Ole Miss Football: Alleged NCAA Violations Against Hugh Freeze Limited to Laremy Tunsil Case
ByThe University of Mississippi confirmed it received a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA concerning alleged violations in the school's football, women's basketball, and track and field programs.
Citing unnamed sources, ESPN.com reported most of the football allegations the NCAA detailed were from the Houston Nutt era. Hugh Freeze was hired in 2011, and the only football allegations related to him appear to stem from the Laremy Tunsil case.
Ole Miss Athletic Director Ross Bjork confirmed the NCAA's investigation started more than three years ago, and that the majority of football allegations predated Freeze's tenure.
"Included in the notice are alleged violations of NCAA bylaws in women's basketball in 2012; track and field in 2012-13; and in football, with many of the allegations dating back to the former football staff in 2010 and the withholding and reinstatement process around Laremy Tunsil in fall of 2015," Bjork said in a statement. "We've been transparent throughout this process, and it is important to note that most of the football allegations are based upon facts that have been publicly disclosed previously in 'self-reports' and reinstatement requests or have been reported publicly in connection with another NCAA case."
Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde first reported on Friday that the NCAA issued Ole Miss a Notice of Allegations with some 30 different violations listed. Forde reported in Oct. 2014 the "bulk of the potential violations relate to women's basketball." That report predated the Tunsil case, and indicated Freeze was not in danger of any serious charges.
SB Nation pointed out rival SEC coaches have not been subtle with accusations of improper recruiting tactics at Ole Miss under Freeze. But the coach has been blunt in his denial of such accusations.
There has been nothing to suggest the NCAA is pursuing recruiting violation allegations against Freeze.