Spring Break
Yoculan reprimanded by NCAA
University also punished
TYLER ESTEP
Issue date: 8/26/08 Section: News
The University of Georgia and gymnastics head coach Suzanne Yoculan were reprimanded by the NCAA Tuesday for "unsportsmanlike behavior during national championship competition" in April, according to an NCAA release.
According to the release, Yoculan, who is entering her 26th and final season at the helm in Athens, "directed the University of Georgia's senior student-athletes to return to the podium and conduct a farewell acknowledgment to the fans. During this time, one competitor remained on the floor exercise and there was yet another rotation to be completed. The above action was a violation of protocol."
Along with the public reprimand, Yoculan was fined $300.
In addition to that, the NCAA officially reprimanded the University, which hosted the event, for "not adhering to administrative procedures" during those same championships that took place April 24-26 at Stegeman Coliseum.
"During the individual event finals on balance beam, the competitors from Georgia had background music played from the Georgia team iPod...The tournament hosting manual states that a competitors' music will be permitted only during their respective rotations for floor exercise."
Grace Taylor, Tiffany Tolnay and Katie Heenan all competed individually on the balance beam on the final day of the
championships, with Taylor taking the title.
The women's gymnastics committee said it was "disappointed by this behavior and strongly believes the championship should not be tarnished by such acts." The NCAA also withheld an undisclosed portion
of the honorarium received by Georgia, four-time defending gymnastics national champions, for hosting the event.
According to the release, Yoculan, who is entering her 26th and final season at the helm in Athens, "directed the University of Georgia's senior student-athletes to return to the podium and conduct a farewell acknowledgment to the fans. During this time, one competitor remained on the floor exercise and there was yet another rotation to be completed. The above action was a violation of protocol."
Along with the public reprimand, Yoculan was fined $300.
In addition to that, the NCAA officially reprimanded the University, which hosted the event, for "not adhering to administrative procedures" during those same championships that took place April 24-26 at Stegeman Coliseum.
"During the individual event finals on balance beam, the competitors from Georgia had background music played from the Georgia team iPod...The tournament hosting manual states that a competitors' music will be permitted only during their respective rotations for floor exercise."
Grace Taylor, Tiffany Tolnay and Katie Heenan all competed individually on the balance beam on the final day of the
championships, with Taylor taking the title.
The women's gymnastics committee said it was "disappointed by this behavior and strongly believes the championship should not be tarnished by such acts." The NCAA also withheld an undisclosed portion
of the honorarium received by Georgia, four-time defending gymnastics national champions, for hosting the event.
Be the first to comment on this story