In an email sent out to students, faculty and staff Friday afternoon, SMU President R. Gerald Turner announced the University’s appeal of NCAA sanctions handed down last week.

SMU has decided to appeal three parts of the NCAA sanctions:

• The duration of scholarship losses in men’s basketball and men’s golf and the duration of recruiting restrictions in men’s basketball.
• The penalty level applied to men’s golf and resulting post-season ban both for the team and for individual competition.
• The vacating of men’s basketball victories during the 2013-14 season due to the participation of a student deemed ineligible by the Committee.

SMU will not appeal the post-season ban on men’s basketball or the partial season suspension of the team’s Head Coach Larry Brown.

In his statement, Turner said SMU regrets the severe impact on its student-athletes.

“Should we appeal this matter [the post-season ban and partial season suspension of Brown], the lengthy process and uncertainty during this period could harm many aspects of the program,” Turner said. “Coach Brown and his staff also agree that it is in the best interests of the program to accept these sanctions and move forward.”

In the email, both Brown and Men’s Golf Head Coach Jason Enloe included statements.

“The fact that NCAA violations happened on my watch is something that I regret and take very seriously,” Brown said. “While the decision to not appeal our post-season ban was made in the best interests of the program, I am truly disappointed for our student-athletes who are the most impacted by the penalties and who had nothing to do with the infractions.”

“My focus remains on our student-athletes who are most impacted by the Committee’s decisions,” Enloe said. “While we are all hopeful that our appeal will be successful, our program will grow stronger regardless of the outcome, and with great student-athletes on our team and a new golf facility on the horizon, I know that great days and championships are ahead for SMU men’s golf.”

SMU will file its appeal within the mandated 15-day period, by Oct. 14.

Brown had further comments on SMU’s NCAA violations in his letter to the SMU community.