Notre Dame issues statement on suspended players, won’t reveal results of honor code hearings
The honor code hearings for the Notre Dame players under investigation for academic fraud were completed on Friday and the school said Sunday it will disclose its findings to the NCAA, but will not publically reveal any punishments for the players.
Notre Dame vice president of public affairs Paul Browne released a lengthy statement offering limited details of the investigation that included reviewing “extensive exhibits” and “voluminous material” on the alleged academic dishonesty involving KeiVarae Russell, Ishaq Williams DaVaris Daniels, Kendall Moore and Eilar Hardy.
Though the results of the hearings are confidential, Browne said the five players may reveal the results if they choose. Browne also said the school would “voluntarily impose sanctions” if the student-athletes competed in games while ineligible.
Part of the statement, via NBC, reads:
Hearings for those withheld from football were completed on Friday. Decisions will be communicated individually to affected student-athletes and other students alike, as deliberations on each case conclude. As with other student academic records, the results of the review are confidential, and the University will not disclose them, although affected students may if they so choose. If it is determined that student-athletes would have been ineligible during past competition, Notre Dame will voluntarily impose appropriate sanctions, report our findings to the NCAA, and await its independent review.
Browne explained that the investigation was rather lengthy because it involved multiple students when a review of potential academic fraud ordinarily “involves one student and one academic department.”
The principal purpose of the Honor Code process is to educate our students as to the importance of academic integrity. The process is time-consuming because it is thorough, as it must be to ensure integrity and fairness. Having said that, we recognize it can be difficult for students, regardless of culpability, who are subject to such reviews, especially when public scrutiny becomes so magnified for those who are student-athletes. We are working to resolve these situations as quickly as possible.
According to IrishIllustrated.com, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said Sunday that he could begin to bring the suspended players back into the program this week. All five have been withheld from practice and meetings since mid-August, though they have been allowed into the team facility.
The Fighting Irish, now 5-0 and ranked No. 6 in the country, beat No. 14 Stanford 17-14 at home Saturday afternoon.
For more Notre Dame news, visit IrishIllustrated.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
