NCAA Clears Jones And Ingram For Season Opener

Julio Jones Alabama Football Tide duo must pay for fishing trip after violating rule.

by Randy Patrick

Published: Wed, September 02, 2009 - 8:58 pm CST Last Updated: Wed, September 02, 2009 - 9:06 pm CST

The NCAA has cleared the way for Julio Jones and Mark Ingram to play in Alabama's season opener in Atlanta Saturday against Virginia Tech.
Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban had been quite on the issue this week saying only that the NCAA would have to make a decision on the players future. The NCAA issued this statement Wednesday evening.

The NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff has reinstated the eligibility of University of Alabama football student-athletes Julio Jones and Mark Ingram based on a condition of repayment.
According to the facts of the case submitted by Alabama, the student-athletes received impermissible food, lodging, transportation and entertainment from an individual with whom one of the student-athletes had become acquainted prior to enrolling in college.
Consistent with NCAA membership requirements, the institution reported the violation and declared the student-athletes ineligible. As part of the reinstatement request, the institution required the student-athletes to make repayment of the value of the impermissible benefits to charity.
During the reinstatement process, the NCAA staff considers a number of factors including guidelines established by the NCAA Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, relevant case precedent, the student-athlete’s responsibility for the violation, as well as any mitigating factors presented by the institution.

Alabama Athletics Director Mal Moore issued this statement Wednesday evening. "We are gratified that this matter has been resolved. Our compliance department, the SEC and the NCAA worked closely throughout this process and we appreciate the professional manner in which it was handled."

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