NCAA hammers Hogs

NCAA drops hammer on Hogs

Comments: 1 - Date: October 25th, 2007 -
Categories: Other U of A Sports, Arkansas Baseball, Arkansas Basketball, Arkansas Football - Author: Rainer Sabin

In a surprise ruling Thursday, the NCAA handed down some harsh penalties for violations committed by the Arkansas track and field program between July and September 2003.

On Wednesday, the NCAA’s committee on infractions put the university on probation for three years, and forced Arkansas’ track program to vacate two of its national championships.

Before the NCAA handed down its punishment, the university administered self-imposed sanctions by reducing the number of scholarships (3) head coach John McDonnell would be able to give his athletes over the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 academic years.

After receiving the NCAA’s decision, UA Chancellor John A. White was not too pleased with the ruling.

“The university vigorously investigated and self-reported the violations, and then implemented corrective measures and self-imposed penalties, including a reduction of scholarships and a period of probation,” White said in a news release. “The university intends to file an appeal.”

The alleged wrongdoing was committed by former Arkansas sprints coach Lance Brauman during the recruitment and enroollment of former Razorbacks track star, Tyson Gay, the reigning world champion in the 100 and 200 meters. Brauman just finished serving a sentence in a Texarkana, Texas federal prison after being convicted last year of embezzlement, theft and mail fraud.

The charges were levied against Brauman when he was at Barton County Community College in Kansas, the same school from which Gay transferred to Arkansas.
The NCAA came down hard on Arkansas in part because “the committee was particularly concerned that the university has had three appearances before the committee in the past 10 years, making the university a rare ‘double repeat-violator.’”

The collegiate governing body put Arkansas on probation for three years in 2003 after the university self-reported violations that involved booster Ted Harrod overpaying 20 Razorbacks athletes employed by his trucking business, J&H Truck Service Inc., between 1994 and 1999.

In 1997, the NCAA handed down sanctions to the men’s basketball program after Arkansas was found to have provided improper tutoring and assistance to prospective athletes.