Football: Benson addresses NCAA’s UL investigation

Tim Buckley, The Advertiser, October 21, 2015

 

JONESBORO, Ark. — The Sun Belt Conference will not heap any additional fines, postseason bans or other penalties on a UL football program that has been under investigation by the NCAA for alleged recruiting rules violations, according to SBC commissioner Karl Benson.

But Benson, speaking shortly before UL’s 37-27 ESPN2-televised loss Tuesday night at Arkansas State here, did suggest there are lessons to be learned following an NCAA probe that began in December 2013.

The lengthy investigation resulted in the filing earlier this year of a Notice of Allegations suggesting ex-Ragin’ Cajuns assistant football coach David Saunders took part in an “elaborate” scheme to favorably alter the ACT exam scores of six Cajun recruits, paid about $6,500 in cash to one former UL recruit/player and failed to cooperate with NCAA and UL investigations.

“It’s a process that whether you’re the university involved or you’re the conference involved, you’re always wanting it to get over and move forward,” Benson said when asked how much the conference frowns upon what’s happened at UL. “My experience shows that once a university goes through this type of an experience, they come out of it with better policies in place and stronger oversight.”

Benson has worked 25-plus years as commissioner of the MAC, the WAC and now the Sun Belt,

“I am confident Dr. Savoie (UL president Joseph Savoie) and (UL athletic director) Scott Farmer are committed to making sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said. “That’s the positive outcome: They can get through it, and it’s the last time you ever have to deal with it.”

UL has acknowledged most of the ACT-related violations and concedes most occurred.

But it quibbles with language suggesting Saunders orchestrated the scheme and denies the cash payment allegation.

The NCAA alleges Saunders directed recruits to the same rural Mississippi testing center, where an exam administration altered and/or provided answers. It uncovered the alleged violations at UL while looking into Saunders’ recruiting activities at Ole Miss, his previous employer.

The Ole Miss part of the NCAA’s investigation remains unresolved, and it remains to be seen if the Rebels will face any allegations and/or sanctions.

UL dismissed Saunders last October, when — according to its response to the NCAA — “it became clear from the evidence he had been involved in activities constituting exam fraud and he ceased cooperating in the enforcement staff’s and University’s investigation.”

The Cajuns have a hearing in front of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions scheduled for next month, when penalties on top of those self-imposed could be ordered.

UL already has sanctioned itself by vacating its 9-4 season in 2011, including its New Orleans Bowl win that year; reducing football scholarships by 11 spread out over a three-year period; and restricting recruiting.

But UL opted against self-imposing a 2015 postseason ban, saying doing so “would be unduly severe to address violations committed by a single individual that were in no way indicative of systemic, program-wide noncompliance with NCAA rules.”

UL also calculated a fine of approximately $60,000 “could be prescribed by the hearing panel,” but it didn’t self-impose a financial penalty and “believes its exemplary cooperation … justifies relief in that regard.”

Without pinpointing an amount, the Cajuns also pointed out they’ve spent a considerable amount of money cooperating with the investigation.

Asked if because UL is voluntarily vacating its 2011 season the Sun Belt would make UL return any of the hundreds of thousands of dollars it made from its New Orleans Bowl appearance that year, commissioner Benson indicated that would not be the case.

Ditto for a postseason ban this year or in the future.

“There is no conference policy that addresses any of that,” Benson said, adding “the NCAA has its own financial penalties they could levy.”

“We defer to the NCAA,” Benson added, “and will wait for that process to be concluded.”

UL pocketed $374,090.13 following its win over SDSU in New Orleans, including $250,000 in support from the Sun Belt that was generated at the time by BCS revenue.