Learning from the past and dwelling on it are two different things. The University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball team can now move forward after being cleared for post season play on Friday by the NCAA Infractions committee.

Twenty-one months from beginning to end is the length of time the Physical Activities Center community has waited for an answer. Constant questions have been fielded about the men’s basketball team being eligible for post-season play.

Head Coach Rodney Watson and Athletic Director John Mark Hall both spoke positively of the NCAA Infractions committee. Citing that although the process was long, the NCAA acted very professionally.

The Infractions committee was reviewing violations that occurred in the calendar year of 2008-2009 under former Head Coach Rick Herdes. The infractions listed in the 26 pages of the Public Infractions Report, which can be found online, are as follows.

As outlined on page one of the report most of the violations involved the former assistant coach.

• On two separate occasions extra benefits were provided to a student athlete. The first occasion was when airline tickets were purchased for the young man to fly him home and back for a funeral.
• The second was when the assistant coach and a booster member, who was the father-in-law of the former head coach, worked together to complete academic assignments over the summer for an athlete so that they could be eligible to compete.
• Later, former head coach Herdes violated principles of ethical conduct by lying to investigators when questioned. Charges of failure to monitor the activities of the assistant coach were also brought forth.

According to Hall, the university had been fully compliant and forthright with all charges. This was reflected in the report as a normal probationary period is two years but was reduced to one for the full cooperation.

“Now that it’s all over with, the NCAA has backed up the fact that if you go the way the manual says, penalties will be much less severe,” Watson said.

The penalties placed by the NCAA Infractions committee are outlined at the end of the report and are listed as follows:

• The university will continue to develop and implement a comprehensive educational program on NCAA legislation to instruct the coaches , the faculty athletics representative, all athletic department personnel and all institution staff members. With the responsibility for the certification of student-athletes for admission, retention, financial aid or competition.
• A preliminary report must be submitted by April 1, 2011 outlining the schedule for the educational program.
• A report must be filed to the Infractions committee by December 15 of the probationary year showing the progress made with the educational program.

In addition to the above outlined compliance requirements, the university must pay $2,500 in fines.

“It’ll definitely hurt us in the pocket book,” Hall said of the fee that must be paid to the NCAA.

The men’s basketball team was on a series of road games when they received word of the ruling.

“Oddly enough, the reaction of the guys was very stoic,” Watson said. “The were very emotionless. The real reaction took place when we played. We played with a freer mind.”