Statement from UW Athletic Board Chairman David McDonald

Here is a statement from UW Athletic Board Chairman David McDonald regarding the suspensions and other sanctions levied by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. McDonald delivered the statement Aug. 31 at a news conference at the Kohl Center.

Thank you for coming on such short notice. My name is David McDonald and I’m chair of the UW Athletic Board.

We’re here today to provide you with an update on the ongoing investigation regarding allegations of extra benefits received by our student athletes in the purchase of merchandise at the Shoe Box.

The University first became aware of the allegations on July 6, 2000, from information shared by reporters from the Wisconsin State Journal. The department initiated its own investigation and began interviewing all the student athletes mentioned in the article. We also interviewed storeowner Steve Schmitt and several of his employees. We collected and reviewed a large number of documents relating to the purchases and store accounts held by our student athletes.

Following that initial round of interviews and fact collecting, we revisited the store and talked to the storeowner and employees on at least three different occasions. We’ve gathered and reviewed additional documents from those visits.

Recently, University officials met with NCAA staff in Indianapolis to review some of our preliminary findings; specifically those related to our fall sports student athletes. The NCAA agreed with our findings that violations had occurred and, as of Monday, 81 of our fall sports student athletes were declared ineligible for receiving extra benefits in violation of NCAA rules.

As of late this morning, University officials, as well as several student-athletes, participated in a teleconference with the NCAA’s student eligibility reinstatement committee. The end result of the infractions, and our appeal of the penalties involved, is that 11 football players will be suspended for three games. Another 15 football players will be suspended for one game and must perform 12 hours of community service. Another 21 football players must perform 24 hours of community service. Those football suspensions must be served within the team’s opening four weeks, including tonight’s game vs. Western Michigan. All student athletes involved will need to donate to charity an amount equal to the extra benefit they received.

Additionally, one women’s soccer player will be suspended for two games and must perform 24 hours of community service. The women’s soccer suspension will be effective immediately.

We want to emphasize that today’s information relates exclusively to the eligibility of our fall sports student athletes only. Our investigation will continue, and we cannot make additional comments about other sports or student athletes until those phases of the investigation are completed.

There is no appeal to these decisions, and we will work diligently to impose the sanctions quickly. We will continue to provide you updates as information is available.

At this time, we would take any questions that you might have.