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NCAA suspends 14 Marshall athletes
Updated: Thursday August 30, 2001 6:23 PM
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- The NCAA has suspended 14 Marshall athletes for improperly receiving extra work benefits, the school said Thursday night. The announcement, which involves 12 football players and two men's basketball players, was made Thursday by the school, two days before the Herd opens the season at No. 1 Florida. According to the NCAA, two football players must sit out one game; 10 football players will miss three games; and the basketball players must miss 30 percent of the upcoming season. The players' names were not immediately released. The penalties will be served immediately, although the university plans to appeal. "This is unfortunate, but I prefer to reserve further comment on this situation until we know the result of our appeal," said Marshall football coach Bob Pruett. Neither the school nor the NCAA said what the extra benefits were. A statement issued by the school said the benefits were given prior to February 2000. The suspensions are part of an NCAA investigation into study materials given to several athletes by an assistant professor two summers ago. The Associated Press had reported that Bruce McAllister, an assistant professor of anatomy and physiology, gave a study guide to students in his class and told them to read it over. The study guide ended up being the actual exam. McAllister, who also served as a flexibility coach for the football team, was fired. Marshall reported those allegations in October 1999. Dave Wellman, the university's director of communications, declined further comment Thursday night. "I can't say anything except what's in the statement," he said. Marshall has been hit with NCAA sanctions at least twice previously. In 1969, the Mid-American Conference 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.
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