June 18, 2005

FAMU fires coach; reports violations

Florida A&M fired Head Coach Billy Joe this week after self-reporting over 200 rules violations in multiple sports to the NCAA. The school is recommending a cut in scholarships for every varsity sport. The NCAA's investigation is expected to conclude this fall.

The school's athletic director indicated that Joe was fired mainly because of practice time violations.

Rules violations included ineligible players competing, coaches involved in grade changes, practice time violations and recruiting violations. Multiple years of probation is expected as well as the refunding of NCAA tournament money in hoops.

This continues the investigation that resulted in 2 football (11 total) conference titles being forfeited after 196 rules violations were found. 5 assistant coaches, including Joe's brother, previously quit and the university president was fired as a result of politics surrounding the move to I-A that never happened.The Rattlers rejoin the MEAC this year after that aborted maneuver.

The athletic deparment is also facing budget cuts again this year after finishing $3 million in the red last year.

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