NCAA upholds Florida State penalties; Bowden's win total affected

NCAA Football Betting Lines

01/05/2010 - Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NCAA has denied an appeal by Florida State to overturn the vacation-of-records penalty stemming from academic fraud violations, a decision that will cost former head football coach Bobby Bowden some of his victories.

Bowden stepped down as FSU's head coach after the Seminoles beat West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. He retired with 389 wins, second-most in major college football behind Penn State's Joe Paterno, but that total will now be reduced.

The Division I Committee on Infractions originally levied the records penalty, along with a four-year period of probation and reduced scholarships, in March of 2009 for major violations across 10 sports involving 61 student-athletes during 2006 and 2007.

Bowden's teams won a total of 14 games during the 2006 and '07 seasons. All 14 wins could be vacated if ineligible players participated in those games.

In addition to academic fraud, the case involved improper benefits, unethical conduct by academic service staff members and a failure on Florida State's part to monitor the developments.

Florida State, in its written appeal, said the vacation-of-records penalty was excessive, adding that the infractions committee did not appropriately consider the school's cooperation during the investigation.

An appeals committee, however, disagreed.

"The cooperative efforts of the university clearly did not outweigh the aggravating factors in this case -- the nature, number, scope and seriousness of the violations," the appeals committee stated in its report.

Florida State must still determine the contests in which the ineligible student-athletes participated and then report those vacated records to the NCAA national office. Individual records of the student-athletes and head coaches in those sports also must be vacated.

The NCAA said the case involved three former academic support staff members -- a learning specialist, academic advisor and tutor -- that gave improper assistance to the athletes, which resulted in the academic fraud.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

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