Ole Miss Football Self-Imposing Post-Season Ban for 2017 [VIDEO]
For anyone who said Ole Miss couldn't beat Alabama for two years in a row--you were right: Ole Miss Football is self-imposing a one-year ban following serious NCAA infractions.
ESPN reports that Head Coach Hugh Freeze and Athletic Director Ross Bjork agreed to the one-year ban, which includes post-season play:
The notice of allegations, which the university received Wednesday morning, included eight new alleged rules violations and the lack of institutional control charge. The NCAA has now accused the Rebels of 21 rules violations by current or former members of their football coaching staff.
Ole Miss athletic director Ross Bjork said the school agreed with the NCAA that there was sufficient and credible evidence to support at least three of the new charges, but he said the university would contest the allegations of lack of institutional control and the charge against Freeze of failing to monitor his staff.
You can watch the video above to see the university's response to the NCAA allegations. Ole Miss will be forced to forfeit revenue earned from post-season play as well--over $7 million.
USA Today reports that things aren't looking good for Ole Miss--or Hugh Freeze:
The NCAA is coming hard for Freeze, charging his Ole Miss football program with serious cheating allegations, the school with lack of institutional control and the head coach personally for unsatisfactory oversight of his assistants, who are charged with carrying out blatantly illicit violations, not “mistakes” as Freeze once attempted to characterize them.
Ole Miss has 90 days to respond to the new allegations. A hearing with the NCAA infractions committee could take place this summer.