This is unbelievable

[Drebin]

Here's what I don't understand...


They say right there in black and white in the report that they found Leo Lewis credible. The Rebel Rags stuff stuck. They say that there was a culture of non compliance. They say that LOIC was present.

If you just read their findings and not the penalties, and had to guess what the penalties were, you'd think it was the worst possible scenario for Ole Miss.

And then....they basically accept the self-imposed and tack on a bowl ban. What a freaking joke this is.

If you don't want to read the NCAA release and want the cliff's notes, here they are: "Ole Miss, you cheated your asses off. Your booster network is out of control. Your head coach did not monitor and your program lacked institutional control. You engaged in pay-for-play. Accusations were consistent with previous NCAA cases there. Because of this egregious behavior, we're going to accept your self-imposed penalties, and add three more scholarships and another bowl ban."

Thank the good Lord that those idiots have done far more damage to their program than the NCAA did. Maybe the NCAA took that into account.

 

[wsjmsu75]

The NCAA should fold their tent. They are a worthless joke. Guess that penalty matrix thing was just a ploy to make themselves look credible.

 

[bulldognation]

Spirit Ben say “it is enough!”

 

[thatsbaseball]

"The NCAA should just fold their tent"....they just did !

 

[ShrubDog]

Bottome line - the COI and investigators didn’t seem to agree

 

[Drebin]

That's not what I read. The COI agreed with just about all of it. They just didn't punish according to their matrix.

 

[Dawgzilla]

From page 1 of the report:

"Mississippi fostered an unconstrained booster culture—particularly in boosters' relationships withthe football program and their involvement in recruiting. This is now the third case over threedecades that has involved the boosters and the football program. Even the head coachacknowledged that upon coming to Mississippi, he was surprised by the "craziness" of boosterstrying to insert themselves into his program. At the hearing, Mississippi's chancelloracknowledged his institution's problem with boosters, characterizing one instance as "disturbinglyquestionable." The chancellor pledged to correct his institution's booster issues."

 

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

The NCAA should fold their tent. They are a worthless joke. Guess that penalty matrix thing was just a ploy to make themselves look credible.

LOL I’ve been concerned since this all stared that amateurism would die before Ole Miss could be punished. Turns out this case is what will be he nail in the coffin of amateurism.

 

[ShrubDog]

That's not what I read. The COI agreed with just about all of it. They just didn't punish according to their matrix.

Thats what I mean

 

[Southern Law Dawg]

From page 1 of the report:

"Mississippi fostered an unconstrained booster culture—particularly in boosters' relationships withthe football program and their involvement in recruiting. This is now the third case over threedecades that has involved the boosters and the football program. Even the head coachacknowledged that upon coming to Mississippi, he was surprised by the "craziness" of boosterstrying to insert themselves into his program. At the hearing, Mississippi's chancelloracknowledged his institution's problem with boosters, characterizing one instance as "disturbinglyquestionable." The chancellor pledged to correct his institution's booster issues."

This quote right here screams that they shouldn't have gotten off so light. In no way do their penalties match the words they are using here.

 

[dickiedawg]

I don't think they added three scholarships at all.

If you look at the report, it's 10 initial scholarships over 4 years. They'll lose 4 this year and then be done with it.

 

[engie]

COI all gonna be driving brand new cars**

 

[GhostOfJackie]

And for those who say "the NCAA just wanted Freeze and they got him", the sneaky bastard got off with hardly anything.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Looks like they just wanted Freeze. Once Ole Miss canned him, they weren't mad anymore.

Have they hammered anyone who fired the coach before infractions were handed down? I don't remember if they have or not but it does look like they just wanted to penalize Freeze.

 

[Dawgzilla]

This quote right here screams that they shouldn't have gotten off so light. In no way do their penalties match the words they are using here.

