Alabama textbook case chronology

June 11, 2009

By Ken Rogers

Here is a case chronology of the textbook investigation:

Oct. 17, 2007: The senior textbook buyer at the bookstore detected and reported textbook charges in excess of $1,600 for a women’s track and field student-athlete’s account for the fall semester.

Oct. 19, 2007: The institution determined that due to the start of the fall sports season, the Alabama textbook review team, as appointed by Dr. Witt, would focus on the 2007 fall semester back thorugh the 2006 spring semester.

Oct. 23, 2007: Alabama retained a law firm to oversee a review of textbook purchases for student-athletes.

Oct. 31, 2007: SEC Commissioner Mike Slive and SEC associated commissioner, Alabama AD Mal Moore, university counsel, the school’s associate AD and its outside counsel met with NCAA enforcement staff members to discuss Alabama’s preliminary findings.

Nov. 16, 2007: Alabama expanded its review of textbook charges to include the 2005 fall semester.

Nov. 20, 1007: The NCAA enforcement staff issued a notice of inquiry to Alabama.

April 16, 2008: Membership services provided a response to a joint request for interpretation, which indicated that the provision of books and supplies that were not required for a particular course would constitute an extra-benefit violation.

May 19, 2008: The enforcement staff issued a notice of allegations to Alabama.

Sept. 16, 2008: Alabama submitted its response to the notice of allegations.

Jan. 8, 2009: Academic and membership affairs (formerly membership services) provided a response to a joint interpretation request, which clarified that the provision of books and supplies by student-athletes who received athletics aid to student-athletes who did not receive athletics aid would constitute an extra-benefit violation; the provision of recommended/optional books or books unrelated to the student-athlete’s course work to student-athletes who received athletics aid would constitute a violation of NCAA Bylaw 15.2.3.

Feb. 20, 2009: Alabama appeared before the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions.
June 11, 2009: The committee released its report (No. 299).