Norfolk State Placed On Probation

Norfolk State University Athletics has been placed on probation for two years beginning June 16, 2016. The sanctions are based on what the NCAA describes as “Level II – Standard” violations related to athlete eligibility from the 2008-09 through the 2010-11 academic years,. NSU was found to have allowed 48 student-athletes to compete while ineligible and receive impermissible travel expenses related to competition. The student-athletes were ineligible because the institution failed to ensure that they had met all NCAA progress-toward-degree requirements.

“The institution’s eligibility certification process was substandard. The improvements and enhancements made to that system since the discovery of the violations should have been in place previously,” the NCAA report stated. In addition to facing probation, NSU must vacate all regular season and conference tournament wins in which the ineligible student-athletes competed. This includes the Spartans’ 2011 MEAC football title. Self-imposed scholarship reductions and a $5,000 fine were also part of the announced penalty.