Notre Dame must vacate football wins after academic violations by trainer

Notre Dame will be forced to vacate victories in the 2012 and 2013 football season due to NCAA violations by a student-trainer.

The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions panel ruled the trainer violated ethical conduct rules when she committed academic misconduct for two football players by completing their coursework. The two players and another also committed individual academic misconduct, and Notre Dame ruled they violated the school's academic integrity policy.

The student-trainer also provided six other players with impermissible academic extra benefits in a total of 18 classes.

Notre Dame was 12-1 in 2012, including an appearance in the BCS championship game against Alabama. In 2013, the Irish finished 9-4. The school must vacate the victories in which the players appeared while ineligible, which would be all 21 victories.

The NCAA decision is the culmination of a case that was made public when players KeiVarae Russell, DaVaris Daniels, Ishaq Williams, Kendall Moore and Eilar Hardy were suspended due for academic violations prior to the 2014 season.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said the school would appeal the penalty forcing the school to vacate wins.

"It was a discretionary action by the committee," Kelly said. "It was student-on-student cheating. Nobody was implicated. The NCAA agreed across the board with that finding. And, (the punishment) was clearly excessive. So, as you know, we're going to appeal this. And one of the options or the clear reasons for the appeal is that the penalty is excessive in its discretion and we believe we have ground there."

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Kelly said the penalties won't have an impact on his status as coach. The Irish at 4-7 will have the worst record of his seven-year tenure at the school. They finish the season Saturday at Southern California. A win would give them the possibility of making a bowl game should not enough six-win schools qualify.

"This matter has nothing to do with me and my status here. This academic piece probably strengthens what I've been doing relative to advocating for our student-athletes and academic support staff relative to them being successful. This obviously has been going on for a few years. The announcement that comes out today has nothing to do with a lack or additional support for Brian Kelly. Any negative criticism about me now is because we're 4-7. It has nothing to do with what came out there today.

"I have no reason to believe that I'm not (going to be the coach next year). I think you guys are confusing this statement with win-loss record. A win-loss record is always under scrutiny at Notre Dame and it should be. But this matter here has been a long standing matter that the University has handled in a positive way."

Other penalties handed down by the NCAA:

- One year of probation for the athletic department

- A public reprimand and censure for the school and a $5,000 fine

- A two-year, show-cause order against the student-trainer

- The athletics department must disassociate from the former student-trainer for two years.

Contributing: Laken Litman, Indianapolis Star