Oregon football put on probation, loses scholarship
The NCAA was unable to come to an agreement with Oregon on sanctions over recruiting violations by the football program under former coach Chip Kelly, so the issue was sent to the organization’s infractions committee.
The committee’s penalties ended up falling mostly in line with what Oregon had proposed earlier. Oregon will lose a scholarship in each season during a three-year probation period, but avoided a bowl ban and other major penalties under sanctions issued by the NCAA’s Division I Committee on Infractions on Wednesday.
The committee also placed an 18-month showcause order on Kelly, a sanction that will likely have limited impact since he’s now coaching the Philadelphia Eagles.
Oregon lost one scholarship for the 2012-13 academic year and will lose another in 2013-14 under self-imposed sanctions. It also will have its total number of scholarships reduced by one from a maximum of 85 each of the next three seasons, also self-imposed.
The NCAA cut Oregon’s official paid visits from 56 to 37 for the next three academic years, reduced its evaluation days for each of the next three seasons and banned the program from using recruiting services during the probation period. Oregon must also dissociate itself from Willie Lyles’ Houston-based recruiting service, which was at the center of the investigation.
SELF FINED FOR DAMAGING TABLE
Kansas coach Bill Self has perhaps learned a harsh lesson after this year’s NCAA Tournament: Don’t break the NCAA’s equipment.
The NCAA issued Self a public reprimand and an undisclosed fine for “misconduct” during the NCAA opening rounds at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. Self ’s crime: He accidentally damaged an LED scorers table when he struck it during the first half of Kansas’ victory over North Carolina.
BIG EAST HIRES COMMISSIONER
The newly reconstituted Big East Conference has hired former WNBA President Val Ackerman, a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, as its commissioner.
The Big East will be based in New York City and begin official operations on July 1. Terms of the deal were not immediately announced.
The revamped conference announced in March that it would include Butler, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Villanova and Xavier.
BROWNS ROOKIE CHARGED IN BEATING, RELEASED
The Cleveland Browns have released a rookie who is charged with attempted murder for allegedly punching a man outside a club in northern New Jersey.
Ausar Walcott turned himself in to Passaic, N.J., police Tuesday after he was identified as a suspect in an incident that happened around 3 a.m. Sunday.
The linebacker was signed by the Browns on May 13 following a tryout.
Authorities told The Record of Hackensack, N.J., that the 23-year-old Hackensack native and former University of Virginia player punched 24-year-old Derrick Jones in the head just after The Palace Gentlemen’s Club closed. Police say Jones, who is from New York City, is in critical condition.