TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama formally asked the NCAA to restore 21 vacated wins to the football program in a 29-page appeal on Tuesday.
The appeal said the penalty was “so excessive as to constitute an abuse of discretion.”
The Committee on Infractions’ levied the penalty stemming from 201 student-athletes in 16 sports obtaining textbooks they weren’t entitled to under their scholarships.
The appeal also argued that the penalties in football and men’s tennis and women’s track were a departure from precedent in similar cases and in vacating wins.
The violators included 22 “intentional wrongdoers” — among them seven football players — who obtained more than $100 in supplies for other students.
The university noted that those 22 athletes were suspended and had to seek reinstatement from the NCAA to compete again, and that all the students with eligibility remaining were required to pay restitution for the books and materials.
Alabama also contested penalties vacating the records of 15 athletes in men’s tennis and women’s track.
“The appeal we’ve filed is consistent with the feelings that we shared in our statements following the original ruling,” athletic director Mal Moore said in a statement. “I think it reflects valid points we felt needed to be expanded upon and I’m hopeful that the Committee will consider the appeal fairly and with care.”
Alabama, which self-reported the violations, cited its cooperation and said none of the student-athletes profited and that they intended to take advantage of the university and its bookstore not to violate NCAA rules.
The NCAA’s sanctions did not include scholarship losses or postseason bans.
Among the university’s arguments were that the Committee on Infractions “arbitrarily, capriciously and irrationally departs from the penalties imposed in prior textbook, vacation-of-wins and other cases.” The appeal also noted that there were no coaches or administrators involved.
Alabama’s appeal cited four major infractions cases involving violations of the textbook rule, all since 2005. The schools — Ball State, Temple, Weber State and Texas State — did not have wins vacated.
All but Temple were cited for lack of institutional control. Alabama was found guilty of the lesser violation of failure to monitor.
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Comments » 44
teampenny#658108 writes:
I hope the do not restore the wins. They have a history of this nonsense under this AD. He should be fired and Tide fans should quit crying. We may not have the instate players or the history of the Tide, but we do not cheat. Go Vols
utmdm writes:
Wah, Wah, Wah. Just man up!
KennyPowers_UTfan writes:
Very embarrassing for Bama.... how about not cheating in the first place?
GO VOLS!!!
volfan2002 writes:
If I was the NCAA if they wanted the wins back then we would have to take 22 scholarships in the pace of those wins. Time to get tough with cheatin Bama.
ZacharyUTK writes:
FIFTH!
volfaninwh writes:
Bama sucks, I'm tired of all the crying tide fans
cmcfalls writes:
I can't believe they haven't figured out a way to try and blame this one on Fulmer too...
Voluvr writes:
Just tell everyone you won them like the 12 titles. One when Vandy and Ole Miss shut you out and the other when you lost in the Cotton Bowl. There are other question marks too.
So, instead of worrying about the record book, try not cheating for a change.
Voluvr writes:
Florida 24 arrests in 4 yrs. under Meyer. Bama here we go again with the violations. Tennessee 0 arrests under Kiffin and highest GPA in 7 yrs.
The ship is righted.
vols14 writes:
vacated wins don't mean anything, the ncaa should have punished the cheaters by taking away scholarships.
TommyJack writes:
They best leave well enough alone.
mpm80#1357758 writes:
bama made the sec look bad in last years bowl loss to utah and to hear those sobs cry like rats eating onions about the bcs makes me sick its like they know they missed a lifetime chance at a national title
Ringleader writes:
The U of A..........The University of Arrogance
LiveFaith writes:
I for one think they should restore those wins. The fact that UA student athletes now actually posses textbooks shows that they are really moving forward. Not to mention that no infractions for selling the crayons was found. It's time to cut em' some slack folks.
beachvol1 writes:
If the NCAA restores those wins, I hate to say it , but that is an injustice to FSU, and I am not an FSU fan, but Bama alum/fans, count your blessing that you didn't get schollies pulled....they really think they are something elite, don't they...
BasketVols writes:
If you do the crime, you do the time (or lose a bunch of wins). Why do those in the Alabama program think that they are above the rules?
Down_The_Field writes:
amen.
