Vanderbilt University's high academic standards for student athletes prevented the school from becoming a target in a bribery scheme aimed at sneaking unqualified students from wealthy families into elite colleges, according to a court document.

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday charged 33 affluent parents — including actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin — nine college athletics coaches, and others in the elaborate conspiracy. Prosecutors said some of the parents paid coaches "enormous sums" to get their children into competitive schools by faking their athletic credentials.

But a key witness and co-conspirator said Vanderbilt's requirements for incoming football players were too stringent to "hide" a student with low grades, according to an affidavit submitted by an FBI agent in the case.

At Vanderbilt, the "lowest" football players have a 3.4 GPA and "have to be big time players," the affidavit stated, quoting the witness. "Can't hide (a student) there."

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDAL:Here are the parents, coaches and others charged

KEY QUOTES:'We help the wealthiest families in the U.S.'

Vanderbilt responded to questions about its admissions process with a statement saying the university "firmly believes in ensuring access to education for all qualified students on the basis of an individual applicant’s complete and factual record."

"We are troubled by the recent allegations that some individuals have sought to deceptively tilt the college admissions process at other universities in their favor," the statement read. "We strive to establish an accurate and holistic picture of each applicant – working closely with high school guidance counselors and confirming, to the extent possible, that information provided by prospective students and their families is legitimate."

The statement also said Vanderbilt admissions includes "checks and balances" meant to prevent fraud.

"We believe in integrity and fairness, and should we discover someone has misrepresented their application, there would be serious ramifications,” the statement read.

MORE:Everything you need to know about the nation's largest-ever college cheating scandal involving Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin

COLLEGE CHEATING SCANDAL:UT system to discuss how to safeguard against bribery scheme

Reach Adam Tamburin at 615-726-5986 and atamburin@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @tamburintweets.

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