NCAA hands down sanctions against Alabama

TUSCALOOSA — The numbers were big. Sixteen sports. Two hundred and one student-athletes. Twenty-one football victories.

But the biggest number is this: zero.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions concluded that a broken textbook distribution program did not add up to scholarship losses when it handed Alabama three
years probation and a modest fine on Thursday.

An Alabama investigation into its textbook program found that from the 2005-06 academic year through the fall of 2007, 201 student-athletes obtained
impermissible textbooks and supplies with a retail value of around $40,000.

However, of those 201 student-athletes, most were found to be “unintentional recipients” of the extra supplies. They didn’t realize they were not entitled to the
books and supplies.

In fact, the committee determined that intentional misconduct was done by 22 student-athletes — 14 of whom were members of the men’s and women’s track
and field programs. They acquired textbooks and materials greater than $100 for girlfriends, friends or other student-athletes.

The university probe determined that the value of these books and supplies given to intentional wrongdoers — those who were aware they were violating rules — was about $21,950. Committee on Infractions chairman Paul T. Dee noted that amount — times two — is how the committee reached the size of Alabama’s
fine.

That total by intentional violators ranged from a low of $32.30 by a women’s track student-athlete to a high of $3,947.19 by a football student-athlete.

The four highest amounts — $3,947.19, $3,344.10, $3,061.38 and $2,714.62 — were obtained by football players.

Vacating wins and individual records is a more fitting punishment than scholarship cuts, Dee said. He said the point was to punish those involved.

“The vacation of victories, the penalty itself, ... involves the team, involves the players,” Dee said. “And we believe it’s the appropriate penalty in these
circumstances on a going backwards rather than a going forward basis.”

Alabama president Dr. Robert E. Witt said the severity of the penalties was “disappointing.”

“A small number of athletes purposefully took advantage of this program to obtain textbooks for their friends,” Witt said. “Textbooks had to be returned or paid
for the at the end of the semester.

“It’s important to note that no coach or staff member was involved in the violation. No sport gained a competitive advantage and not one athlete pocketed one
dollar.”

Alabama was credited for investigating the case when officials first learned of the violations in October 2007.

“The University of Alabama is committed to doing things the right way, to being in full compliance with all SEC and NCAA policies,” Witt said. “And steps have
been taken to ensure that in the future we will be.”

The school required all involved student-athletes with eligibility remaining to make full restitution. Violators who benefited more than $100 were suspended and
had to seek reinstatement from the NCAA.

It also reprimanded the assistant athletics director for student services and the director of the bookstore. Those individuals weren’t given raises, although both
remain employed.

Alabama has since adopted a 21-page policies and procedures guide for student-athlete textbook purchases and returns.

Alabama athletics director Mal Moore said he was disappointed in the severity of the NCAA’s ruling.

“This case involves a failure of an isolated area of control and there is neither evidence nor allegations of other NCAA violations,” Moore said, adding the
university may appeal its sanctions. “No head coaches or assistant coaches of any sport had any knowledge or involvement, no players gained financially or
otherwise. There was absolutely no competitive advantage gained. All of the books were returned.”

Billy Pate, Alabama’s men’s tennis coach, said good lessons can be learned from this case.

“I think the moral of the story is a small thing can become a big thing in a serious manner,” Pate said. “It reminds us that we’re under a microscope here. A
mistake was made that might have seemed minor at the time, but it turned out to have serious consequences. ... Student-athletes are in the public eye, and
everything they do can have consequences.”

Men’s track coach Harvey Glance and women’s track coach Sandy Fowler, reached at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, were eager to move
forward.

“I am just glad this is over with and we can ... concentrate on the business of improving our program,” Glance said. “We have always worked within the rules,
and I value what we have learned through this process.”

“This has been, in many ways, a validation of what we often tell our student-athletes when discussing compliance issues,” Fowler said. “I am confident in the
improvements we continue to make in the areas involved.”