Bakersfield College Appeals Football Sanctions to CCCAA Board of Directors

Monday, August 5, 2013

This afternoon, August 5, 2013, Bakersfield College entered its appeal of football sanctions imposed by the California Community College Athletics Association (CCCAA). The appeal, submitted to the CCCAA Board of Directors per article 7.4.10 of the CCCAA Constitution and Bylaws, is posted online for the public to review.

According to article 7.4.10.4, members of the CCCAA board must return a mailed ballot to the office of Carlyle Carter, CCCAA Executive, within 18 working days of receiving the ballot. The CCCAA Constitution and Bylaws give no indication of how long the CCCAA has to distribute the materials and ballots to the board, nor how long the CCCAA has to make notification to Bakersfield College after the 18-day voting window closes.

As required by the CCCAA Constitution and Bylaws, the appeal to the CCCAA board of directors is a re-presentation of the arguments presented in the earlier appeal to the Southern California Football Association (SCFA) and the CCCAA Appeals Board. Bakersfield College was notified on July 19, 2013 that its appeal to the CCCAA Appeals Board was denied.

“Since the beginning of this process, Bakersfield College has approached the compliance issue with candor and cooperation,” said Dr. Sonya Christian, president of Bakersfield College. “However, the findings and sanctions are not supported by evidence, nor a reasonable reading of the CCCAA Constitution and Bylaws.”

On May 14, the SCFA notified Bakersfield College of the findings of the inquiry. The Association found Bakersfield College to be non-compliant with CCCAA Bylaw 2, which governs subsidizing, inducements, and special privileges. Seven violations were noted in three categories.

As a result of the SCFA findings, Bakersfield College's wins for the 2011 and 2012 football seasons were voided, including the 2012 CCCAA Championship game. The Bakersfield College football team has also been placed on a post-season ban for the 2013 season, and will be on probation for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Bakersfield College will continue to update the community in regard to the appeals process as there are additional developments.

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Story picked up by: 

• KERO-TV 23 ABC (BC files yet another appeal in its quest to have football sanctions overturned)
• First News on First Look with Scott Cox, KERN-AM 1180 (First Look: First News for August 6)
• The Bakersfield Californian (Local Report: BC files 3rd in series of appeals)