Saginaw Valley Vacates 395 Wins over Violations

Saginaw Valley State University will vacate a total of 395 wins across eight different sports for the self-reported improper certification of a number of athletes. 

According to MLive.com, the wins are from 2013 through 2018 and are part of NCAA penalties for 137 violations of improper certification of amateur athletes.

The wins include: 

• Volleyball: 34 wins from four seasons (2014-2018)
• Football: 20 wins from five seasons (2013-2018)
• Women’s tennis: 4 wins from one season (2013-14)
• Men’s soccer: 53 wins from four seasons (2013-2018)
• Women’s basketball: 23 wins from two seasons (2013-15)
• Men’s basketball: 69 wins from four seasons (2014-18)
• Baseball: 78 wins from five seasons (2013-18)
• Softball: 114 wins from four seasons (2013-2017)

The NCAA has put SVSU on probation for four years, from Feb. 7, 2019 through Feb. 6, 2023. SVSU will also be responsible for paying a $5,000 fine. The Cardinals will also be prohibited from hosting a championship tournament this spring. 

“The committee is cognizant of the financial challenges faced by many Division II member schools,” the NCAA press release stated. “However, this case illustrates the need for all Division II schools to ensure that they devote the necessary funds and staffing to establish an effective and reliable compliance program that, at a minimum, can fulfill basic and fundamental responsibilities of membership, including eligibility certification, as exemplified in this case.”

“I believe we have fixed the problem … all of our student-athletes this year have been certified and are eligible,” SVSU athletic director John Decker said. “It was an oversight, which we found and self-reported, that mushroomed into something bigger than it should have been.”