prrriiide
12/2/2010, 06:32 AM
It is quite possible - and it doesn't have to come from the NCAA.
The NCAA Division 1 Manual states:
3.1 ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP
3.1.1 General.
Membership is available to colleges, universities, athletics conferences or associations and other groups that are related to intercollegiate athletics; that are accredited by one of the six regional accrediting agencies and that are located in the United States, its territories or possessions.
And:
3.2 ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
3.2.1 Eligibility Requirements.
3.2.1.1 Types of Institutions.
Active membership is available to four-year colleges and universities and two-year upper-level collegiate institutions, accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agency and duly
elected to active membership under the provisions of Constitution 3.2.3.
And:
3.2.5 Loss of Active Membership.
3.2.5.2 Removal of Accreditation.
If an active member’s accreditation is removed by its regional accrediting agency, it shall be reclassified immediately as a corresponding member.
3.02.3 Membership Categories.
3.02.3.5 Corresponding Member.
A corresponding member is an institution, a nonprofit organization or a conference that is not eligible for active, provisional, conference or affiliated membership and desires to receive
membership publications and mailings. A corresponding member duly elected under the provisions of this article (see Constitution 3.5.3) receives all publications and mailings received by the general NCAA membership
and is not otherwise entitled to any membership privileges (see Constitution 3.5.2).
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (the regional accrediting agency that covers Auburn) has already placed Auburn on a 1 year probation after the 1992 Pat Dye pay-for-play scandal. That is one step below removal of accreditation. Some of the same characters in that drama are still on stage today, especially Bobby Lowder. It is entirely possible that the SACS will determine that Auburn no longer meets accreditation criteria under any of the following policies:
3.2.3
The board has a policy addressing conflict of interest for its members.
(Board conflict of interest)
3.2.4
The governing board is free from undue influence from political, religious, or other external bodies and protects the institution from such influence.
(External influence)
3.2.11
The institution’s chief executive officer has ultimate responsibility for, and exercises appropriate administrative and fiscal control over, the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program.
(Control of intercollegiate athletics)
Should Auburn have its accreditation removed, it is tantamount to the Death Penalty, because they will automatically lose their NCAA membership status.
The reason that this is a distinct possibility is that there are nearly 2 years worth of FBI wiretaps on several members of the Auburn Board of Trustees, relating to the bribery investigation of the Alabama Legislature. All of these wiretapped BoT members are heavily involved in both the bribery scandal and the burgeoning pay-for-play scandal. While we don't know what's on the wiretaps, you can bet that there is something there, because the FBI started turning its sights onto the athletic department shortly after the taps began.
When all of it comes to light, Auburn could be left with no accreditation and no NCAA membership. You almost feel sorry for the students and alumni that have nothing to do with any of it.
The NCAA Division 1 Manual states:
3.1 ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP
3.1.1 General.
Membership is available to colleges, universities, athletics conferences or associations and other groups that are related to intercollegiate athletics; that are accredited by one of the six regional accrediting agencies and that are located in the United States, its territories or possessions.
And:
3.2 ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
3.2.1 Eligibility Requirements.
3.2.1.1 Types of Institutions.
Active membership is available to four-year colleges and universities and two-year upper-level collegiate institutions, accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agency and duly
elected to active membership under the provisions of Constitution 3.2.3.
And:
3.2.5 Loss of Active Membership.
3.2.5.2 Removal of Accreditation.
If an active member’s accreditation is removed by its regional accrediting agency, it shall be reclassified immediately as a corresponding member.
3.02.3 Membership Categories.
3.02.3.5 Corresponding Member.
A corresponding member is an institution, a nonprofit organization or a conference that is not eligible for active, provisional, conference or affiliated membership and desires to receive
membership publications and mailings. A corresponding member duly elected under the provisions of this article (see Constitution 3.5.3) receives all publications and mailings received by the general NCAA membership
and is not otherwise entitled to any membership privileges (see Constitution 3.5.2).
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (the regional accrediting agency that covers Auburn) has already placed Auburn on a 1 year probation after the 1992 Pat Dye pay-for-play scandal. That is one step below removal of accreditation. Some of the same characters in that drama are still on stage today, especially Bobby Lowder. It is entirely possible that the SACS will determine that Auburn no longer meets accreditation criteria under any of the following policies:
3.2.3
The board has a policy addressing conflict of interest for its members.
(Board conflict of interest)
3.2.4
The governing board is free from undue influence from political, religious, or other external bodies and protects the institution from such influence.
(External influence)
3.2.11
The institution’s chief executive officer has ultimate responsibility for, and exercises appropriate administrative and fiscal control over, the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program.
(Control of intercollegiate athletics)
Should Auburn have its accreditation removed, it is tantamount to the Death Penalty, because they will automatically lose their NCAA membership status.
The reason that this is a distinct possibility is that there are nearly 2 years worth of FBI wiretaps on several members of the Auburn Board of Trustees, relating to the bribery investigation of the Alabama Legislature. All of these wiretapped BoT members are heavily involved in both the bribery scandal and the burgeoning pay-for-play scandal. While we don't know what's on the wiretaps, you can bet that there is something there, because the FBI started turning its sights onto the athletic department shortly after the taps began.
When all of it comes to light, Auburn could be left with no accreditation and no NCAA membership. You almost feel sorry for the students and alumni that have nothing to do with any of it.