In 1985, NCAA member institutions voted 427 to 6 to give Southern Methodist University football the death penalty for repeated rules violations. (The school had been penalized seven times since 1958.)
Its violations included paying 13 players more than $47,000, and providing monthly payments and free apartments to some players.
SMU’s 1987 season was canceled, and in 1988 the team was allowed to play only seven games – and none of them at home in Dallas. Its probationary period, which limited the team’s scholarships and television and post-season appearances, lasted until 1990.
