GSC Statement on Delta State University's Secondary Violation
On October 4, 2016, Delta State University became aware of the use of potentially ineligible student-athletes in its first five football games of the season and self-reported this information to both the NCAA and the Gulf South Conference.
On October 26, the NCAA enforcement staff issued its decision and determined that both student-athletes were indeed ineligible while competing. The NCAA penalties for this secondary violation include a fine and application of nullification principles in the football team’s final numbers for NCAA postseason consideration by the Division II Football Committee.
The Gulf South Conference shall enforce additional penalties.
According to GSC Policy 12.6 (B), “(a)ny team using an ineligible player shall forfeit the event in which the ineligible player competed.” Further, “If the ineligibility is discovered during the regular season, any contest won while using the ineligible player shall be ‘forfeited’ and changed to a loss in the standings, which shall be recalculated”
[GSC Policy 12.6 (B-1) | p. 18].
This penalty shall be applied to conference contests only. Statistics shall not be changed, but the final GSC standings shall show a loss for the following games: 9/24 versus Shorter; 9/29 versus Mississippi College. Delta State’s opponents shall not be credited with a win.
DSU received notification on Wednesday, November 16 from the NCAA that both student-athletes involved have been fully reinstated with no additional withholding of eligibility.
No further penalties will be imposed in this case.