Ball State University officials released on Thursday the names of 48 student-athletes who violated the NCAA’s “extra benefits” rule by obtaining books that weren’t required for their classes or by receiving books from other athletes.
The violations, which involved seven of Ball State’s 18 sports, resulted in 61 total suspensions, and this might not be the end.
On Aug. 29 and 30, the NCAA enforcement staff visited campus and asked the athletics department to reopen and expand its investigation to include previous years.
“We’re continuing to review all the records,” Bubba Cunningham, athletics director, said.
Under NCAA Bylaw 15, institutions can provide financial aid to student-athletes to cover the cost of required course-related books. Cunningham said each athlete gets the books he or she needs, then charges the books to the athletics department. The athlete must sign a receipt, and when the whole process is complete, the bookstore sends a total bill to the athletics department, Cunningham said.
“In this case, we noticed some irregularities, so we started to investigate it, just as part of our normal review,” he said.
Early in May, the department identified 25 athletes who had violated the policy and 18 who were suspected to have violated it, Cunningham said. Those 18, along with two others, were confirmed in late May or early June, he said.
In addition to the 45 athletes, three women’s volleyball players were recently found to be in violation of the rule as well, bringing the total number of violations to 48.
“Everything we looked at in May had to do with buying required books for classes that you weren’t registered in or receiving books that you weren’t entitled to,” Cunningham said. “The new findings, two of them, were for purchase of recommended books as opposed to required books.”
Dave Land, director of athletic compliance and eligibility, would not comment and referred all questions to Cunningham.
“We’ve decided that we need one spokesman,” Land said.
Athletes, coaches and other officials within the department are not allowed to speak about the violations or ongoing investigation, Cunningham said.
“When you have an ongoing review of your internal controls, it’s best to have one single point of contact,” he said. “We’re at one single point, and that’s me.”
Cunningham said the athletics department has determined there are varying degrees of violations that occurred.
Under the NCAA bylaw, athletes whose violations are $100 or less do not have to serve a suspension, provided they immediately repay the total to a charity of their choice. For violations from $100 to $299, athletes must sit out 10 percent of the season; for violations from $300 to $500, athletes must sit out 20 percent of the season; and violations of more than $500 require athletes to sit out at least 30 percent of the season.
Cunningham couldn’t say exactly how this infraction got by the athletics department.
“Every institution is responsible for creating an environment that’s compliant, and if you have holes in that — which this is — then you’re susceptible to evaluation by others,” he said. “We submitted what we’ve found to the conference office, we’ve submitted to the NCAA, so we’ve opened up everything for everyone to take a look at.”
The list released Thursday named 33 football players, five women’s track and field athletes and three women’s volleyball players. It also includes two members each from men’s basketball, men’s tennis and softball, as well as one member of the gymnastics team.
Of the 33 football players, 19 athletes will serve or have already served a suspension, six were immediately reinstated after repaying the total value, and eight no longer remain with the team.
Cunningham said that those no longer with the team still have to repay the cost, and the suspensions will follow them if they transfer.
Defensive end Cortlan Booker received the longest suspension at four games. Linebackers David Denham and Donta Smith, defensive end Amara Koroma and cornerback Lavell Mosley have all been suspended for three games.
Four football players will serve two-game suspensions, and 10 will serve or have already served one-game suspensions.
The suspensions do not have to be served consecutively in order to ensure the safety of the team, Cunningham said.
“For significant numbers, [the NCAA] lets you stagger them to provide for the safety of the players competing,” he said.
Sophomore Landon Adler of the men’s basketball team will serve a three-game suspension when the season begins on Nov. 19.
Cunningham said the athletics department gets frustrated, concerned and disappointed when it makes mistakes, but it’s trying to work through the process.
“Rules compliance — not only NCAA rules, but institutional rules, state law, federal law all those things — we’re very, very concerned about. But, on occasion, you make mistakes,” he said.
Early in May, the department identified 25 athletes who had violated the policy and 18 who were suspected to have violated it, Cunningham said. Those 18, along with two others, were confirmed in late May or early June, he said.
In addition to those 45 athletes, three women’s volleyball players were recently found to be in violation of the rule as well, bringing the total number of violations to 48.
“Everything we looked at in May had to do with buying required books for classes that you weren’t registered in or receiving books that you weren’t entitled to,” Cunningham said. “The new findings, two of them, were for purchase of recommended books as opposed to required books.”
Dave Land, director of compliance and eligibility, would not comment and referred all questions to Cunningham.
“We’ve decided that we need one spokesman,” Land said.
Athletes, coaches and other officials within the department are not allowed to speak about the violations or ongoing investigation, Cunningham said.
“When you have an ongoing review of your internal controls, it’s best to have one single point of contact,” he said. “We’re at one single point, and that’s me.”
Cunningham said the athletics department has determined there are varying degrees of violations that occurred.
Under the NCAA bylaw, athletes whose violations are $100 or less do not have to serve a suspension, provided they immediately repay the total to a charity of their choice. For violations from $100 to $299, athletes must sit out 10 percent of the season; for violations from $300 to $500, athletes must sit out 20 percent of the season; and violations of more than $500 require athletes to sit out at least 30 percent of the season.
Cunningham couldn’t say exactly how this infraction got by the athletics department.
“Every institution is responsible for creating an environment that’s compliant, and if you have holes in that — which this is — then you’re susceptible to evaluation by others,” he said. “We submitted what we’ve found to the conference office, we’ve submitted to the NCAA, so we’ve opened up everything for everyone to take a look at.”
The list released Thursday named 33 football players, five track and field athletes and three women’s volleyball players. It also includes two members each from men’s basketball, men’s tennis and softball, as well as one member of the gymnastics team.
Of the 33 football players, 19 athletes will serve or have already served a suspension, six were immediately reinstated after repaying the total value, and eight no longer remain with the team.
Cunningham said that those no longer with the team still have to repay the cost, and the suspensions will follow them if they transfer.
Defensive end Cortlan Booker received the longest suspension at four games. Linebackers David Denham and Donta Smith, defensive end Amara Koroma and cornerback Lavell Mosley have all been suspended for three games.
Four football players will serve two-game suspensions, and 10 will serve or have already served one-game suspensions.
The suspensions do not have to be served consecutively, that way safety of the team can be ensured, Cunningham said.
“For significant numbers, [the NCAA] lets you stagger them to provide for the safety of the players competing,” he said.
Sophomore Landon Adler of the men’s basketball team will serve a three-game suspension when the season begins on Nov. 19.
Cunningham said the athletics department gets frustrated, concerned and disappointed when it makes mistakes, but it’s trying to work through the process.
“Rules compliance — not only NCAA rules, but institutional rules, state law, federal law all those things — we’re very, very concerned about. But, on occasion, you make mistakes,” he said.
For the names of all 48 student-athletes, visit NAMES or download the PDF of today's paper.
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