The NCAA and the University of Oregon football program have reached an agreement that major violations have been committed by the team's football coaches. An investigation that remains ongoing discovered recruiting violations during the 2008 to 2011 seasons. Oregon has purposed to self-impose a two-year probation on the program, by reducing one scholarship for each of the next three seasons.
The investigation centers around Will Lyles who ran a recruiting and scouting service. The documents reveal that the university was involved with Lyles during Chip Kelly's tenure as head coach. The Ducks reportedly paid $25,000 to the Texas-based scout to receive reports on recruits. The university claims to have accepted oral reports from Lyle which is against the NCAA bylaws. Oregon and the NCAA have been at odds over the severity of the infractions. While the school believes it to be a secondary violation, the NCAA has determined it to be a major violation.
During the investigation, the NCAA notes that in 2011, Lyles made attempts to meet NCAA requirements by presenting outdated written recruiting materials. According NCAA rules, recruiting services are allowed to provide programs with written quarterly reports, but not anything verbally. Oregon's ties with Lyle begin in 2008.
"There is no information in the record that Lyles coerced or directed any prospect to ultimately choose Oregon. That said, Lyles did provide a meaningful recruiting advantage by orally providing background information about prospects to the coaching staff and also by serving as a conduit to facilitate communication with prospective student-athletes," the NCAA said.
The university first came under investigation in March of 2011 after a report surfaced that the football team spent money on a recruiting package from Lyles. He functioned as a mentor to a number of Oregon players, including LaMichael James, Tra Carson and Marcus Davis.
Oregon released a statement following the NCAA documents regarding the investigation, agreeing to terms that the violations committed were major. "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."
