Claiming an 'abuse of discretion,' the University of Alabama took a strong stance in its appeal with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, arguing that the Committee of Infractions' order to vacate 21 wins by the football program should be reversed.

The Tuscaloosa News reports the appeal regarding penalties from the textbook disbursement scandal was submitted Monday and released Tuesday. The appeal called the punishment excessive, especially since the university discovered, reported and corrected the violations.

'Such a penalty is unfair to the other student-athletes involved, unfair to the coaches involved, and amounts to little more than an Orwellian attempt to rewrite history, to the detriment of dozens, if not hundreds, of uninvolved parties,' the appeal said. 'The same is arbitrary, irrational, and an abuse of discretion.'

UA did not appeal other sanctions handed down June 10, including three years of probation and a $43,900 fine.