The Big 12 will withhold 25 percent of future revenue distribution payments from Baylor until the school can verify that it’s made changes the league deems necessary to it athletic department.
The move comes months after damning allegations of sexual assault claims against the university which ultimately saw the school president, the athletic director and football coach lose their jobs in the wake.
Baylor is also facing multiple civil lawsuits.
The conference’s Board of Directors voted Wednesday on the measure which passed unanimously.
“The Board is unified in establishing a process to verify that proper institutional controls are in place and sustainable,” said University of Oklahoma president and Big 12 Conference Board of Directors chairman David Boren. “Effective immediately, the Conference is withholding 25 percent of Baylor’s share of any future revenue distribution until the proper execution of controls is independently verified.
“By taking these actions the Board desires to ensure that the changes that were promised are actually made and that systems are in place to avoid future problems. The proportional withholding of revenue distribution payments will be in effect until the Board has determined that Baylor is in compliance with Conference bylaws and regulations as well as all components of Title IX.”
The Big 12 won’t lift the penalty until a third-party can verfify the school has made changes to its athletic department and internal governance.
Baylor interim president David E. Garland responded to the news in a statement through the school:
“While the withholding of conference distributions is an unexpected financial event, we do not deem these actions to materially impact the overall financial position of the University. We pledge our full cooperation, and we will work with the Big 12 Conference to conduct the audit as expeditiously as possible.”
Based on numbers from previous years, the move could cost the school up to $8 million.
mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Follow Matt Murschel on Twitter at @osmattmurschel or like his Facebook page for more college football coverage.
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
