TULSA, OK -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced that it has suspended the WilberforceUniversity men's basketball program for the remainder of the 1999-2000 season as well as the 2000-01 campaign. The associationhas also placed the remainder of the Bulldogs' athletic teams on probation for the 1999-2000 academic year.
A statement from the NAIA said the school allowed two ineligible men's basketball players to participate the last two seasons - onein 1997-98 and the other last year. The school has been ordered to forfeit any contests in which these athletes participated. TheBulldogs won the American Mideast Conference tournament title last winter and one of the mentioned athletes played in their threetourney victories.
NAIA suspension means that the men's basketball program will not be allowed to participate in any postseason competition throughthe 2000-01 season. It also means that the sport and their participants shall be excluded from the national awards program and allstatistical services during the period of the suspension. The other programs that are on probation are still eligible for postseasoncompetition, but the sanction recognizes that a violation has occurred within the athletics department and requires a written responseof the corrective measures to be taken. It is also understood that any infraction during the probationary period may lead tosuspension of any or all of the athletics programs.
Wilberforce athletic director Norm Nelson stated, "The sanctions are unfortunate for our students, but fair. Throughout this process Ihave worked very closely with the NAIA and the American Mideast Conference, and I will address all items of concern.
"During the process, Anna Tillman, assistant athletic director and women's basketball coach; Johnny Cunningham, sportsinformation director; and myself have established additional steps to assure that ineligible players are not permitted to participate inany official contests. I'm in agreement with our president, Dr. John Henderson, that an internal eligibility review committee needs tobe formed.
"Our endeavor is to address and reconcile each issue of ineligibility with our student-athletes and coaching staff. My goal is to buildan even better program for the future."
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