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 Wednesday, September 29
Probation, lost scholarships possible
 
Associated Press

  KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee faces harsh penalties if academic fraud allegations are proved, however, forfeiting its 1998 national football title would not be one of them, a former NCAA official said Tuesday.

"Academic fraud is one of the more serious violations because it really goes to the whole heart of the student-athlete and the athletic program," said David Swank, immediate past chairman of the NCAA's Committee on Infractions.

"Now, obviously you have different degrees of fraud," said Swank, a law professor at the University of Oklahoma.

New Mexico State, Michigan State, Texas Tech, Miami and Minnesota have all been hit with allegations of academic violations in recent years. Penalties have included NCAA probation and loss of scholarships.

Although the NCAA has withdrawn championships from schools that violate rules -- such as the UCLA women's softball champions in 1995 -- Swank noted the national football title is created by the schools and bowl games and "is not an NCAA championship."

So Tennessee's 1998 football crown would not be affected, "regardless of what would happen," he said.

The NCAA is aware of the allegations at Tennessee but has not started a formal investigation. Meantime, Tennessee has started an internal probe into whether tutors did schoolwork for athletes.

Carl Asp, Tennessee's faculty athletics representative since 1992, said the investigation could take several weeks and will be thorough.

"We would like it over in a day. But that is not realistic, is it?" said Asp, a speech professor and principal in the university's internal review.

Chancellor Bill Snyder said his concerns go beyond sports.

"Academic dishonesty and plagiarism, if that is verified, we take a very strong position on that," he said. "Regardless of who is involved ... whether student-athletes or not."

ESPN.com has reported that internal memos show high-level administrators in UT's athletics department were told four tutors might have done schoolwork for at least five football players, a baseball player and a female athlete.

None of this information was passed on to campus authorities charged with investigating possible rules infractions, university officials say.
 


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