Ole Miss self-imposes 2017 bowl ban amid amended Notice of Allegations
Ole Miss has self-imposed a 2017 postseason bowl ban as the school was hit with an amended Notice of Allegations by the NCAA on Wednesday.
The school was originally served with a Notice Of Allegations from the NCAA in January of 2016, outlining 13 violations, eight of which were Level I. In the amended notice, the number of violations is now at 21, with 15 registered as Level I.
"Based on number and scope of the allegations in the revised notice, the factual information we have available, NCAA case precedent and penalty guidelines, and most importantly, the involvement of this former staff member in Level I violations, the university is self-imposing a one-year postseason ban on the football program for the 2017 season," athletic director Ross Bjork said in a press conference.
The original punishment levied by the NCAA involved recruiting suspensions for former defensive line coach Chris Kiffin and tight ends coach Maurice Harris. Kiffin has since left the program for Florida Atlantic, while Harris remains on staff.
While the bowl-ban is significant, it certainly is not the most damning punishment that could hit the Rebels program. Bjork announced that in amended Notice of Allegations, head coach Hugh Freeze is alleged to have violated head coach responsibility legislation.
"It is alleged that the head football coach violated head coach responsibility legislation. This allegation is not based upon personal involvement in violations by Coach Freeze but because he is presumed responsible for the allegation involving his staff that occurred between October 2012 and January 2016."
The university has vowed to fight that charge, as well as the charge that Ole Miss showed a lack of institutional control, potentially damaging allegation. The program was originally hit with a 'failure to monitor' charge in the original allegations, but has seen that upgraded to a Level I infraction, the largest one can receive, in the amendment.
"It is alleged that the scope and nature of the violations demonstrate that the university lacked institutional control and failed to monitor the conduct and administration of its athletic programs. This charge replaces the more limited failure to monitor charge in the January 2016 Notice of Allegations. This is charged as a Level I violation that we will contest."
While Freeze admitted disappointment in the transgressions by his staff, he defended his own position, and expressed his eagerness to fight the charges against his responsibility.
"I am extremely disappointed to learn that any member of my staff violated any SEC or NCAA rules," Freeze said during the press conference. "Contrary to the allegations, I have demonstrated throughout this entire process that I have a strong record of promoting compliance and monitoring my staff, and I look forward to presenting that evidence to the Committee on Infractions."