The NCAA has punished the Oregon Ducks football program, and former head coach Chip Kelly for recruiting violations. The punishment comes after the NCAA’s two year investigation into the program and its business relationship with a recruiting service run by Willie Lyles. The NCAA has released the following statement regarding the investigation.
“The University of Oregon used a recruiting service provider, who became a representative of the university’s athletics interests, to assist the school with the recruitment of multiple prospective student-athletes,” the review states. “The representative provided cash and free lodging to a prospect and engaged in impermissible calls and off-campus contacts with football prospects, their families and high school coaches.”
“Additionally, the football program allowed staff members to engage in recruiting activity, which resulted in the football program exceeding coaching limits. Both the former head football coach and the university agreed they failed to monitor the football program.”
As a result the NCAA has levied the following penalties against Oregon.
- Three years of probation from June 26, 2013, through June 25, 2016 (the university had proposed two years of probation).
- A reduction of one scholarship per signing class (from 25) for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years (self-imposed).
- A reduction of total scholarships by one (from 85) through the 2015-16 academic year (self-imposed).
- A reduction of official paid football visits to from 56 to 37 for the 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years.
- A reduction of permissible football evaluation days from 42 to 36 in the fall of 2013, 2014 and 2015 and permissible football evaluation days from 168 to 144 in the spring of 2014, 2015 and 2016.
- A ban on the subscription to recruiting services during the probation period.
- A disassociation of the recruiting service provider (self-imposed).
The big thing to take away here is that there is no playoff ban, or bowl ban on the school. This was a major concern and having avoided such a punishment should be a relief to Oregon. Essentially these penalties are little more than a slap on the wrist.
Speaking of slaps on the wrist though, there is also the personal penalty against former Ducks coach Chip Kelly. Kelly is now the Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. The NCAA has levied an 18 month “show cause” penalty against Kelly, meaning that if another NCAA school wants to hire him, they will first need to show the NCAA how they will monitor their football program and if the new school should be placed on probation for that time. Since Kelly signed a long-term big money NFL deal, it is highly unlikely he’ll be looking for work in the NCAA, at least for the next 18 months. As such the penalty against Kelly personally is a whole lot of huffing and puffing by the NCAA but no actual punishment.
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