What should be an exciting time for the Missouri Tigers, especially after landing Clemson transfer quarterback Kelly Bryant this offseason, has turned into a nightmare for the university and Mizzou athletics department. The NCAA has laid down a huge hammer following an academic scandal.
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According to a Division I Committee on Infractions panel, a former University of Missouri tutor "violated NCAA ethical conduct, academic misconduct and academic extra benefits rules when she completed academic work for 12 student-athletes."
In other words, since the 12 student-athletes didn't technically do their own course work, the football, baseball, and softball programs are being punished by the college governing body in a massive way.
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Needless to say, this is not a fun day to be in Columbia, Missouri or even to be a fan of the Tigers. This is a tough pill to swallow, and now the Mizzou football program will not be allowed to play in a bowl game during the 2019 season.
Here is the list of punishments handed down by the NCAA:
1. Three years of probation.
2. A 10-year show-cause order for the former tutor. During that period, any NCAA member school employing the tutor must restrict her from any athletically related duties.
3. A 2018-19 academic year postseason ban for the baseball and softball programs.
4. A 2019-20 academic year postseason ban for the football program.
5. A vacation of records in which football, baseball and softball student-athletes competed while ineligible. The university must provide a written report containing the matches impacted to the NCAA media coordination and statistics staff within 45 days of the public decision release.
6. A 5 percent reduction in the amount of scholarships in each of the football, baseball and softball programs during the 2019-20 academic year.
7. Recruiting restrictions for each of the football, baseball and softball programs during the 2019-20 academic year, including:
— A seven-week ban on unofficial visits.
— A 12.5 percent reduction in official visits.
— A seven-week ban on recruiting communications.
— A seven-week ban on all off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations.
— A 12.5 percent reduction in recruiting-person or evaluation days.8. A disassociation of the tutor. Details of the disassociation can be found in the public report (self-imposed by the university).
9. A fine of $5,000 plus 1 percent of each of the football, baseball and softball budgets.
The NCAA didn't name the tutor, and the report of what happened is lengthy, but all people really need to know is the punishments are harsh, and the Missouri football team will not play in a bowl game with new quarterback Kelly Bryant this season.
