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© St. Petersburg Times, published September 18, 2002
Kentucky and Alabama lost again Tuesday when the NCAA rejected their appeals to lift sanctions because of recruiting violations.
An infractions appeals committee upheld a one-year postseason ban placed on Kentucky. It was one of several penalties levied against the school in January after internal and NCAA investigations unearthed dozens of recruiting violations.
The penalty carries an extra sting this year, now that Kentucky is off to a 3-0 start and had realistic bowl expectations following consecutive 2-9 seasons.
"It is extremely difficult to express the disappointment that our football players and coaching staff are feeling after this decision," Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart said. "They now have to pay the price for the infractions that others have created."
"The Kentucky case was one of widespread abuse by employees of the university," said Terry Don Phillips, chairman of the infractions appeals committee. "It is about institutional responsibility for the conduct and control of its employees and the duty and care an institution must exercise in the administration of its athletic program."
Alabama sought restoration of six scholarships and its bowl eligibility but the appeals committee upheld all the penalties imposed after the program was cited for illegal recruiting by boosters and other infractions.
The NCAA placed Alabama on five years' probation Feb. 1, tacking on six scholarship cuts to the university's self-imposed reduction of 15, and banning the team from participating in a bowl game for two years.
Those penalties were deemed appropriate "because the violations in this case were numerous and particularly egregious," the report stated.
OHIO STATE: Freshman tailback Maurice Clarett had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee but still might play Saturday at Cincinnati.
Chris Kaeding, a team doctor, said it was "unlikely but not outside the realm of possibility" that Clarett could play this weekend.
Clarett was injured in the first quarter against Washington State on Saturday, coach Jim Tressel said. Despite the injury, Clarett ran for 230 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 25-7 win.
Clarett had an MRI over the weekend and was on crutches following the surgery. He could return to practice by Thursday.
Either former Gaither standout Lydell Ross or Maurice Hall would start in Clarett's place.
TULANE: Wide receiver Roydell Williams will miss the rest of the season with a left ankle injury that requires surgery.
Williams, a junior, was injured late in the fourth quarter of Tulane's 24-20 loss to East Carolina on Saturday. Before the injury, Williams had his top performance of the season with 10 catches for 87 yards. He was selected the team's offensive player of the week by Tulane coaches.
MARYLAND: Bruce Perry, the 2001 ACC Offensive Player of the Year who has been sidelined with a torn left groin, is expected to make his debut Saturday when the Terrapins (1-2) host Eastern Michigan. Last year, Perry rushed for 1,242 yards, caught 40 passes for 359 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.