Today, it was announced that UofL lost their appeal against the NCAA. The program faces four years of probation going forward, and must vacate the records from the 2010-14 seasons, which could include 123 victories, two Big East Conference Championships, and an American Athletic Conference championship. The school will be ordered to return its financial shares from four NCAA Tournaments.
This is devastating news for the fan base, former players and the university as a whole. As this means UofL will not be listed as the 2013 National Champions in the record book moving forward or have been to the 2012 Final Four.
Nonetheless, April 8, 2013 will forever be remembered as the day the University of Louisville won their third National Championship.
While moral victories are difficult to accept, there are plenty of things the NCAA can never take away from us. We all remember watching Luke Hancock winning MOP after hitting three after three after three. Tim Henderson put the dagger through Wichita State’s heart. The sound of the crowd when Trezl put down one of the best dunks we have ever witnessed. Or the heart and leadership of Peyton Siva and the insane way Russ Smith would move through defenders. The brotherhood that shined after Kevin Ware suffered a broken leg in the Elite 8.
I know I stood there with tears down my cheeks as that final buzzer went off, hugging my friends and fellow students and soaked in that moment. The NCAA can never take that moment from me.
The 2013 team was and remains special. That is something NOBODY can take from us.
NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee upholds Louisville men's basketball penalties to vacate wins and pay fine: https://t.co/jk4VxvkZD3
— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) February 20, 2018
