Marian (Ind.) withdraws from NAIA football playoffs
Daily Inter Lake | Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 3 weeks, 1 day AGO
INDIANAPOLIS — Marian University announced Thursday that the NAIA has withdrawn its football team from the NAIA Football Championship Series because the school played an academically ineligible athlete in three games.
The Knights were to play a quarterfinal game at Keiser (Fla.) University Saturday; the game is canceled and Marian’s season is over.
“We sincerely apologize to Keiser University, the NAIA, our student-athletes and the Marian community that we cannot continue our season,” Marian athletic director Steve Downing said in a release from the school. “This is a disappointing outcome for everyone involved.”
The athletic department identified the eligibility issue and self-reported the matter on Dec. 2 to the NAIA.
“We made the decision to self-report because the integrity of our program and our university is paramount,” Marian president Daniel J. Eisener said.
The Knights were 11-1 and may have to vacate three wins. Keiser (11-1) advances to the semifinals, possibly against the winner of Saturday’s game in Butte between Montana Tech and College of Idaho. Semifinal pairings will be announced after the quarterfinal games.