University Of Alabama Football Team Penalized By The NCAA

In an era where college institutions get penalized time and again, the University of Alabama is the latest to feel the NCAA’s wrath.

Today, the NCAA Committee on Infractions informed the university that 16 of their athletic programs were being disciplined for improper actions. 

In addition to $43,900 in fines, all 16 specified programs have been placed on probation until 2012.  In particular, the football team has been ordered to relinquish a number of victories between the 2005 and 2007 seasons.

That would force Alabama to vacate up to 21 wins, according to ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach.  Some of which came under current head coach Nick Saban.

"First of all, I think the University of Alabama, Dr. [Robert] Witt [president], and Mal Moore [athletic director] did a great job of demonstrating institutional integrity in the way they handled this internally," Saban told the News on Thursday before the NCAA's announcement. "I'm really happy for the players we have in the program that this won't affect their future, nor will it affect the players we're recruiting. We're always happy to be moving on, and we're looking forward to the future."

One of the infractions noted involved school textbooks.  Athletes receive free books as apart of their scholarships, but many were handing them off to other students.

The athletes and students involved will be forced to pay restitution for the books and there will be stricter policies enforced going forward.

Some of the other athletic programs involved were the men's and women's track and field, tennis, basketball, and baseball.  As well as the women’s softball, volleyball, and soccer team.

Alabama's penalties are the latest in a string of incidents that have been alleged by the NCAA. 

Most recently, new University of Kentucky men's basketball coach John Calipari has been accused of wrongdoings while coaching the University of Memphis.