Forfeit sends Carroll into semis

ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State will not play its scheduled NAIA quarterfinal football game at defending national champion Carroll College on Saturday after discovering that three players were academically ineligible.

The forfeit, in essence, gives Carroll a bye Saturday and the Fighting Saints advance to the semifinals Dec. 6.

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

The school said the unidentified players dropped classes in the fall semester reducing their course load below the minimum 12 hours required by the NAIA.

University president Janet Cunningham apologized to the opposing schools involved in the forfeited games, especially Friends, and said a task force would be formed to look into eligibility issues in the athletic department and prevent further compliance problems.

“I also feel for our players and coaches who will not be allowed to continue their season. They have worked very hard to get to this point, but I am confident they understand that we are doing the right thing,” she said.

Carroll has won five of the last six NAIA titles, has a 27-game winning streak and is the top-ranked team in the playoffs.

Northwestern won its only national title in 1999 and lost to Carroll in the 2003 title game.

The NAIA planned to have its eligibility committee review a report from the school to determine if any additional sanctions are necessary.