What’s next in the Sidney situation?

Wondering when the NCAA might dole out penalties in the Renardo Sidney saga? Yup, me too, after writing Friday night that Mississippi State wouldn’t appeal any of the findings.

So this morning, I e-mailed the NCAA to get a clarification on what happens next. Here is the response, in its entirety, from spokesperson Stacey Osburn:

The NCAA Academic and Membership Affairs staff will now review Mr. Sidney’s file to determine what, if any, withholding condition is appropriate for the facts of the case. There are three possible outcomes from this decision. The student-athlete may be eligible without any conditions. A student-athlete may be declared eligible with conditions, such as sitting out a specific number of contests or donating the amount of any impermissible benefits received to a charity. Or the student athlete could lose all remaining eligibility.

The staff considers a number of factors when deciding each case. These include the nature and seriousness of the violation; any impermissible benefits received by the student-athlete; the student-athlete’s level of responsibility; any mitigating factors presented by the school; applicable NCAA guidelines; and any relevant case precedent. The staff seeks to conduct a complete review as quickly as possible but as thoroughly as possible.

A school may appeal this decision to a committee comprised of representatives from NCAA schools and conferences. This body can reduce or remove the conditions, but it cannot increase the conditions imposed by the staff.

But is there a timeframe? “While there is not a definite date, the staff seeks to conduct a complete review as quickly as possible but as thoroughly as possible,” she wrote.

via blogs.clarionledger.com

Posted via web from Todd's posterous