SEMO will not appeal NCAA penalties

Southeast Missouri State issued a release at 3:56 p.m. today (Thursday), indicating the university will not appeal the NCAA penalties announced June 19, which included a vacation of 44 victories over two seasons from 2004-05 and 2005-06 for the women's basketball program.

The latter season included the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship, the program's first of two consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and a 22-9 record.

The statement from the university reads:

Southeast Missouri State University officials have decided the institution will not appeal the NCAA Infractions Committee's decision announced June 19 regarding the women's basketball program.

Southeast president Dr. Kenneth Dobbins said the decision was made today (Thursday), which was the end of the period during which the university could appeal the decision. Dobbins did not return phone calls on Wednesday while a university spokesperson was quoted that night on a KFVS report as saying no decision had been made yet.

Dobbins said he talked with members of the board of regents before making the decision.

Board member Al Spradling said Wednesday night he had not yet been called in for consultation but believed the university should not appeal.

"Personally, from my point of view, it's not something we want to do," said Spradling, who said it was time to get the 29-month investigation behind the university. "I don't know what benefit we would gain."

The university will now carry records of 0-8 for 2004-05 and 0-9 for 2005-06, and it will have to return the 2005-06 championship trophy and remove the banners from the Show Me Center.