But wait, there's more! The whole introductory section sounds like the hammer is about to fall hard:

"Regarding booster involvement in this case, from the summer of 2010 through 2015, 12 institutional boosters provided impermissible inducements and/or benefits to prospective and enrolled student-athletes, their families and acquaintances. The impermissible inducements and benefits consisted of meals, transportation, lodging, merchandise, the use of automobiles and cash payments. Over the same time, four assistant football coaches and two administrative members of the football staff also committed NCAA rules violations. Two members of the football program helped arrange fraudulent standardized tests scores for three prospects, while many other violations were centered on two highly recruited student-athletes. Among those violations, a booster provided $10,000 cash for one of those prospects to commit to Mississippi, while another booster gave $800 cash to the other prospect's step-father after the prospect enrolled. Other violations by boosters and staff members involving these and other prospects included impermissible recruiting contacts, arranging for impermissible transportation, meals and lodging for prospects and those accompanying them to campus, arranging access to a booster's private hunting land and allowing a prospect to stay overnight with an assistant coach. The violations committed by the boosters and staff members were Levels I, II and III and many occurred while the investigation was ongoing.

The violations resulted from a culture of rules violations being acceptable in the Mississippi football program. Members of the football staff were often in regular contact with the boosters who provided impermissible inducements and benefits. Further, the football staff at times did not report known violations and falsified recruiting paperwork. The violations in this case were similar to those in both the 1994 and 1986 cases and reflect a recurring culture of noncompliance in the football program and among football boosters. As in the previous cases, boosters were improperly involved in recruiting, often with the knowledge and encouragement of the football staff. Mississippi boosters cannot go unchecked. It is imperative that Mississippi, like all NCAA member institutions, take whatever action is necessary to control their boosters.

In the midst of some of the booster activity, Mississippi hired the head coach. When measured by wins and losses, he brought significant success to the football program during his tenure. Off the field, he promoted an atmosphere of compliance and expected his staff to abide by the rules. However, throughout his tenure, the head coach also violated NCAA head coach responsibility legislation because he failed to monitor his program's activities surrounding the recruitment of prospects. Members of his staff knowingly committed recruiting violations, submitted false information on recruiting paperwork and failed to report known violations. Among their violations, staff members provided a highly-regarded prospect impermissible inducements and benefits on numerous unofficial visits he made to campus. The head coach did not exercise sufficient oversight into what the staff members were doing. He did not meet his responsibility to monitor the activities that resulted in violations. His failure to monitor is a Level I violation.

Mississippi lacked control over its boosters and oversight of football recruiting activities. Although the institution is now attempting to manage its boosters, this case is symptomatic of an out-of-control culture that has existed for decades. A dozen boosters provided prospects, enrolled student-athletes and their families and friends with impermissible inducements and benefits. It is imperative that Mississippi gain control of and change this culture. Further, and perhaps related, the institution lacked control of the recruiting process. It did not confirm where prospects were staying when visiting campus or ensure that recruiting rules were followed and paperwork was accurate. Finally, even though the panel would have concluded a lack of control solely from the football violations, the violations from Case No. 189693 also contributed to the conclusion that the institution lacked control of its athletics program. The institution's lack of control over these aspects of its athletics department is a Level I violation."

 

[HD6]

If they truly wanted Freeze, he'd have a bigger show cause. He'll be back in coaching soon.

 

[dawgdr]

How many schollies did we self impose over Redmon deal?

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Yep. Freeze is probably the biggest winner. Promoting a culture of compliance but couldn't because the nasty boosters and assistants. He'd be Saint Hugh if it wasn't for Houston Nutt.

 

[J-Dawg]

Freeze to OC? Wouldn’t that be ironic?

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Ok, I admit that is correct, but don't you think it may have been a different outcome if he was still there?

 

[MaroonCrusader]

I’m ready to start the Justin Fields fund.

 

[DerHntr]

The only thing the Rebs did correctly was draw the line in the sand for the investigators concerning how they should be punished. They created a shared mental model of what theboenalties could be. If the COI came back with 33 scholarships lost, everyone would be screaming that they “tripled what OM thought was fair!!!” Without the initial sanctions by OM, this would be a totally different outcome.