Central Florida wins appeal of bowl ban
Central Florida won its appeal of a bowl ban and will be eligible to play in a bowl in the 2013 season, the school confirmed Monday.
The NCAA released a statement saying its Committee on Infractions "determined the football postseason ban is excessive such that it constitutes an abuse of discretion."
The Committee on Infractions had levied several penalties on Central Florida besides the postseason bans, including a $50,000 fine, adding two years to UCF's previously proposed three years' probation, basketball scholarship reductions, vacated basketball victories and tighter limits on football recruiting visit days.
The postseason football ban was the only penalty the school appealed, and the only penalty that was removed. UCF presented its appeal of the postseason ban in January.
"We're certainly happy with this outcome," UCF athletics director Todd Stansbury said in a release. "We appealed the postseason ban for football because we felt it went beyond what was supported by the facts, and we're pleased the Infractions Appeals Committee agreed with us."
UCF president John Hitt thanked the NCAA "for handling our appeal with care, competency and professionalism."
Former athletics director Keith Tribble and assistant football coach David Kelly resigned after they were cited for unethical conduct by the NCAA last year.
UCF joins the new American Athletic Conference, formerly the Big East, in all sports in the fall of 2013.
