The NCAA takes a very stern tone with Oregon

The sanctions are out on Oregon for the Willie Lyles thing. It wasn't quite a yell, but more like a furrow-browed talking to.

Highlights:

Public reprimand and censure.

Three years of probation from June 26, 2013 through June 25, 2016.

An 18-month show cause order for the former head coach. The public report contains further details.

A one-year show-cause order for the former assistant director of operations. The public report contains further details.

A reduction of initial football scholarships by one from the maximum allowed (25) during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years (imposed by the university).

A reduction of total football scholarships by one from the maximum allowed (85) during the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 academic years (imposed by the university).

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. Details of the disassociation are included in the public report (imposed by the university).

If you are looking for the NCAA to take a 'reasonable' step to punish a program, but not the kids in it, this is as close as you'll get. They don't bowl ban them, though they probably easily could have. They accepted the University's scholarship reductions (one per season). They hurt them some with the reduction in visit days and evaluation days, but of all programs in America, having Nike as your primary benefactor changes that math some.

But, they threw the book at Chip Kelly. Except it was really an e-book and they only threw the individual electrons at him. Not a Kindle or a Nook or an old heavy assed laptop. "Hey Chip, stay there in the NFL with your 5 year contract and all! Don't you come down here and sully our pristine sporting-educational endeavors!"

Did Chip leave knowing this was coming? Did the NCAA feel better flexing it's muscle with a show cause on Kelly knowing he was already out of college coaching?

For my money, the paper tiger roared because the sanctions against Kelly were meaningless and had no effect on the coach. It'd be pretty hard to say a two year season show cause would happen if he were still the coach. Instead, I think the Ducks would have gotten a bowl ban. So leaving, while hurting his kids feelings might have actually 'helped' them in the long run.

In other news, Willie Lyles is still a 'recruiting service provider.'
TD

See also:
-NCAA full report
-Oregon Duck's Sanctions Released (Addicted to Quack)
-Imaginary Organization Makes Arbitrary, Meaningless Punishments for Nothing (EDSBS)
-Light Hammer Comes Down on Oregon (Eleven Warriors)

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