While Chip Kelly is busy preparing the Philadelphia Eagles for a successful 2013 NFL season, it is his time at Oregon that is causing him to come under fire. Reports have surfaced that the Oregon football program has agreed to committing major violations after an NCAA investigation discovered illegal recruiting occurred while Kelly was head coach.
The university has released documents showing the violations have been deemed major and the program is hoping to agree to self-imposed probation including the reduction of scholarships. The two sides were at a disagreement as Oregon argued the violations were only secondary.
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 oral reports on recruits. Per NCAA bylaws, programs are only allowed to receiver written quarterly reports from scouting services.
Kelly acknowledged the investigation and the reports that major violations were committed while he was still head coach.
"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 in a released statement.
The situation rings similar to the investigation that took place at USC. The university fell under investigation as head coach Pete Carroll left for the Seattle Seahawks. He had been involved in illegally recruiting Reggie Bush. Sanctions were then placed on the program as soon as a new head coach was hired as USC was forced for forfeit 30 football scholarships and was banned from bowl games for two years.
Oregon will now report have to report in front of the NCAA's infractions committee for a hearing on the investigation and will soon learn the fate of the team. All of this means nothing for Chip Kelly who will feel no repercussions of the investigation.
