TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - This is not the first time Florida A&M University athletics have been under the microscope.
Over the past six years, FAMU has received multiple penalties, some of them even self-imposed.
In June 2013, the NCAA handed down sanctions to Florida A&M. The women's volleyball team was banned from the post season for the 2013-2014 year, due to poor Academic Progress Rate or APR scores.
The men's basketball team and the men's indoor and outdoor track team received 'phase one penalties,' which resulted in a mandatory reduction of practice time. Teams are expected to replace the practice time with academic activities.
Then, in November 2015, FAMU announced a three year, self-imposed probation on all athletic programs.
This, following the identification of violations of secondary NCAA rules from the 2010-2014 academic years.
In February 2016, FAMU announced that the NCAA would lift its APR postseason ban on men's basketball beginning with the 2016-2017 season. That's the ban that had been in effect since 2014.
FAMU also announced that APR appeals on behalf of the Rattler football program were successful in getting the NCAA to lift the 2017 spring practice restrictions.
We also spoke to students on FAMU's campus and got their reactions about the postseason bans.
Many say they were surprised and that they didn't think it was fair to all of the athletes, especially the ones who kept their grades up.
Others suggested ways for FAMU to better help their players academically.
"I think it's not fair because all of the the athletes that put in their hard work and time. For them to say that they cannot compete, there should be a warning first, let them know, have the school give them some extra study time like a tutor," said Darius, a FAMU student. "I don't think it's fair that they are suspended the rest of the year."
"I think that it says something about the schools academic system," said Jordan, another FAMU student. "I think they should reevaluate it and make sure that the kind of support that they have for their students is well enough, so students can take advantage of it and make a difference in their grades."
