Dec. 21, 2000
Waco, Texas -
The NCAA concurred with Baylor University's internal review Thursday, finding no evidence of impropriety within the school's football program while taking away a scholarship for one year from its men's tennis program. The university had self-reported a pair of possible compliance questions, per NCAA protocol.
"We are obviously pleased that the NCAA has agreed with our findings," said Athletics Director Tom Stanton. "Baylor University has a great deal of integrity, and we feel that integrity has been evidenced with the way we've handled this situation.
"President (Dr. Robert B.) Sloan and I would both like to thank compliance director Paul Bradshaw, faculty athletics representative David Guinn and our coaches for the forthright and professional manner in which they represented Baylor in this situation, from the self-reporting through our internal investigation. They worked closely with the NCAA to ensure we followed proper procedure.
"Any time there is a question regarding compliance, it is Baylor's duty to request assistance from the NCAA while, at the same time, doing our own research. We did that in this instance."
Baylor first alerted the NCAA to questions related to a former football assistant coach and to financial aid for men's tennis in 1999. Following an exhaustive Baylor internal inquiry, the NCAA conducted its own review which failed to uncover any additional information. In its report, the NCAA commended Baylor "for expeditiously pursuing this information and reporting it."
The penalty involving men's tennis resulted from a misunderstood interpretation of NCAA bylaws. While the tennis program is on two years probation, Baylor is not prohibited from any post-season participation, nor does the penalty affect the Bear's 2000 Big 12 Conference championship.
