Hugh Kellenberger

The Clarion-Ledger

BIRMINGHAM — Greg Sankey's role as Southeastern Conference commissioner is the reason why he is recused from the NCAA Committee on Infractions as it relates to the case against Ole Miss.

"I’m fully recused from anything involving any member university," Sankey said Monday during a question-and-answer panel during the Associated Press Sports Editors' Southeast Region meeting.

Sankey is the chairman of the committee of infractions. He said he's previously recused himself in cases involving SEC teams.

The NCAA enforcement staff was allowed to offer immunity to athletes at other schools as part of the Ole Miss investigation, which led to allegations of violations. Sankey said he did not have an opinion he would offer on that, which is handled on a case-by-case basis and only with the granting of the Committee on Infractions.

"I’m not involved in granting immunity around SEC student-athletes," Sankey said. "I’m walled off completely. I don’t talk to colleagues on the committee."

Ole Miss announced it received its second Notice of Allegations in February, and should soon send its response back to the NCAA. The timeline of the case is expected to stretch into the fall.