Forfeits knock NW Oklahoma out of NAIA playoffs

[November 26, 2008]  ALVA, Okla. (AP) -- Northwestern Oklahoma State will not play its scheduled NAIA quarterfinal game at top-ranked Carroll College on Saturday after discovering that three players were academically ineligible.

Northwestern will forfeit its regular-season games against Bacone and Texas College as well as a postseason game against Friends (Kan.) University because the players competed in those games while ineligible.

The school said the unidentified players dropped classes during the fall semester that reduced their course load below 12 hours, which is not allowed by the NAIA.

University president Janet Cunningham said the school is saddened and embarrassed by the actions it was forced to take, but refused to compromise its integrity.

[Associated Press]

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