OXFORD, Miss. — The NCAA has officially released a statement on its ruling concerning the Level I violations at the University of Mississippi.
In a news release, the governing body noted six football staff members were involved in the violations. One of them, the assistant athletic director, arranged for boosters to provide between $10,000 and $15,600 in cash payments to prospective student athletes, as well as accommodations, meals and transportation.
Other staff members were also accused of fixing ACT scores and/or interfering with the investigation.
“The case was the result of a culture at the university where rules violations were acceptable in the football program and reminiscent of similar Ole Miss infractions cases in the past,” the panel noted in a news release.
“This is now the third case over three decades that has involved the boosters and football program.”
Read: NCAA Public Infractions Decision
The NCAA imposed the following penalties against the Ole Miss football program:
- Three years of probation from Dec. 1, 2017, to Nov. 30, 2020.
- A financial penalty of $5,000 plus 1 percent of its average football budget for three years, which was calculated at $179,797 (self-imposed by the university).
- A postseason ban for the 2017 (self-imposed by the university) and 2018 seasons.
- The head coach must serve a two-conference-game suspension for the 2018 season should any NCAA school hire him between Dec. 1, 2017, and Nov. 30, 2018.
- An eight-year show-cause order for the operations coordinator, during which he must not hold any athletically related duties or have contact with prospective student-athletes and their families.
- A five-year show-cause order for the assistant coach who facilitated standardized test fraud and living arrangements. He must not hold any athletically related duties during this time.
- A two-year show-cause order for the other involved assistant coach. During this time, he must not participate in off-campus recruiting activities or hosting any meals for prospects or student-athletes.
- A five-year show-cause order for the assistant athletics director. He must not participate in any recruiting activities during this time.
- Vacation of all regular-season and postseason wins in which ineligible student-athletes competed.
- Scholarship reductions through 2018-19, as detailed in the public report (self-imposed by the university).
- Recruiting restrictions, as detailed in the public report.
- Disassociation of boosters, as detailed in the public report (self-imposed by the university).
The university said it will “vigorously appeal the 2018 bowl ban” on the grounds that the school and staff have made corrections to avoid further issues in the future.