PORTLAND, Ore. — The University of Oregon proposed a self-imposed two-year probation and the loss of a scholarship for three years because of possible recruiting violations involving the Ducks’ football program.
The university released documents late Monday that included a proposed summary disposition from September which discusses the violations and characterizes at least one as “major.” The contents of the documents were first reported by KATU television in Portland.
The NCAA began looking into possible violations following reports about payments Oregon made to recruiting services, including a $25,000 payment to Willie Lyles and Houston-based Complete Scouting Services in 2010. Lyles had a connection with an Oregon recruit.
Oregon and the NCAA failed to come to an agreement on the matter and the case is expected to go before the infractions committee this year.
The NCAA will not comment on the ongoing investigations.
Oregon’s athletic department issued a statement.
“The review is ongoing until the NCAA Committee on Infractions issues its final report. The integrity of the process and our continued full cooperation with the NCAA prohibits us from publicly discussing the specifics of this matter,” the statement said.
The university released 515 pages of documents on Monday night in response to public records requests. The documents were heavily redacted.
The summary disposition report included details of Oregon’s relationship with Lyles. Following allegations of possible violations, Oregon released information that Lyles had produced but it was largely outdated.
“There were underlying major violations coupled with failure to monitor violations involving the head coach (2009 through 2011) and the athletics department (2008-2011),” the report said. “While the violations were not intentional in nature, coaches and administrators of a sports program at an NCAA member institution have an obligation to ensure that the activities being engaged in comply with NCAA legislation.”
Chip Kelly was head coach of the Ducks for the past three seasons. He left Oregon to become head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year.
“I am aware of the recent reports and of the ongoing investigation being conducted by the NCAA and the University of Oregon. While at Oregon, I know we were fully cooperative with all aspects of the investigation and I will continue to contribute in any way that I can. But until the NCAA rules on the matter, I will have no further comment,” Kelly said Tuesday in a statement released by the Eagles.
Ducks offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich was promoted to head coach at Oregon following Kelly’s departure.
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