FSU president, NCAA spar on whether an agreement was reached in its academic cheating scandal

FSU official, NCAA spar on cheating sanction talks

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The battle of words between the NCAA and Florida State over sanctions for an academic cheating case is heating up.

In an unusual move Wednesday, the NCAA issued a statement saying that President T.K. Wetherell’s description of an agreement with the NCAA was not true.

College sports’ main governing body rarely offers any comment on pending cases.

Wetherell says he’ll provide documentation of an understanding he had with the NCAA on the penalties when they meet Nov. 15 at the NCAA’s Indianapolis headquarters.

Florida State is appealing part of the penalty that would force the school to forfeit records in 10 sports, including two seasons of football.

That would take away as many as 14 wins from coach Bobby Bowden, who is the second-most-winning coach in major college football history.