ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 1996 TAG: 9603200040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE, FLA.
SOURCE: Associated Press
Florida State's football program was spared major sanctions Tuesday for a players' shopping spree, instead getting the ``lightest'' of NCAA penalties - one year's probation.
The Seminoles lost no scholarships and remain eligible for bowl games, television appearances and the national title in 1996.
``This is probably one of the lightest if not the lightest penalty handed down in a major case,'' said David Swank, a University of Oklahoma law professor and chairman of the NCAA's infractions committee. ``It's a penalty that affects image more than anything else with the institution.''
Florida State is appealing for that reason.
``Our image is at stake,'' athletic director Dave Hart said. ``I'd be less than frank to say we're not disappointed this came out as a major.''
The probation is the result of a 1993 agent-sponsored shopping expedition by several players to a sporting goods store.
The appeal, which could take several more months, must be made by April 3.
``We respectfully disagree with the categorization of these as major violations,'' Florida State president Talbot ``Sandy'' D'Alemberte said. ``We will go forward with an appeal.''
Coach Bobby Bowden, on his annual Caribbean cruise with his coaching staff, was on shore in Jamaica and not immediately available to comment.
The probation, retroactive to Feb.3 when school officials met with the infractions committee, automatically began a five-year clock that would bring serious sanctions if the school again violated NCAA rules.
The NCAA reprimanded Florida State for the violations and ordered the school to develop a more thorough compliance program and recertify its policies.
``Had the institution taken appropriate action and reviewed the information, it might have prevented and at least detected the violations earlier,'' the NCAA said. ``The institution also failed to take sufficient actions to investigative possible violations.''
Following severe sanctions imposed against Alabama, Miami and Mississippi State in recent months, Florida State officials were worried. Their concern escalated because this was the first case involving improper activity of unregistered agents.
``It is a very significant problem for all universities today,'' Swank said.
The NCAA praised the actions taken by Florida State in responding to its compliance problems, which first surfaced in an article in Sports Illustrated in May 1994.
``The university has gone through a lot of soul-searching in conducting this investigation,'' Swank said.
D'Alemberte said the school already has spent more than $500,000 on its own investigation into the shopping spree. A former president of the American Bar Association, D'Alemberte said he might handle the school's appeal.
LENGTH: Medium: 60 linesby CNB