TnScooby writes:
Habitual criminals have mandated punishments...habitual cheaters should too....No Phil Fulmer to blame this one on....Do the crime, do the time...Their pattern of infractions will ensure a denial of any appeal...and rightfully so!
utvolz#637682 writes:
Bama,
STFU! You're lucky you haven't been sent to SMU purgatory!
tennezz writes:
Are they asking for the money back that they payed for recruits in Memphis?
rocky_topper writes:
The other mentioned univerisities are NOT repetitive CHEATS either, and they weren't on probation while other violations were happening! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
BAMA knows no other way to compete without CHEATING!
rocky_topper writes:
Actually, it is an unfair advantage when recruits know that they can attend BAMA, get free books and supplies, sell them for profit to make money!
BAMA, where cheating is tradition!
GreerVol22 writes:
One thing i can't understand is why Bama didn't just let it go? I mean are they trying to pull a Kiffin and keep their name in the news or what? One week after the punishment was handed down the story went dead and until now not one word has anyone heard. This is far worse press than calling Urban a cheat or calling someone a gas pumper. Bama should have swallowed a small bit of pride and moved on.
VolsRhurtN writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
CrankE writes:
For several years now under Mal Moore's leadership, Alabama has managed to stay "clean" just long enough to avoid earning more severe punishment. Call it "Bammer Roulette". Arrogance like this will catch up eventually. Mal Moore gets my vote Maximum AD for life!
And by the way, what's Mike "Googly-Eyes" Slime think about this? He's so exercised over SECONDARY violations and verbal jabs between coaches. Yet I haven't heard him chime in on Alabama's perennial probation merry go-round lately.
volatil writes:
It is cheating because they're not coming out of pocket for books they're not gonna use. Its just like someone handing them $700 to $900, then they can sell them back in four months.
RockyTop1 writes:
Do the crime, do the time!! .... if it was Tennessee they would have give us the DEATH penalty! Take your medicine like a good ??? cheater!! GO VOLS!!
TommyJack writes:
But the question du jour, Mullet-Boy, is after the Tide gets the death penalty, will you jump on the auburn bandwagon? Hmmm?
GreerVol22 writes:
kinda like Michael Jackson huh?
RollTideJoe writes:
I listed a bunch of cute names for you people, but you know what, I've got too much class to lower myself to your level. Proud to be a Crimson Tider !!!
TommyJack writes:
So Joe....does 987 have class?
TommyJack writes:
We don't get wins..no one gets wins in this deal.
spvol writes:
Careful Bammer... As Admiral Yamamoto said after he led the attack on Pearl Harbor: "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve". We all know how that one turned out.
givehim6 writes:
Did you ever see the movie " Wild Hogs ", don't slap the sleeping Bull!
BobbyBoucher writes:
My...my momma...my momma said... you're still on probation!! Haha!
Death Penalty for Bammer '09
lilvolcoach writes:
I never responded to a troll before, but this too easy. If you're such a proud Crimson Turder, then stay on your own Crimson Turd site.
spencer1989#206886 writes:
Actually, Allerbammer is not cheating (just yet) because they are all still trying to learn how to read the books. When they acoomplish that, then the crime will have been commited.
PEYTONFORHEISMAN1997 writes:
I would would tell them to stop crying and man up. I thought that was a very generous penalty considering that past wins are irrelevant to the incoming season. If you really want to hurt a football team than you take away scholerships. I hate alabama for the fact that they think there shouldn't be any reprocussions for their actions. They simply just pout and call other coaches who turn them in aka. Philip Fulmer as a snake in the grass. A very similiar camparism would be a kid that gets caught cheating in school and simply calls his teacher a snake for turning him in. Alabama has a long tradition of cheating. I find it hard to believe that alabama is the only school that cheats, but they seem to be the only school who is stupid enough to get caught. I'm tired of the NCAA babying them, take away scholerships not past wins. GO VOLS
crimsonviper writes:
I know you fellers are trying,but i must say i am just not feeling the love here on this thread.
I could be mistaken,but i am just not feelin' it.
crimsonviper writes:
LOL BIG, It's all good! I think everybody is ready for a little football...You have a good nite.
msvolsfan writes:
Roll Tide Roll....straight down the toilet bowl.
msvolsfan writes:
The University of Alabama...where cheating is a birthright and giving lame excuses for continuously getting caught is par for the course.
RollTideJoe writes:
There were no recruiting or games issues with what happened with textbooks. Look in the mirror. UT hushed Linda Bensel Myers a few years ago (and got rid of her) for opening Pandora's Box about fixing grades on the Hill. Let he without sins cast the first stone. Trust me, things aren't blameless in Ktown or any other program. Sad, but true. Few have had the number of thug incidents as UT either. So beware of the pot calling the kettle black.
RollTideJoe writes:
Real class! Your tail is showing and it ain't pretty for your school.
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