A day after Baylor fired Art Briles and a day before Memorial Day weekend, Ole Miss has released its long-awaited response to the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations.
The 52-page document details the breadth and nature of violations committed by the Rebels’ football program. A sizable chunk of the 13 violations pertaining to football occurred under the four-year watch of current head coach Hugh Freeze.
Current assistant coaches Chris Kiffin (defensive line), Derrick Nix (running backs), Maurice Harris (tight ends) and Matt Luke (offensive line) were named in the report. Most of the violations come in the forms of paid cell phone bills, comped hotel stays, paid ACT prep courses and free loaner vehicles.
Many of the violations are downright silly.
The most serious allegation comes from the Houston Nutt era, when assistant coach Chris Vaughn and operations assistant David Saunders arranged for three future Rebels to commit ACT fraud. Vaughn was fired from his assistant coaching job at Texas due to his involvement in this case.
Chris Vaughn initially lied to the NCAA. pic.twitter.com/3erh6669ms
— Hugh Kellenberger (@KellenbergerCBB) May 27, 2016
Ole Miss requested to exclude the Laremy Tunsil NFL Draft night fiasco from this summer’s report since those allegations are still being investigated, and the NCAA granted that request.
Ole Miss has released this graphic detailing the scope and timeline of the case. The Rebels submitted its NOA response on April 21, and the NCAA has 60 days to submit its rebuttal. The two parties will then appear before the Committee on Infractions, who will then have around six weeks to release their verdict. A rough timeline would have the case wrapped up in full by October.
Ole Miss has also self-imposed the following penalties, plus a fine of nearly $160,000:
#OleMiss’ self-imposed recruiting sanctions. pic.twitter.com/kIOGhbJPDB
— Chase Parham (@ChaseParham) May 27, 2016
Those sanctions are just a baseline punishment. The NCAA can -- and likely will -- argue to increase them during the Committee on Infractions hearing later this year.
Ole Miss has suspended two unnamed assistants from recruiting.