Ole Miss releases video announcing postseason ban
As part of an update on the ongoing NCAA investigation surrounding its football program, Ole Miss released a video outlining the notice of allegations it was recently served by the NCAA. In the video, which can be seen in its entirety below, Bjork says that there are 21 total football-related allegations in the NCAA notice and announces a self-imposed postseason ban for the upcoming season.
In the video, Ole Miss chancellor Jeffrey Vitter, Ole Miss Athletics Director Ross Bjork and Ole Miss head football coach Hugh Freeze outline the NCAA allegations and findings before Bjork announced the self-imposed ban. Ole Miss will also forfeit its annual portion of SEC postseason football revenue for next season, a figure that Bjork estimates to be roughly $7.8 million. According to Bjork, who outlines many of the allegations, the school intends to release the full notice of allegations once “all involved parties and their council have had a full and fair opportunity to review its contended.” Ole Miss said the NCAA is citing the school with a lack of institutional control, which school officials said they intend to fight.
“I feel terrible for our players and our staff, who will have to handle the consequences for the action of a very few,” Freeze said in the video. “Unfortunately these penalties are necessary for our program to be responsible and to move forward.”