Six spring teams have been grounded since late last week
Howard University has not competed in most of its scheduled athletics events since it began suspending athletes last week while it conducts an investigation into possible NCAA violations.
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A statement released by the school on Wednesday said that, “Most teams will compete as scheduled.” But that hasn’t been the case over the past week.
The men’s and women’s track teams did not compete Saturday as scheduled in the Towson Invitational. Howard forfeited a women’s lacrosse game Sunday against Liberty and there is no record on either of the school’s websites of a scheduled lacrosse game Friday against Longwood. There is no result listed on either of the schools’ websites for Howard’s last scheduled softball game, Saturday against Norfolk State.
The Howard men’s tennis team has not participated in a match since Mar. 18. Matches Mar. 24 against Morgan St. and Mar. 29 against George Mason were forfeited. There is no record for scheduled matches Mar. 31 against Hampton and Apr. 1 against Richmond. Tuesday’s match at Loyola was forfeited as well.
According to George Mason women’s tennis coach Steve Curtis, the Howard men’s team did not have enough players to compete in a match with the Patriots last week. A match with the Howard women on Wednesday, Mar. 28, went off as scheduled, but was suspended by rain after Howard won two of three doubles matches. There is no result listed on either of the schools’ websites for Howard’s last two scheduled women’s tennis matches — Mar. 30 at Delaware State, and Mar. 31 vs. Hampton.
Attempts to reach Howard athletic director Skip Perkins and president Dr. Sidney Ribeau have been unsuccessful.
According to a team source, the action relates to textbook vouchers that the school provides to athletes on scholarship. It is a violation of NCAA rules to use voucher money for anything but textbooks.
Here is the statement from Howard spokesperson Kerry-Ann Hamilton:
Howard University is conducting an internal investigation of possible NCAA rules-violations. As a result of this process, the University temporarily withheld a number of student-athletes from competition as a self-imposed action. Most teams will compete as scheduled. We are working diligently to fully resolve this matter as quickly as possible. In order to protect the integrity of this review, we are unable to share additional details at this time.
