Boren, Stoops release statements
Norman, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma will appeal the decision
announced Wedenesday by the NCAA Committee on Infractions. OU President David L.
Boren and Head Football Coach Bob
Stoops released statements of reaction.
Statement from OU President David L. Boren: "It is
appropriate that the action taken today by the NCAA does not limit the ability
of our football team to succeed in the upcoming or future seasons."
"In light of all the circumstances surrounding this case and as a matter
of principle, the university has decided to appeal two elements of this decision
- the penalty of erasing the 2005 season record and the finding of failure to
monitor. Any mistakes made by the athletics department compliance staff
while monitoring would not have prevented the intentional wrongdoing by the
student athletes and the employer involved. The university developed the
evidence of wrongdoing by the players and employer and took immediate action.
Myles Brand, President of the NCAA said at the time, `.... I want to
compliment the university insofar as that they took immediate action once they
completed their internal investigation.'"
"Above all, we do not believe that erasing the 2005 season from the
record books is fair to the over 100 student athletes and coaches who played by
the rules and worked their hearts out for a successful season that year."
"The University remains strongly committed to setting the highest
possible standards for our athletics program. We are continuing to enhance
our compliance system, which includes the action taken last year to house the
comprehensive compliance program in the Office of the General Counsel of the
university."
Statement from OU Head Football Coach Bob Stoops: "I
strongly support President Boren's statement and position, and I appreciate his
support of our program. Our current team is focused on the upcoming season. The
university is dealing with a matter that relates to the 2005 season. This group
of players and those that will join our program later have no reason to be
concerned about our goals or the direction of our program. Those things remain
unchanged. We remain a program that is concentrated on winning championships and
my expectation is that we will compete on that level for many years."
Brief Overview of the appeal process: NCAA rules allow
member institutions to appeal findings, penalties or both. To be
considered by the appeals committee, the member institution's written notice of
appeal shall be received by the NCAA president not later than 15 calendar days
from the date of the public release of the committee's report. The member's
notice of appeal shall contain a statement of the date of the public release of
the committee's report and a statement indicating whether the institution
desires to submit its appeal in writing only or whether the institution requests
an in-person hearing.
The time line is as follows: The University has 15 calendar days to notify
the NCAA president of its intention to appeal. Once the University has
been notified that the notice has been received by the NCAA president, the
University has 30 days to file its appeal. The Committee on Infractions
then has 30 days from the receipt of that appeal to file its response. The
University then has 14 days from the receipt of that response to reply, if it
chooses to do so. After that, the Infractions Appeals Committee considers
the matter. The process could take approximately six months to
complete.
The specific penalties appealed are stayed pending the Infractions Appeals
Committee's decision. This stay is automatic.