McDonnell

Irrevocably nixed by the NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee on its appeal regarding the NCAA's probation length on the Razorbacks' men's track team, the University of Arkansas will still appeal the Razorbacks vacating their 2004 and 2005 national team championships won at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Based on subtracting only points scored in the 2004 and 2005 NCAA Outdoor meets by sprinter Tyson Gay, whose post-signed letter of intent involvement with former Razorback sprint coach Lance Brauman led to subsequent NCAA penalties, Arkansas will appeal its 2004 and 2005 NCAA Outdoor championships to the NCAA Track and Field Committee, first-year athletics director Jeff Long and recently retired Razorback men's track coach John McDonnell said through a press release issued Tuesday by the UA Sports Information office.

Those 2004 and 2005 NCAA Outdoor titles were deemed vacant pending the outcome of Arkansas'appeal.

The outcome was announced Tuesday by the NCAA Office in Indianapolis.

The UA had appealed for the 2004 and 2005 NCAA Outdoor titles and appealed the start of its agreed-to 3-year probation should have begun when the UA first self imposed penalties in 2006. The UA also restricted its men's track scholarships and stopped recruiting junior college transfers.

However, the NCAA Appeals Committee upheld the probation dates as Oct. 25, 2007, through Oct. 24, 2010. The same committee reported the Razorbacks' recourse on the outcomes of the 2004 and 2005 NCAA Outdoor Championships lies with the NCAA Division I Track and Field Committee.

" We are disappointed in the outcome of our appeal before the NCAA Division I Infractions Appeal Committee, " Long said Tuesday. " We believe that in our presentation before the appeals committee, we made clear and compelling arguments that the penalties assessed were excessive and that the starting date of the probationary period should include the nine months of self-imposed probation. Although we differ in our view in the appropriateness of the penalties and the application of the probation period, we respect the appeals process. "

Regarding the Razorbacks' point totals for the 2004 and 2005 NCAA Outdoor meets that Arkansas finished ahead of runnerup Florida, 65. 5 to 49 in 2004 and 60-49 over Florida in 2005, Long said, " The University of Arkansas does intend to seek clarification on the vacation of records as it applies to the deduction of individual points. In the near future, we will communicate with the Division I Men's Track and Field Committee to review this issue. "

If Gay's 16 points in the 2004 Outdoor for winning the 100, placing fourth in the 200 and running a leg on the fifth-place 4 x 100 relay were subtracted, the Razorbacks would win that meet, 49. 5 to 49. Subtracting Gay's 8. 5 points for the 2005 NCAA Outdoor, third in the 200 and a leg on the victorious 4 x 100, Arkansas would have beaten Florida, 51. 5 to 49.

Gay is credited with a point for the 2004 4 x 100 relay's four fifth-place points and 2. 5 points for the 10 points scored by the 2005 first-place 4 x 100.

The key will be whether the NCAA follows its NCAA meet scoring formula or discards all the Arkansas relay points for both meets because Gay ran on them.

" Obviously, I am disappointed in the decision of the Appeals Committee, " McDonnell said. " As noted by the Appeals Committee, I believe it is important to seek clarification of the proper method for calculating the points that must be vacated. This determination will have an important impact on the ultimate outcome of the sanctions imposed against the University. "

Arkansas was placed on probation and its 2004 and 2005 NCAA Outdoor titles jeopardized after sprinter Gay's summer 2003 arrival to Arkansas became scrutinized both by Arkansas, which self reported violations to the NCAA, and the NCAA. The scrutiny came from revelations during Brauman's 2006 trial on embezzlement and mail fraud charges from his previous job as head men's and women's track coach at Barton County (Kan. ) Community College.

Gay ran for Brauman at Barton County and, it was reported by the NCAA, impermissibly received transportation, housing, assistance with receipt of academic material and academic assistance from July through September of 2003 in Fayetteville as he readied and began the 2003 fall semester.

Brauman resigned at the UA immediately on his conviction of the charges. He served a prison sentence and now coaches professional sprinters.

The NCAA Infractions Committee allowed in its initial judgment that, by themselves, Arkansas' offenses " were not egregious. " However the committee expressed concern with the number of violations and that UA was already on probation because of a booster's overpayment to some Razorback athletes employed at his Dallas trucking firm.

Reports of the Dallasbased booster's overpayments first surfaced Dec. 31, 1999. The Razorback basketball program had been under NCAA probation earlier in the 1990 s after an academic counselor recanted testimony during an NCAA investigation regarding the recruitment of junior college transfers.

The Infractions Appeals Committee, in its summation Tuesday, noted the UA is a " double repeat violator" and that " the Committee on Infractions considered, but did not impose, other penalties, such as a postseason competition ban. In light of these circumstances, the Infractions Appeals Committee upheld the vacation of records penalty, noting that it was neither excessive nor inappropriate. "