Morehouse College's Atheltic Department faces a three-year probation and $5,000 fine for three major violations of NCAA bylaws occurring from 2009 to 2015.
In July, the NCAA released the public infraction decision as part of its agreement with Morehouse College. The decision details how both the athletic department and the college occurred three NCAA infractions -- (1) NCAA Division II Manual Bylaw 14.4.3.3.5, NCAA Division II Manual Bylaw 15.3.2.3, and NCAA Division II Manual Constitution 2.8.1.
From academic years 2009-2010 to 2014-2015, the athletic department attested to playing 29 ineligible student-athletes; failing to "properly certify student-athletes' eligibility in two areas (1) continuing eligibility (progress-toward-degree requirements); and (2) good academic standing"; and improperly signing financial aid awards. This decision involves the football, cross-country, basketball, golf and baseball programs.
The college also received an infraction for failing to properly oversee the department. The decision issued by the NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions was not appealed.
The case began when Morehouse was sent a letter from an attorney on Sunday, September 22, 2013, as noted by the decision. The letter detailed multiple alleged NCAA legislation violations. The attorney, who sent the letter, represented eight families of both current and former Morehouse College football student-athletes.
Morehouse responded to the letter by informing the plaintiff it would investigate the alleged violations. The college used two outside firms for a self-reported investigation which was later submitted to the enforcement staff on Monday, April 28, 2014.
The self-report informed the decision of the Summary Disposition Report (SDR). On May 13, 2015, the committee reviewed the infractions and accepted the violations, self-imposed penalties and corrective actions. Six days later, additional penalties were proposed for Morehouse by the committee. The penalties were not contested.
The 29 ineligible student-athletes included: two student-athletes "who were not in good academic standing with the institution;" "three who failed to designate a degree program;" and seven "who competed after being academically ineligible." 93 percent (27 out of 29) of the violations were a result of eligibility certification violations due to insufficient credit hour fulfillment.
During this time, the college also violated NCAA Bylaw 16.8.12, which forbids institutions to provide lodging and travel expenses for ineligible student-athletes.
Prospective student-athletes fell victim to improper financial aid awarding through academic years 2009-10 to 2013-14. The director of athletics improperly signed and issued athletic related financial award letters to prospective student-athletes without following NCAA and institutional standard procedures.
- Report the terms of the probation and penalties on the Morehouse's athletic's website, which also includes media packages for current student-athletes and future recruitment efforts like informing prospective student-athletes of the college's probation.
- Submit annual reports showing compliance with the regulations to the Committee of Infraction.
- Certify that the college's athletic policies and procedures meet NCAA requirements by the end of the probationary period.
If Morehouse breaks any of these conditions, the department is subject to further disciplinary action and potential suspension.
This probation period follows a tempestuous season for the Mighty Maroon Tigers football program. They were subject to much scrutiny after a "Dear White People" screening outbreak in a South Carolina movie theater.
In addition, Morehouse recently gutted its performing arts programs like its world-renowned Morehouse College Glee Club. Hopefully with its extra cash, Morehouse College will invest more into its academics and arts programs.