SEC Country: Hugh Freeze Disputes Allegations: ‘I Have A Strong Record Of Promoting Compliance’

Courtesy of Matt Jenkins SEC Country 

Ole Miss self-imposed a postseason ban in response to a new notice of allegations from the NCAA, but football coach Hugh Freeze is fighting the specific charges he faces.
Freeze said Wednesday that he regrets any actions by the Ole Miss staff that violated NCAA rules. However, he and the school are contesting a charge that he violated head coach responsibility legislation.
“Contrary to the allegations,” Freeze said, “I have demonstrated throughout this entire process that I have a strong record of promoting compliance and monitoring my staff, and I look forward to presenting that evidence to the Committee on Infractions.”
Freeze also said he is “constantly communicating” with the Ole Miss compliance office and the SEC office “to make sure we are using best practices when it comes to doing things the right way.”
Though Freeze maintained his innocence, he conceded the school was right to self-impose a bowl ban.
“While it is extremely difficult to ask current players to suffer penalties based on the actions of others,” Freeze said, “I agree with the decision to self-impose a one-year bowl ban by our University.
The NCAA notice of allegations includes 7 Level I violations. In addition to Freeze’s violation of head coach responsibility legislation, allegations include lack of institutional control and multiple instances of boosters providing impermissible benefits to recruits, some of which were organized by staff members.
Here is Freeze’s full statement, which followed statements by university chancellor Jeff Vitter and athletics director Ross Bjork.
Thank you Chancellor.
This support you and Ross have given me throughout this has been unwavering and for that I am grateful.  This has been a long process for all involved, and like everyone up here today, I am saddened by all of the negative attention that has been brought on our great University by the seriousness of this case. I feel terrible for our players and staff who have to handle the consequences of the actions of a very few.  Unfortunately, these penalties are necessary so that this program to be responsible (sic) and move forward.  While it is extremely difficult to ask current players to suffer penalties based on the actions of others, I agree with the decision to self-impose a one-year bowl ban by our University.
From the moment I arrived in December 2011, I have emphasized to all of my staff that our program is founded on certain core values – faith, attitude, mental toughness, integrity and love.  Integrity – doing things the right way.  I am extremely disappointed to learn that any member of my staff violated any SEC or NCAA rules, and as the head coach, I regret those actions.  Any behavior by my staff that is inconsistent with that commitment to do things the right way simply does not reflect the emphasis I personally place on NCAA compliance. As the record will show, I am constantly communicating to our compliance office, the SEC office, and industry leaders to make sure we are using best practices when it comes to doing things the right way.  Contrary to the allegations, I have demonstrated throughout this entire process that I have a strong record of promoting compliance and monitoring my staff, and I look forward to presenting that evidence to the Committee on Infractions.
While this is certainly a day of adversity, it is one that has been met with a renewed resolve by our staff and an excitement that we are nearing the end of this process. As I stated earlier, one of our core values is love. That will be the one our players will need the most through this challenge.  I know that the Ole Miss family will rally around them and love them through this journey.  This team has overcome any many (sic) things and we will use this to make us stronger. Adversity causes some to break, some to bend, some to complain. That will not be the case here. We will be more intentional and more accountable.  We will press on, and we will not blink.
I know of no family that goes without challenges.  This is certainly one for our Ole Miss family here.  I have always said that I believe you should rejoice always, give thanks in everything, and pray constantly.   This will be a great chance for me to put that into practice as I have the great opportunity to lead these young men and our program through this challenge.
Questions email us at hottytoddynews@gmail.com.