INDIANAPOLIS, May 13 (UPI) -- The Division I Committee on Infractions has placed Stetson University on probation for two years, limited the number of permissible athletics scholarships in men's basketball for two years, limited the maximum number of games the men's basketball team may play in 2003-04, and imposed other penalties for violations primarily involving the men's basketball program.
Stetson must play with one fewer scholarship player (12 instead of 13) and start practice seven days late, and can play only 27 games, instead of 28, in each of the next two years.
In addition to violations of bylaws governing financial aid, extra benefits and out-of-season practice, the committee also found a failure to monitor and a lack of institutional control. Many of the violations involved the former head men's basketball coach and out-of-season activities with prospects and student-athletes.
Among the violations, six prospective athletes received athletically-related financial aid during the summers of 1998 and '99 to attend the university's Early Start Program, a six-week program for first-year college students. The program was available to all incoming freshmen, but institutional financial aid was not provided to any students in the program before aid was granted to the prospective basketball student-athletes.
At the time, such financial aid for prospective student-athletes was not permissible.
The Committee on Infractions found a lack of institutional control in monitoring the men's basketball program during the mid-to-late 1990s. The committee cited the numerous violations involving the men's basketball program in its finding.
Stetson took a number of corrective actions and imposed penalties as a result of the violations, which the committee considered.
The university will reduce the number of total financial aid counters in men's basketball by one for two years, which will limit the institution to 12 for each of those years.
"I'm dismayed that such a reaction was expressed by the committee," said 64-year-old former head coach Murray Arnold, who resigned in December 2000, citing health reasons. "Quite the contrary, my entire career in coaching has been committed and is a living example of exactly the opposite attitude."
Stetson Athletic Director Jeff Altier said the school, which has had a clean record since joining the NCAA in 1967, had not decided if it would appeal.
