The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association yesterday announced sanctions against Bowie State for the second time in three years.
With the exception of women's basketball, the university used ineligible players on all its teams in 1989-90. CIAA commissioner Leon Kerry levied penalties against Bowie State in June, but the university appealed. Yesterday, Kerry announced that those sanctions would be upheld.
As a result, Bowie State will forfeit all of its victories from the 1989-90 school year, including the only CIAA football championship in the school's history. The Bulldogs' vacated title will go to Winston-Salem, the team it beat in the 1989 championship game. All CIAA awards from that year must also be returned, meaning that Sanders Shiver loses his football Coach of the Year recognition.
In addition, Bowie State teams with the exception of women's basketball will be placed on probation for one year, although men's basketball will be allowed to participate in the 1992 CIAA tournament. The university will be fined $500 for each sport found in violation of CIAA regulations.
Bowie State spokesman Millree Williams, who said that the infractions were committed "because of administrative oversights," said the fine would be $3,500.
In announcing the sanctions, Kerry noted that "since the internal audit and review at Bowie State uncovered the various CIAA violations, Bowie State has fully implemented measures to improve tracking and controls over student-athletes' eligibility."
Bowie State was on CIAA probation at the time of some of the violations. The Bulldogs were penalized in 1989 for using 11 ineligible athletes in 1988, including six football players. All were transfers. The university was fined $500.
At the time of the most recent violations, Bowie State did not have a full-time athletic director. Charles Guilford was named to that position in September 1990, and an academic counselor also has been hired.
"This is not a case of cheating to put players on the field," said Dr. James E. Lyons, the Bowie State president. "The problem is that current NCAA and conference requirements for Division II athletic programs require full-time attention. I am pleased that we are now able to employ a full-time athletic director, and that the programs are moving forward.
CIAA public relations director Wallace Dooley said that the conference has been in contact with the NCAA during the appeals process. "If the NCAA wants to do more, it's up to them," Dooley said. Bowie State spokesman Williams said that the NCAA has not contacted Bowie State about the matter.