SEC commissioner Greg Sankey was as disappointed at the actions of the NCAA on Tuesday afternoon.
It was revealed that after months of deliberation, the NCAA chose to uphold its bowl ban and sanctions on the Mizzou football program.
The Tigers, which are 5-6 going into their final regular season game against Arkansas, will not be able to compete in a bowl game if they win on Friday.
Shortly after that news was made public, Sankey issued a sharply-worded official statement from the league office in Birmingham:
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey on University of Missouri appeal decision
“Throughout this process, the University of Missouri has conducted itself with great integrity and has been praised by the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions for its exemplary cooperation in this matter. While there is no excuse for the actions of a single academic tutor and the small number of student-athletes involved, the penalties applied are unusually severe when fully considered.
It is regrettable that so many innocent current Missouri student-athletes across three sports will miss postseason opportunities due to actions for which they were not responsible. Our disappointment related to the application of a postseason ban and the Infractions Appeals Committee’s upholding of the decision after more than four months of deliberations is magnified by recent decisions in other cases with similar fact patterns.
While it is important to hold accountable those individuals who engage in unethical behavior and conduct that fails to meet our expectations for integrity in college athletics, it is also important to fully consider the nuances and unique set of circumstances present in each case when setting penalties.
Mizzou is presented with considerable challenges as a result of this decision, however it is a university of proud heritage that will persevere thanks to its strong leadership and high ethical standards.”
SEC Y'ALL 