Southeast will not appeal NCAA's penalties

Southeast Missouri State issued a release Thursday that stated 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 Southeast athletic program also will be on probation for two years.

The statement from the university read:

"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 Thursday, which was the final day the university could appeal the decision.

Dobbins said he talked with members of the board of regents before making the decision, which officially ended a 30-month process that began when Dobbins asked Ohio Valley Conference commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher to review allegations made by a former assistant coach.

The university had disclosed the violations, which centered around impermissible transportation, lodging and meals for student-athletes and prospective student-athletes during the tenure of former coach B.J. Smith, who resigned in December 2006.

In handing out its penalties, the NCAA Infractions Committee noted in its public infractions report: "The committee finds that the institution lacked institutional control of its athletics program related to these violations and that the former head coach failed to monitor his program."

The committee had intended the vacation of all victories under Smith, which covered a four-year span, but settled on two years after meeting with university officials at a hearing April 19 in Indianapolis.

The women's basketball program 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.