NCAA recommends Notre Dame vacate all its 2012 and 2013 wins

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A Division I Committee on Infractions panel recommended Notre Dame vacate wins from the 2012 and 2013 seasons after it found a former student athletic trainer violated NCAA ethical conduct rules by providing impermissible academic benefits to eight players, three of which played while ineligible during those two seasons.

Notre Dame challenged the panel’s recommendation that it vacate wins, but the NCAA determined that penalty remained appropriate. Notre Dame can still appeal the decision.

While the NCAA report did not name names, its decision stems from the five players who were suspended in August of 2014 due to academic misconduct: Wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, linebacker Kendall Moore, cornerback KeiVarae Russell, defensive end Ishaq Williams and safety Eilar Hardy.

The NCAA also prescribed one year of probation, a two-year show-cause order for the trainer involved, and a a $5,000 fine for the university. The probation period will last from Nov. 22, 2016 through Nov. 21, 2017. 

From the NCAA:

“During two academic years, the former student trainer and two football student-athletes engaged in academic misconduct when the former student trainer completed coursework for the student-athletes. These student-athletes, in addition to a third football student-athlete, also committed academic misconduct individually. The university determined the three student-athletes violated its academic integrity policies. The misconduct resulted in the student-athletes playing while ineligible — one student-athlete during the 2012-13 season and the other two student-athletes during the 2013-14 season.”

The only penalty Notre Dame contested in the NCAA’s decision was the vacation of wins. Coach Brian Kelly said Tuesday he’s had clear communication with all involved in the appeal process at Notre Dame, from university president Fr. John Jenkins to athletic director Jack Swarbrick and plenty others involved. Kelly said the university believes the penalty is “excessive” and unprecedented given the nature of the violation.

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