Herd faces NCAA investigation

Marshall University is under investigation by the NCAA and Mid-American Conference for an alleged unethical conduct violation in which sources say a professor gave several students, inclu-ding members of the Thundering Herd football team, exam materials prior to testing during a first-session summer school class.

An anonymous source told The Associated Press that an assistant professor and member of the coaching staff gave a study guide to several students during a summer class session and told them to read it over.

That study guide was the actual test, the source said.

Neither the university, NCAA or MAC has specified the allegations, including the class or players involved. The professor has since resigned.

Gary Richter, MAC associate commissioner for communications, declined to specify investigations, saying that it was up to the university to currently decide what was released on the matter.

The Athletic Department reported itself to the NCAA and MAC in October, after becoming aware of the allegation.

"We're obligated by the NCAA, MAC and the university to report anytime we know or hear of any possible violations," Marshall University compliance officer David Ridpath said Monday. "If we don't report, that's when it becomes problematic.

A university statement issued to The Parthenon on Monday read:

"Marshall University officials became aware of an allegation involving unethical conduct involving student athletes and conducted a thorough and comprehensive academic and athletic investigation. Upon learning of this allegation, the university immediately filed a detailed report on the investigation with the Mid-American Conference and the NCAA.

"Currently the Mid-American Conference and the NCAA are conducting a routine review of the report filed by the university."

Should the NCAA determine a major violation was committed, the result could be probation, scholarship reduction, recruiting limitations or a ban from postseason play, said Dell Robinson, the MAC's associate commissioner for compliance and legislative services.

The mildest punishment for a secondary violation would be a letter of reprimand.

Keith Spears, Marshall's vice president of communications, said Marshall would voice its stand on the matter once they received instructions stemming from the investigation. Marshall is granted the right to appeal an NCAA ruling if it is perceived as unjust, he said.

"We've self reported it to the NCAA, but they have not reported that we've broken any infractions," Spears said. "The NCAA may decide to rule one way but we may say 'wait a minute, that was not the way we reported it.' In that case there would be an appeal.

"This is still an ongoing investigation," he said. "We're currently waiting on further instructions from the NCAA. A process is underway and the fact that we are in the process makes it hard for us to comment. We're not going to get into personalities and specifics."

The allegation is the latest to hit Marshall. In July, Marshall reported a violation of NCAA rules over a bank's sponsorship of the football team's promotional tour. A bank can host such an event, but by placing ads for it, the bank was considered a cosponsor in violation of NCAA rules.

In 1969, the league suspended Marshall indefinitely and the NCAA placed it on one year's probation after 144 football recruiting violations were revealed.

In 1989, the men's basketball program was placed on two years' probation and in 1991 was banned from postseason play after NCAA rules infractions were uncovered. Coach Rick Huckabay resigned after the school reported the violations.