[mpoverlay]The NCAA has lifted the postseason ban on Southern University football and men’s basketball, the Baton Rouge Advocate today reports. The programs also have relaxed restrictions on scholarship awards for student athletes and practice time.

The removed ban comes just weeks after the NCAA moved to extend periods of improvement for “lower resourced” institutions working to meet academic progress rate benchmarks, a formula used to measure total academic success and graduate on a four-year, rolling scale.

“We thought we were going to have a shot at having our penalties lifted … but you don’t know until you actually hear from the NCAA,” (Southern head football coach Stump) Mitchell said Thursday. “Dr. Broussard told me of the good news (Thursday) morning, and we’re extremely excited about it.”

Last season, his football team had a multiyear APR score of 899 — one point shy of the NCAA’s then-benchmark for avoiding severe penalties. (The Advocate)[/mpoverlay]

NCAA Academic Progress Rate Southern University