The Central Methodist University football program announced Thursday that it has forfeited its two victories from the 2012 season due to the use of an ineligible player.

CMU’s 28-20 win over Avila University and 32-7 win over Culver-Stockton College have both been forfeited. Per NAIA rules, the Eagles will take a 1-0 forfeit loss for each game. CMU’s official record for 2012 will be recorded as 0-10.

According to a press release from CMU, the issue involves a player who fell just shy of the requirement of 24 completed credit hours in the previous two semesters.

CMU declined to release the name of the player who was ruled ineligible.

CMU self-reported the violation to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the student-athlete involved did not play again after the incident was reported in late September, Ken Oliver, vice president for institutional growth and student engagement, said in the press release.

CMU appealed the ruling to the NAIA but was notified recently that the appeal was denied.
News of the violation was first announced in a press release by the Heart of America Athletic Conference shortly before 1:30 p.m. Thursday. The press release announced the schedule of next season’s “HAAC-KCAC Football Series” had changed from its original matchups set earlier in the week “due to a recent disclosure by one of the member institutions.”

CMU sent out its press release announcing the violation to media outlets early Thursday evening.

All statistical records from each of CMU’s 10 football games in the 2012 season will remain official, the school announced. The forfeits do not affect a couple of records set this season, such as Trevor Robinson’s school-record 28 career sacks or Ezequiel Rivera’s 55-yard field goal against Culver-Stockton, which tied a school record.

CMU was originally slated to play Sterling College, as matchups were paired based upon team records from the previous season. After the two forfeit, the Eagles will now play Bethel College, the last place team of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.

The Eagles open the 2013 season at home against Lindenwood University-Belleville on Thursday, Sept. 5. Kickoff from Davis Field is set for 7 p.m.