By Daniel Johnson-Kim, Editor in Chief
With the stroke of a few computer keys, one of the most successful seasons in the history of the ACU football team and the host of records several Wildcats broke during it may be deleted forever.
The NCAA announced Thursday that two prospective student-athletes were provided academic assistance by members of the football coaching staff in order to help them attain NCAA academic eligibility at the university, according to the NCAA. The athletes allegedly used the coaching staff’s office computers to complete assignments and mail in coursework to the outside institution to be graded.
Due to those violations, the football team will vacate all wins and the records that were broken during those wins after the time in which the student-athletes competed, beginning when the athletes academically became ineligible in the summer of 2007.
ACU has yet to decide if it will appeal the violations, said Jared Mosley, director of athletics and compliance coordinator. Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, said he was “shocked” at the football sanctions and the university planned to appeal when the news broke Thursday. Money said he did not think the alleged violations gave ACU a competitive advantage.
If ACU does not appeal or loses an appeal, ACU’s 10-3 record in 2007 will be changed to 0-3 in the history books. In addition to losing its wins, more than 15 other individual and team records set during the 2007 season were also removed from the record books.
Leading the pack of ACU players whose records might be erased is running back Bernard Scott, who is participating in the NFL Combine beginning Thursday and could not be reached for a comment. In 2007, Scott broke the Lone Star Conference and ACU single-season rushing records after running for 2,165 yards during his first season at ACU. Scott broke the Division II records for touchdowns (39) and points (254).
Scott became ACU’s all-time leading rusher in just two seasons at ACU, and if the punishments stand, he will lose the 2,095 yards and 32 rushing touchdowns he scored in 2007. The 35 catches for 441 yards and three touchdowns also will be eliminated, along with 1,654 rushing yards and 29 rushing TDs he recorded in the regular season.
Quarterback Billy Malone will lose the title as the LSC’s all-time leading passer. In Malone’s junior season, he threw for 3,914 yards and 37 touchdowns. All but 964 yards and eight touchdowns recorded during 2007 could vanish and drop Malone’s career total to 9,062 yards and 85 touchdowns.
Wide receiver Johnny Knox’s school record of 17 touchdown catches in 2007 and fellow receiver Jerale Badon’s LSC career pass receptions record (235) and his spot as the ACU leader in catches and receiving yards (3,311) also were negated due to the NCAA punishments.
“Jerale Badon is still the record-holder in my book,” said former ACU defensive back Corey Jordan, who led the team in interceptions during 2007.
Grant Abston and Chandler Harris contributed to this story.
