NCAA responds to Big Ten’s request to pause tampering enforcement
By David Wasson
Published:
After receiving opposition from both the Big 12 and ACC this week, the NCAA has indicated that it plans to continue its enforcement of tampering despite a request from the Big Ten to suspend the investigations.
Yahoo Sports reported the NCAA’s position on their tampering investigations Thursday, and also reported that while the SEC declined direct comment on the matter commissioner Greg Sankey urged college athletics’ governing body to pursue tampering violations in an interview two months ago.
As it stands now, an NCAA working group — the infractions modernization task force — is studying a full reform of tampering and other policies. The Big Ten sent a letter to the NCAA this week urging a pause on tampering-related cases while the governing body works to reform and modernize policies. To make that move happen is not an NCAA staff decision and would require a vote from the Division I Board of Directors.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark told Yahoo Sports that he is “adamantly opposed” to pausing tampering but is open to a discussion on rule reform. And ACC commissioner Jim Phillips issued a statement that says he “does not agree” with suspending tampering investigations during the NCAA’s review of rules and also said that enforcement of rules is “critically important” in the current environment.
Among the high-profile cases the NCAA is investigating is a tampering inquiry into Ole Miss, which was at the center of an explosive news conference in which Clemson coach Dabo Swinney accused Rebels coach Pete Golding of directly tampering with one of the Tigers’ recently acquired players.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
