The Southwestern Athletic Conference said it is investigating an allegation that Jackson State had access to practice film owned by Arkansas-Pine Bluff the week before their Nov. 2 game, according to an ESPN report.
SWAC spokesman Andrew Roberts told HBCU Sports on Friday that the conference was “looking into allegations that were made” regarding claims that Jackson State players viewed Arkansas-Pine Bluff practice footage days prior to the Tigers’ 41-3 win over the Golden Lions.
An anonymous former UAPB player who appeared as a guest on the YouTube show Off Script Vidz earlier this month explained how Golden Lions head coach Alonzo Hampton accused him of sharing the film with Jackson State players.
The ESPN report indicated that around Oct. 31, an unnamed UAPB player told the coaching staff that Jackson State defensive players had viewed practice film that week. According to the report, a JSU player relayed that information to the UAPB player.
Hampton reportedly logged into the team’s software program and discovered that it had been accessed by someone with an IP address traced to Clinton, Mississippi, a town 20 minutes west of Jackson.
The player told ESPN he never logged back into the network where the UAPB practice film was stored after his stint with the Golden Lions was over, adding that sometimes players would have to share passwords.
Prior to Friday’s revelation, the SWAC previously told HBCU Sports the league office hadn’t received any formal requests immediately following the game to investigate any claims against Jackson State to conduct a probe.
Jackson State released a statement on Friday saying that “we are aware of the allegations brought to the attention of the conference. After working with the conference office and having full transparency into our program, no violations were found, and the matter was closed.”
A UAPB spokesperson acknowledged the school was aware of an investigation but declined comment on the matter.