Birmingham, AL -- (Sports Network) - The Alabama football program will reportedly be forced to vacate a number of wins from 2005-07 as a result of NCAA violations of textbook distribution policy.
The Birmingham News reported Thursday that the NCAA will announce the ruling at 3 p.m. (et). The report said the number of wins is at least 10, and that the NCAA will both place Alabama on three years' probation and fine the school.
The newspaper said the school, which was already on probation when the infractions occurred, must vacate all wins during the time frame in which implicated players were involved. Alabama suspended five players in 2007 after it was discovered they were involved in the acquisition of free textbooks for friends.
Because they were suspended prior to the team's win against Tennessee on October 20, 2007, the News reported Alabama will not have to vacate that victory or its bowl win over Colorado later in the year.
The paper reported several other Alabama sports were involved and will need to vacate individual records; about 200 athletes in all were involved over a four-year period.
