Boise State officials will meet with the NCAA today to contest a lack of institutional control charge -- one of 22 charges the school is facing -- for committing numerous violations varying in severity across five sports, including football.
“We will contest that allegation because we feel very strongly about the fact that we do have institutional control,” said Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier last month.
The most severe violations involve the women’s tennis program, and if the lack of institutional control charge is upheld by the NCAA, it’s likely that sport will face the most severe consequences.
According to the Statesman:
“The NCAA was prepared to handle Boise State’s case as a summary disposition — to agree on violations and penalties — and work with the school to implement those penalties before major violations were uncovered in women’s tennis... At that point, the NCAA elevated the problem to a major infractions case and added the lack of institutional control charge.”
However, Boise State’s football program is not in the clear.
According to NCAA allegations, 63 football players over four years received either free or reduced-cost housing, meals and transportation while in town for summer workouts or had their housing arranged by coaches who connected incoming players with current players. The total dollar amount provided to the players was nearly $5,000. All services ranged from $2.34 to a maximum of $417.55 and have been reimbursed by the student-athletes.
Similar violations occurred in the tennis and track programs.
Since the inquiry, Boise State’s football program has decided to reduce their preseason practices from 29 to 26 and stripped themselves of three football scholarships.
“There is a difference between a university that has somehow created a culture that encourages violations and a university that tries to stay on top of violations,’’ said BSU president Bob Kustra. “We’re in the latter category.’’