Division III powerhouse reportedly has to vacate title following impermissible benefits claim
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas may have to vacate the 2016 national championship after the NCAA Division III Committee on Infractions outlined a host of violations including head coach Pete Fredenburg loaning his 2006 Subaru to two student-athletes, which is an impermissible benefit, according to the NCAA.
School officials said they will appeal the findings and penalties, which said the school must vacate its wins and records in which ineligible players participated during the 2016 and 2017 football seasons, KWTX reported.
“Although the university recognized the seriousness of the violations it has self-reported, it respectfully disagreed with the Committee on Infractions decision to add to our self-imposed sanctions the vacating of wins and records for the 2016 and 2017 football seasons,” UMHB President Randy O’Rear said in a press release Thursday.
“In light of all the circumstances surrounding this case and as a matter of principle for all the student-athletes who had no part in the infractions, we requested an expedited hearing on that one issue of disagreement,” he said.
Kurtis Quillin of 6 News CTX reported that today’s announcement stems from the 2018 self-report which led to a self-imposed suspension of Fredenburg for three months plus the first three games of 2018’s national championship run.