The University of Alabama athletic department self-reported 22 NCAA violations considered to be Level III or Level IV violations for the 2016-17 academic year.
The Alabama football reported nine such violations, the most of any program. Gymnastics and men’s golf each reported two. No other team or department reported more than one.
The violations were obtained by TideSports in response to an open records request. Each of the violations was reported between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
In one instance, an assistant coach for the football team had impermissible off-campus contact with a recruit. The coach was prohibited from off-campus recruiting for 30 days and was suspended for a game. He also received a letter of admonishment and rules education.
In another instance, a football player was suspended for the first four games of the season after selling multiple pieces of “institutional issued items and participation awards.” The student-athlete was also required to repay $820 to a charity of his choice.
A member of the football staff who was not a coach provided instruction to a player during a game in violation of rules. The staff member was suspended for one game.
Level III violations are considered by the NCAA to be a “breach of conduct,” but are isolated or limited in nature that do not provide a significant advantage in recruiting or competition. Level IV violations are “incidental issues” that are inadvertent, isolated and technical in nature.
None of the issues were considered to be major violations. Other violations included coaches inadvertently calling or texting recruits at improper times. An assistant coach for the men’s track and field program paid for the meals of five family members of a recruit on an official visit, while NCAA rules only allow four family members to have their meals purchased. The recruit had to pay the value of the meal to charity before his eligibility was reinstated.
Other violations included mistakes made on social media. One football player accidentally committed a violation when he tweeted that he was excited to host a recruit on an official visit.
Women’s golf, women’s track and field, women’s tennis, volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, and the swimming and diving teams did not report any Level III or Level IV violations.
Alabama reported 19 violations that were classified as Level II or IV in 2015-16, including five by the football team.
A full list of violations and Alabama’s actions taken as a result can be viewed here.
Reach Ben Jones at ben@tidesports.com or 205-722-0196.
