Georgia Tech Files Appeal With NCAA

The appeal comes after the COI banned Georgia Tech for the 2019-20 postseason.

Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Today, the Georgia Tech Athletics Department officially filed their written appeal to the NCAA in response to the NCAA Committee on Infractions' penalties levied against the men's basketball program on September 26th.

In the report, the Committee on Infractions issued a postseason ban for the 2019-20 season, reduced the amount of scholarships by 1 over the next 4 years, and limited official visits over the next 2 seasons.

The penalties were a result of impermissible benefits received by former GT players Tadric Jackson, Justin Moore, Josh Okogie and prospect Wendell Carter. The benefits were granted in part by former assistant coach Darryl LaBerrie & former friend of head coach Josh Pastner, Ron Bell.

While the appeals process is ongoing, the penalties placed against the Yellow Jackets will not take effect until the appeal is denied or if the appeal is rescinded by the university.

In conjunction with the appeal filing, the Georgia Tech Media Relations lead had this to say:

"Georgia Tech today filed its written appeal in connection with the penalties imposed on its men’s basketball program by the NCAA Committee on Infractions on September 26.

As stated in its notice of appeal, which was filed on Oct. 11, Georgia Tech is appealing the following three penalties outlined in the NCAA decision:

• V.2: Competition penalty, which prohibits Georgia Tech from participating in postseason play in 2019-20;
• V.4: Scholarship reductions, which reduce the number of grants-in-aid that Georgia Tech can award by one during each of the next four seasons (2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23);
• V.9: Official visit limitation, which prohibits Georgia Tech from scheduling official visits in conjunction with home men’s basketball competitions in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
  
  

In the appeal, Georgia Tech specifically contends that:

• the penalties are based in significant part on an improper aggravating factor;
• the length of the scholarship reduction penalty is arbitrary;
• the Committee on Infractions did not properly consider NCAA regulations in imposing the penalty limiting Georgia Tech’s ability to schedule official visits in conjunction with home men’s basketball competitions in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
  
  

“As I stated when we received the decision from the Committee on Infractions in September, it is our strong belief that the severity of the penalties imposed has a direct and unfair impact on current student-athletes,” said Georgia Tech Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury. “As our legal team prepared our appeal, it also became clear that the application of the penalties was unprecedented. In addition, we also promptly self-disclosed these violations and self-imposed penalties.

“I am grateful for the leadership and support of the Institute, our legal team and our compliance staff as we continue through the appeals process and I am looking forward to us continuing to vigorously contest these penalties on behalf of our student-athletes,” Stansbury said.

As this remains an ongoing NCAA process, Georgia Tech will have no further comment at this time."

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