INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Citing a lack of institutional control, the NCAA Friday placed Marshall University on probation for four years and reduced the number of scholarships in both the football and men's baketball programs.
The decision came two days after Marshall rallied from a 30-point halftime deficit to defeat East Carolina, 64-61, in double overtime in the highest-scoring bowl game ever.
An NCAA investigation determined the university arranged work for athletes and violated rules on academics.
The NCAA Division I Infractions Committee cut five scholarships from the football team for each of the next three seasons, limiting the Thundering Herd to 80 through the 2004-05 academic year.
The committee also stripped one scholarship from the basketball team for the next two years, limiting it to 12 for the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons.
The investigation centered on athletes receiving extra work benefits and others who received exam answers from a professor in 1999.
The NCAA inquiry determined that between November 1996 and the 2000 spring semester, at least 21 football non-qualifiers and two basketball non-qualifers were employed by a representative of the athletic program during their first year of enrollment. They performed janitorial duties and were paid $25 per hour.
The students did not meet NCAA qualifications as incoming freshmen and NCAA by-laws prohibit them from receiving work benefits during their first year of school.
According to the NCAA, the academic fraud occured during the 1999 spring semester when an assistant professor, who also served as a volunteer flexibility coach in the athletic department, provided advance copies of a final exam to the football players.
The infractions committee determined such action "demonstrated unethical behavior, academic fraud and provision of extra benefits."
Marshall reported the violations in July 2000 and the NCAA began its investigation in July.
