St. Augustine's upset football win over CIAA rival Shaw last week was overshadowed by the NCAA posse. The Division II Committee on Infractions slapped St. Aug's for major violations in its athletics program, included a lack of institutional control that dates back to the 2003-04 academic year and continued through 2007-08.

The school was found to have allowed 29 ineligible athletes to practice or compete, including 15 football players. Getting pinched didn't deter the Falcons on the gridiron, who took down Shaw 27-16 in St. Aug's best overall game of the season to improve to 2-4. The penalties include three years' probation, forfeiture of wins in which ineligible athletes participated, $2,500 fine; and a reduction in scholarships for seven sports over the next two years. Some of the ineligible athletes received prohibited benefits such as athletic scholarships and travel expenses.

The NCAA found the athletes including participation in their 11th semester of full-time enrollment (the Division II maximum is 10); participation in a fifth season and deficient grade point averages. School officials were cited for mishandling certification of transfers and failure to obtain financial eligibility certification for academics and amateurism. One ineligible athlete participated in the 2007 NCAA indoor championship and another competed in both the indoor and outdoor championship. St. Aug's, by the way, is a national track powerhouse with a slew of Olympians to its credit.