NCAA Just Took Away Louisville's 2013 Title

Louisville must vacate its 2013 men's basketball title following an NCAA appeals panel's decision to uphold sanctions against the men's program in the sex scandal case. The Cardinals will have to vacate 123 victories including the championship, and return millions in conference revenue from the 2012-15 NCAA Tournaments, per the AP. The decision announced Tuesday by the governing body's Infraction Appeals Committee ruled that the NCAA has the authority to take away championships for what it considers major rule violations. Louisville now must forfeit its third NCAA title, victories, and income from 2010-14, when the violations occurred.

The decision culminates the governing body's investigation that followed allegations in a 2015 book by escort Katina Powell that former Cardinals basketball staffer Andre McGee hired her and other dancers to strip and have sex with recruits. "I cannot say this strongly enough: We believe the NCAA is simply wrong," said Louisville interim President Dr. Greg Postel. He made the case that the university admitted wrongdoing and cooperated with the investigation. "Under the NCAA's own rules, this cooperation should have been a factor in the severity of the punishment," he said. "Instead, it was ignored." And sorry, Michigan fans: The decision does not mean that your school, which lost in the championship game, becomes the new champion, notes landof10.com. Instead, the title will be officially listed as "vacated." (More Louisville Cardinals stories.)