The Citrus Bowl trophy has reportedly been removed from display at Kentucky’s practice facility, as shared by Jon Hale. This comes a week after the NCAA revealed penalties against the Kentucky Wildcats’ football and swimming programs for recent infractions.
Jon Hale of the Lexington Herald-Leader has now provided further details on these penalties.
Both programs have been placed on a two-year probation.
Kentucky has agreed to vacate all 10 wins from the 2021 football season and pay a fine. However, the postseason Citrus Bowl trophy will remain with the team.
In 2022, Kentucky self-reported violations to the NCAA involving 11 players who were improperly compensated for work not performed at the UK hospital. Four of these players, including Chris Rodriguez and Jordan Wright, were withheld from competition until cleared by the NCAA.
A supervisor in the hospital’s transport department was terminated due to the violations. No football staff members were dismissed, as they were unaware of the infractions.
As a result, Coach Mark Stoops has had 10 wins removed from his career record, reducing it from 73-65 to 63-65, leaving him without a winning record.
Chris Rodriguez’s 2021 season stats have been vacated, stripping him of his 1,379 rushing yards and his record for most 100-yard rushing games in a season. This also removes him from Kentucky’s top-10 all-time rushing list.
The Citrus Bowl victory, part of the vacated wins, has been stripped by the NCAA. However, since the NCAA does not fully oversee bowl games, the Citrus Bowl trophy will not be taken and will remain in Kentucky’s practice facility.
Kentucky will also pay a self-imposed $5,000 fine and forfeit 10% of its SEC payout from the Citrus Bowl, approximately $800,000.
