Feb. 25, 2003
SAN DIEGO - The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions announced on Tuesday that it has accepted San Diego State University's self-imposed penalties regarding the Aztec football program.
San Diego State's self-imposed penalties include a reduction in allowable football scholarships from 85 to 82 in 2002-2003, from 85 to 83 in 2003-2004 and 85 to 84 in 2004-2005. The school has eliminated (or will eliminate) 21 practice days from August of 2002 through spring practice of 2004. Other self-imposed penalties have included a reduction of coaches allowed on the road during an evaluation period and the suspension (without pay) of a football staff member during the fall of 2002.
According to the NCAA, due to the fact that the violations took place over a four-year period, they are considered major in classification and are therefore accompanied by a two-year probationary period, beginning today. The probation does not affect San Diego State's television or bowl opportunities or include any penalties that SDSU has not already self-imposed and is already observing.
SDSU's executive director of athletics and special assistant to the president Rick Bay says the school will appeal the penalty of probation.
"The penalties that we imposed on ourselves show just how serious we consider the violations," Bay said. "However, given that these violations were not sinister in nature, we still believe that the label of probation is a stigma and inappropriate in this instance. There are other cases in which probation has not been applied in cases involving major violations."
The NCAA enforcement staff, which investigated the San Diego State football program last summer, recommended to the Committee on Infractions that the violations be considered secondary in nature. Secondary penalties rarely include probation.
In a joint investigation with the NCAA, San Diego State was found to have conducted impermissible mandatory out-of-season workouts, impermissible countable athletic-related activities, provided impermissible extra benefits, and a failure to properly monitor the football program.