Syracuse football

The Syracuse football program is part of the wide-ranging NCAA investigation into the school's athletic department, sources told syracuse.com.

(Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli.com)

Syracuse, N.Y. — The Syracuse football program is part of the wide-ranging NCAA investigation into the school's athletic department, sources told syracuse.com.

The information shows that the NCAA inquiry that has swirled around the basketball team for two years is more involved, and that the football team is part of the investigation and potentially exposed to penalties. It's unclear if other teams are involved.

The time period being examined is not known.

A call and text to coach Scott Shafer for comment were not returned by Wednesday afternoon. Shafer said at his weekly radio show at Destiny USA that he cannot discuss the case.

Former coach Doug Marrone said he had no knowledge of the investigation and was not invited to an upcoming hearing in front of the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

"There's nothing that I know about that we did that wasn't either punished or put forth," said Marrone, now is in his second season with the Buffalo Bills after coaching Syracuse from 2009-12.

"One thing I did, if we made a mistake, an incidental contact or something, I just always reported it. It's not worth it. This way I can sleep at night."

Greg Robinson, who coached the Orange from 2005-2008, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Robinson is now the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at San Jose State.

It is not known if Shafer or Robinson has been invited to the NCAA hearing.

Syracuse has declined to provide details about the case.

CBSSports.com first reported in March of 2013 that the investigation primarily centers on men's basketball but includes the football program.

Syracuse officials have been invited to an NCAA hearing at the end of the month as part of a multi-year inquiry into the school's athletic department, sources previously told syracuse.com. The hearing signals the end of the investigation is nearing and will help determine whether the school violated NCAA rules and will be punished.

Part of the investigation focuses on the academic record of Fab Melo, who was suspended in 2012. Former teammate James Southerland was suspended briefly for academics during the 2013 season but returned to the team. Sources previously told syracuse.com that suspension was also a result of the NCAA investigation into the basketball program's academic records, and athletic director Daryl Gross attributed them to increased oversight.

Since the inquiry began, Syracuse has restructured the athletic department's academic services department, which is responsible for keeping athletes academically eligible. The restructuring included at least three employees changing jobs.



Syracuse also created a job for an assistant provost for student-athlete academic services but said it was not related to an investigation.

Staff writers Matt Fairburn and Mike Waters contributed to this story

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