[Libertine]

http://i-aa.org/article.asp?articleid=78579

Savannah State's football program was put on 3 years probation on Friday through summary disposition after an NCAA investigation revealed that a former assistant coach provided improper aid to prospective players, supervised improper summer workouts and encouraged players to use banned substances. It also revealed a whole slew of recruiting irregularities.

Here's the NCAA-imposed damage:

* Public reprimand and censure (whoop-de-doo)
* Reduction to a combined 36 practice activities for spring '06 & '07. (SSU already cancelled spring ball for '06 so this doesn't really hurt them)
* Limited to no more than 27 paid visits for '06-'07, down 2 from their average of 29. (NCAA max is 56. Again, no real damage)
* Former head coach officially reprimanded
* Former asst. coach responsible was disassociated from SSU (by SSU) for a period of 10 years and given a show-cause order (by the NCAA) for 7 years.

Basically, the coach is out of NCAA football for 7 years and SSU gets a slap on the wrist. The basic upshot is that the NCAA found that, since 1998, few people running SSU's athletic department have had any clue what they were doing and this assistant took advantage of that fact.

[SuperJon]

Too bad they couldn't even be good while cheating.

[Sly Fox]

I mean they were horrendous while they had full spring workouts and recruiting visits. Under this arrangement, could they become even worse?

[A.G.]

Sounds just the type and quality of team Kallander would love to have in the conference.

[Hold My Own]

I wish there was serious steroid tests in the NCAA, they are just so expensive though....right now it's a joke

[WinthropEagleFan]

Sounds just the type and quality of team Kallander would love to have in the conference.

If the conference wanted Savannah State, they'd be in by now...

[A.G.]

As much as Kyle would love to have another football team in, it is the school presidents that drive the expansion bus--Gardner-Webb did not get full membership a few years back due to reported academic issues.

[SuperJon]

GW had a buncha academic stuff a few years back but they're under a completely new regime now. They're legit in everything when it comes to academics and that stuff.

[Brokeback Flamer]

Let us go into the sorta-way-back machine and realize that SSU made an aggressive bid to join the conference and was seriously looked at. Thankfully they were SERIOUSLY looked at and not granted membership. As for GW, they made a big push too, but did have the academic problems. Remeber this was the case where the president was changing grades and giving credits to no show classes. (Not that that doesn't happen in OTHER BSC schools) He got caught and now they are under a new regime. I can see them making a bid for membership again, IF they becom unhappy in the A - Sun. What a match up Rick Reeves back in the VINES!!!

[Hold My Own]

woooo hooooo

[Libertine]

What a match up Rick Reeves back in the VINES!!!

So long as no twins are involved.

[Libertine]

SSU has had a serious hard-on for the MEAC ever since they came up to D-I but are not averse to joining the Big South. Right now in football, they play as many BS schools as MEAC schools on a yearly basis. However, the Big South and Kallander took a good look at SSU as a potential member back in '01-'02 and basically wished SSU good luck with the MEAC.

[Sly Fox]

I have a feeling the timing of this probation may hurt their MEAC longings. The MEAC visited Savannah just this past month and they have been considering them for expansion.