Athletic Director's Letter
July 26, 2013
Dear Griz Nation,
The University of Montana athletic department is focused on three priorities: academic success, athletic excellence and service to the community. The release of today’s NCAA report changes nothing in that regard.
During the past year, we have celebrated conference championships and outstanding academic performance by our student-athletes. With the support of committed coaches, faculty and staff, Grizzly student-athletes continue to outpace the general student body in cumulative GPA, graduation and retention rates, and credit hours completed. We have moved forward together with deep resolve to get better each day.
Being the focus of an NCAA investigation has taught us that our athletic department can always improve its practices and procedures. We can be more efficient. We can be more effective in our training and community outreach. We have emerged stronger and more focused.
Here is how we will manage some of the penalties over the next few years. You can read the complete public report by visiting NCAA.org and looking under “Latest News and Recent Cases” in the Enforcement section.
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Scholarships
During the academic years of 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17, our football program will be limited to 59 full scholarships. The maximum number of scholarships an institution may award in the sport of football at the FCS level is 63. It is important to understand these scholarships may be divided among multiple student-athletes.
As a point of reference, over the four academic years of 2008-2012, UM awarded an average of 61.89 football scholarships. Last year, we awarded a total of 59.27 football scholarships. The tentative scholarship count for the upcoming academic year is approximately 61.
It has been and will continue to be our philosophy to award scholarship assistance to those student-athletes who a coach feels can be successful both academically and athletically at the Division I level. It has never been our practice to simply award financial assistance because a scholarship is available. The coaching staff will remain diligent in recruiting and use the 59 scholarships wisely.
2011 Football Wins
The NCAA found that ineligible student-athletes competed during the 2011 football season, so all wins after Oct. 23, 2011, will be vacated. This essentially means all public reference to those five wins will be removed. Any reference to a conference championship and NCAA post-season appearance will also be removed. However, the individual statistics for those student-athletes who were eligible to compete will remain.
Moving Forward
It is the obligation of all of Griz Nation to promote and maintain a “culture of rules compliance.” We are relying on you to help us succeed – both on and off the field. If you have a question about rules governing intercollegiate athletics, don’t hesitate to ask. When in doubt, pick up the phone, send an email or visit the “Ask Grizzly Compliance” section of GoGriz.com where you can submit questions anonymously. We promise to get back to you quickly. We have expanded our compliance office; we are developing more educational programming; and we are improving communication to our broad fan base, including our staff, coaches and student-athletes.
Griz Nation is strong and healthy. I ask each of you to stay focused on the three priorities I referenced at the beginning of my letter – academic success, athletic excellence and service to our community. Today’s report brings to conclusion a chapter in the history of UM athletics. We look to the future. We will move forward undaunted as we focus on improving our athletic facilities, winning championships with integrity and graduating student-athletes who are leaders in Montana and beyond.
I ask each of you to join in. Let’s look forward to an exciting, compelling and successful 2013-14 academic year!
Kent Haslam
Director of Athletics
University of Montana
