Ole Miss issues response to NCAA notice of allegations
Ole Miss released its long-awaited response to the Notice of Allegations from the NCAA stemming from a four-year investigation.
Allegations stemming from investigations into the Football, Track and Women’s Basketball programs at Ole Miss were finally brought to light as the athletic administration revealed not only what was investigated but also where Ole Miss stands on the findings.
Ole Miss revealed that combined between the three sports there were 28 rules violations,13 of which pertained to the football program.
Most of the allegations into the football program pertain to current Head Coach Hugh Freeze’s staff. Most center around former Offensive Tackle Laremy Tunsil. These allegations have been known since last fall when Tunsil was suspended for the first 7 games of the season after it was found out that he was given a loaner car from a dealership in Oxford. Tunsil’s stepfather, Lindsey Miller, is also acknowledged to have received improper benefits from boosters. Benefits given to Tunsil add up to an estimated $2,253.
As far as the allegations of improper benefits from the texts that were released on Tunsil’s Twitter account, the night of the NFL Draft, Ole Miss Is still investigating them and has asked the NCAA to delay the hearing from the Committee on Infractions in order to finish the investigation.
More from Saturday Blitz
- Michigan State vs. Maryland: Location, time, prediction, and more
- ACC Power Rankings: Can #4 FSU overthrow Clemson at Death Valley East?
- Most heartwarming social media reactions to Nick Chubb’s injury
- Ranking college football’s top 10 quarterbacks after Week 3
- Things are going to get much darker for the Houston Cougars
The other allegations involving football stem from former coach Houston Nutt’s staff, in particular, assistant coaches David Saunders and Chris Vaughn, who were found to be falsifying ACT tests for prospects in 2010. Saunders had recently been accused of the same practices at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
Ole Miss also released details on self-imposed sanctions. Pertaining particularly to football they include; dissociation with four boosters for three years, reduction of recruiting opportunities deduction of 11 scholarships, and a monetary fine of $159,325.
More saturday blitz: 50 Best SEC Football Players of All-Time
In a letter to Ole Miss fans and alumni, Athletic Director Ross Bjork and UM Chancellor Jeff Vitter state that they are working on having the NCAA reclassify the violations as Level III, which is less severe than the current status of Level II.
NCAA levied sanctions will not come until the committee of infractions meets with the Ole Miss athletic administration.
For more SEC coverage, you can check out our hub page.