Suspension
Press release about Marshall, NCAA situation leaves questions unanswered; officials not talking

by THAD SMITH
reporter

Thursday night, NCAA violations against the Marshall Athletic Department were announced with penalties that could possibly affect tommorow's game in Gainesville against the University of Florida.

Fourteen Marshall athletes were suspended, including 12 football players and two basketball players, for receiving improper work benefits.

For the athletes to be reinstated, two football players must sit out one game, ten football players have to sit out three games and both men's basketball players involved will be required to miss 30 percent of their season.

Although Marshall has appealed the suspensions, it appears that the players will have to begin serving their penalties immediately. Sports information director Ricky Hazel told the Associated Press that some of the players suspended were starters, but would not release any names.

A source close to the Thundering Herd football team said, "They didn't know they were doing anything wrong."

Violations allegedly occured when Marshall players under Proposition 48, a rule that allows academically ineligible players to sit out a season and work on their grades, were paid too much for working at jobs in the Huntington area.

"They have to pay all the money they got back by the time they graduate," the source said. "What else could you ask for? They thought they were earning some honest spending money. They didn't know they were getting paid too much."