wants to go in a different direction now and that's his right as a head coach."

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Sunday, December 7, 2008

UF Gators Volleyball rolls FAMU Rattlers in NCAA first round
















Friday night at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center had the feeling of a battle of the bands, when all of a sudden a good volleyball match broke out. UF defended its home court in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, knocking out Florida A&M 25-20, 25-21, 25-15. The Gators hit a gaudy .451, led by freshman Cassandra Anderson’s 10 kills on 11 swings. The team percentage was the best ever by a Gator squad in an NCAA match. “As a team, I feel like we passed well,” Anderson said. “Connecting with the setters helped a lot to get kills around the block. As a team, we brought it all together.”

FAMU kept things competitive on the court and off, with members of its Marching 100 band drawing cheers from the 1,550 fans in attendance during timeouts. The roars at times rivaled the sound during the game. Both bands stuck around 30 minutes after the match, volleying turns to work the crowd up. The Gators (26-3) got a scare early in the match, trailing 3-0 to start the first set and battling all the way through an 18-all tie. Despite 11 ties and three lead changes, Florida closed the set out by scoring seven of the final nine points.

The Rattlers (14-13) got six kills in the set from Samara Ferraz, who finished with a match-high 15 (.290 hitting).

Photo Gallery
Boxscore
Pre-Game Notes
Post-Game Notes

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Grambling's Tiger Marching Band invited to inaugural parade

The Presidential Inaugural Committee announced Friday it has invited the Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band to Perform in the 56th Inaugural Parade. The world famous Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band will join representatives from across the country and the Armed Forces in the historic parade down Pennsylvania Avenue following President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the Capitol.

"I am honored to invite these talented groups and individuals to participate in the Inaugural Parade," Obama is quoted as saying in a news release. "These organizations embody the best of our nation's history, diversity and commitment to service. Vice President-elect (Joe) Biden and I are proud to have them join us in the parade." Organizations wishing to participate in the parade submitted an application to the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee (AFIC), which then assisted the Presidential Inaugural Committee in reviewing all of the groups' applications. All told, 1,382 organizations applied to participate, setting a new standard for interest in marching in the parade.


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FAMU Marching 100 invited to U.S. President's Inauguration Parade

FAMU band must raise $100K to pay for travel expenses

Florida A&M University's Julian White received a phone call Friday evening during band rehearsal that he'll never forget. A man told White, FAMU's director of bands and music chairman, that his 420-member Marching 100 was selected to participate in President-elect Barack Obama's Inaugural Parade on January 20. White asked the man a quick question. "Would you mind repeating that?"

White turned on the cell phone's speaker and put the phone close to a neighboring microphone. Then, the news was repeated to hundreds of band students. "Pandemonium just broke out," White said. Students began pulling out their own cell phones to tell friends and family, White said. "Within 10 to 15 minutes, it was all over the United States," White said. White couldn't help getting euphoric from the news. He went to his office to place a call to FAMU President James Ammons. Ammons said, "This is definitely where we wanted to be. Of all the bands in this country to be selected . . . I think this reinforces that the 'Hundred' is truly America's band."

FAMU Marching 100 - 2008 Florida Classic Pre-Game Show





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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

FAMU Volleyball gets set for NCAA's and UF Gators

TALLAHASSEE, FL - The Florida A&M University Women's Volleyball team will make their eighth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division One Championships this weekend, as they take on the University of Florida in the first round of play on Friday, December 5 at the Stephen O'Connell Center. Match time will be 7:30 p.m. Florida A&M (14-12), recipient of an automatic tournament bid by winning the 2008 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, will make their fourth straight appearance in Gainesville, and it will be the third time in five years that the Lady Rattlers will draw the University of Florida as an opening round opponent (2004, 2005, 2008).

Florida (25-3), ranked 14/12 in national polls, were winners of the Southeastern Conference title for the 18th straight year. They will be hosting opening round NCAA play for the 17th time in the last 18 years in Gainesville. Colorado State will face Florida International in Friday's 5 p.m. bout on Friday, prior to the FAMU-UF clash.
Friday's winners will play at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the winner of that second round match set to advance to regional play at Colorado State University.
























Lady Rattler Jovana Blazeski #4 battles Florida State in FAMU season opener.


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Alcorn State fires assistant football coaches

Alcorn State University head football coach Earnest T. Jones, 2-10 record, first season has retained two lawyers.

LORMAN, MS — Alcorn State University has fired seven of its nine assistant football coaches, and the head coach said the move was made without his knowledge. Alcorn State head coach Ernest T. Jones said he was watching television at his home on Thanksgiving Day when he saw a report on the news that his coaches had been fired. Jones said he was never notified the firings would occur. “I got a message from (Athletic Director Darren) Hamilton that said, ‘Happy Thanksgiving, I’m on vacation and we’ll chat Friday.’ We never chatted Friday,” Jones said.

Jones said he did not plan to fire anyone and has received no explanation from Hamilton or the university. Alcorn State Sports Information Director LaToya Shields confirmed Monday night that assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Earnest Collins Jr., offensive coordinator Dino Dawson, running backs coach Terrance Robinson, special teams coordinator and linebackers coach Zach Shay, secondary coach Jack Phillips, defensive line coach Keith Majors and strength and conditioning coach Lorenzo Guess would not have their contracts renewed. Only offensive line coach Adam Shorter and wide receivers coach Michael Armour were retained by the university, Sheilds said.

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