Cole’s lawyer, Jeremy Walker, said his client took issue with some of the findings but was pleased that the investigation had finally ended "after five years of slogging through the NCAA process."

“Coach Cole is looking forward to his new job at Stillman College and closing the book on an unpleasant chapter in his life,” Walker said in a statement Wednesday night.

The violations wiped out all of ASU’s wins under Cole in 2000 and 2001. ASU went 6-5 in 2000 and 8-4 in 2001, when the Hornets won the SWAC.

Current Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said Wednesday that he is committed to following NCAA rules and running a clean program.

“We’ve talked to all of our coaches about being accountable,” Barlow said. He said his staff's motto is “ask before you act” to make sure actions are within NCAA regulations.

Many of the NCAA’s penalties have already been imposed by Alabama State on itself, including limiting the number of scholarships and official paid recruiting visits during past seasons.

Knight said Alabama State has spent about $500,000 to make sure the school is following NCAA rules. He said those expenses include hiring three compliance officers.

"We have put a number of things in place to make sure this doesn't happen again at this institution. If we find anybody violating NCAA rules and regulations they will be immediately terminated," Knight said.

Barlow said Hornets’ players, particularly those that will be seniors next season, are disappointed they will not be able to play for the SWAC championship in 2009.

"I hate that for our seniors," Barlow said. "A lot of them were taken aback by it."

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