NCAA wants case dismissed
TALLAHASSEE (AP) – The NCAA Monday said it cannot be forced to release documents in Florida State University’s appeal of academic cheating penalties because the papers are not covered by the state’s public records law.
The NCAA asked Circuit Judge John C. Cooper to dismiss a lawsuit filed by The Associated Press and other news organizations seeking the records under Florida’s sunshine law.
The documents concern Florida State’s appeal of a plan to remove wins from the individual records of all coaches and athletes in several sports even though many, including football coach Bobby Bowden, had no roles in the cheating scandal.
Bowden could lose 14 victories. That would make it difficult for him to catch Penn State’s Joe Paterno in their race to post the most wins in major college football.
Cooper will hear the NCAA’s motion and others on Aug. 5.
He agreed, though, to delay a final two-day hearing, which had been set to start on that date, until Aug. 20-21.
The NCAA sought the delay because two of its key witnesses – both executives of the organization – will be unavailable on the original dates as they’ll be attending NCAA meetings on those days.