NCAA bans UNLV from postseason play due to low APR score

UNLV announced Thursday that its final appeal to the NCAA subcommittee regarding the football program's low Academic Progress Rate has been denied. 

The NCAA placed sanctions on the Rebels for their low score of 925, meaning the football team is ineligible to participate in the 2014 postseason and cannot receive a bowl berth. 

Athletics director Tina Kunzer-Murphy released a statement pertaining to the school's denied appeal, revealing the Rebels will focus on improving their academic status. 

"I am disappointed for the vast majority of our football players who understand the importance of academics and who embrace and meet their responsibilities," Kunzer-Murphy stated via the school's official athletic website. 

"In fact, 96 percent of the football players on our current roster have never cost UNLV an APR point - so clearly, the overwhelming majority of our student-athletes understand that their first priority must be academics. I am also extremely encouraged and optimistic due to the response I have seen since I started here from our student-athletes, our coaches, our athletic department personnel and our University leadership. 

In particular, I want to thank our President, Don Snyder, and our Provost, John White, for all their support in addressing this problem. Everyone associated with UNLV Football recognizes what the expectations are in terms of academic performance and everyone involved has shown a genuine commitment to getting these numbers where they need to be. We are taking a number of significant steps to improve the level of academic support." 

The NCAA requires its athletic programs to average a minimum APR score of 930 in the last four years, and the scores for all programs will be released in June.