East Texas Baptist has acknowledged in a statement to Dave Campbell's Texas Football that it utilized an illegal electronic communication device during a recent road game.
East Texas Baptist AD Ryan Erwin said the department immediately reported the violation once it became aware.
“We received notification regarding inappropriate communication from the sideline during a contest this season from a (now) former member of the assistant coaching staff,” Erwin told the outlet. “We immediately reported it to the American Southwest Conference office and the conference head of officials.”
Rule 1-4-10 required a 15-yard penalty for any team found to use an NFL-style electronic communication device from coach to player, along with an immediate ejection for the coach.
ETBU did not name the offending coach. The American Southwest Conference's statement indicated it will not take further action against the program.
“The American Southwest Conference was notified by East Texas Baptist University of the use of an in-game communication device by its football team,” ASC commissioner Amy Carlton said in a statement. “The staff consulted the Coordinator of Football Officiating, who confirmed the action would violate an NCAA Football Rule and noted how the penalty for the game rule violation would have been assessed if discovered during play. ETBU officials took action as an institution regarding the inappropriate game activity, and the conference accepted the institution's action.”
Head coach Brian Mayper retired on Monday, and defensive coordinator Calvin Ruzicka was promoted to head coach.
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