NCAA lifts postseason ban on UCF after successful appeal

Apr 22, 2013 - 5:10 PM Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - The NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee has reversed a postseason ban that was levied on the UCF football program in 2012.

The report stated that the committee "determined the football postseason ban (was) excessive such that it constitute(d) an abuse of discretion."

UCF did accept the other penalties from the NCAA in July of last year, including scholarship reductions, vacation of men's basketball records and a $50,000 fine. The UCF men's basketball team's postseason ban in 2012 was not a part of the appeal.

Due to the appeal, UCF was eligible this past year for the postseason when it participated in the Beef O'Brady's Bowl -- a 33-27 win over Ball State.

"We're certainly happy with this outcome," said UCF Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury. "We appealed the postseason ban for football because we felt it went beyond what was supported by the facts, and we're pleased the Infractions Appeals Committee agreed with us."

The penalties stemmed from recruiting violations, including the school's involvement with a third-party outside recruiter.

According to the NCAA, Ken Caldwell, a recruiter for a professional sports agency, and his associate Brandon Bender, assisted UCF in the recruitment of six men's basketball and five football prospective student-athletes between March 2009 and July 2011.

The NCAA said Caldwell provided impermissible benefits, such as tuition fees, transportation expenses and a laptop computer to student-athletes and prospective student-athletes.