On Sunday, it was announced that the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is under an NCAA investigation for four major NCAA violations allegedly committed under former assistant coach David Saunders. The NCAA charges that the on-site administrator would then complete or alter answers for test participants. Saunders is also accused of paying for one recruit’s living arrangements for two years while the recruit was enrolled in a junior college.
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ULL athletic director Scott Farmer briefly addressed media members on the matter October 12 and, citing NCAA restrictions, said that beyond what already has been disclosed the Cajuns only “will comment on the case when it’s totally concluded”. “We do not condone misconduct and take any suggestion of wrongdoing seriously”, ULL president Dr. Joseph Savoie said. A response from the university, dated August 20, states that Louisiana-Lafayette worked collaboratively with NCAA enforcement staff from the time allegations first surfaced in December 2013 against Saunders, who was also an assistant recruiting coordinator. Crager became the ACT supervisor at Wayne County in the 1990s and “has not missed an ACT at Wayne County during that time”, according to the NOA.
The university’s self-imposed probation is only the beginning of the road for UL, the NCAA could still add more consequences as the investigation continues.
One recruit, according to the Cajuns’ response to the NCAA, also was given money for gas and a motel room so he could travel to take the ACT in Mississippi, but the name of the person providing that money has been redacted by ULL.
Safe to say, it will be interesting how it evolves from here for the Crown Princes of the Sun Belt Conference…
Thomas has not played this season, either, while awaiting academic eligibility clearance.
The university’s free reads here. Hudspeth and Stringer are not alleged to have committed any infractions either.
Saunders is the only coach who has left leave the program during a season in the Hudspeth era. Their run since 2011 is the most successful run in school history. Saunders now works for Pearl River Community College as an assistant coach.
Saunders resigned from his post last November, citing “personal reasons”.
UL Lafayette representatives, including Farmer and Hudspeth, are scheduled to appear later this year at a confidential, closed-to-the-public hearing in accordance with NCAA procedure. The NCAA Committee on Infractions will make its ruling several months later.
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Because of the timetable involved, it seems unlikely UL Lafayette would face a postseason ban this season.
