Major Violation: NCAA Puts Illinois "On the Clock"
October 27, 2005 6:04 PM
As if things couldn't get any worse on the football front, the NCAA today pounded Illinois with a major rules violation.
According to the university:
"In early 2004, the University of Illinois compliance staff found and investigated a possible infraction involving a then-member of the football squad and an acquaintance of the student-athlete who was a donor. Following a thorough investigation by our compliance staff, the University reported the violation to the NCAA and Big Ten Conference offices, and took corrective action with the student-athlete, who made repayment of the impermissible benefits, and disassociated the donor from the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics."Technically, the football program received a one-year probation without any major sanctions. The catch: since this is a "major" violation, the athletic department is under 5-year notice, so if there are any major or minor violations during that time, any sport could be suspended.
An excerpt of the university's response:
"This is a perfect example of how a student-athlete in need can form a relationship with an individual outside our control and without our knowledge, and then accepts benefits he should not have accepted. The institution from start to finish did everything possible to prevent this type of situation. We have prided ourselves in the quality of our compliance culture and hoped this would remain a secondary violation."
- NCAA puts Illinois on one-year probation for football
[news-gazette.com] - University of Illinois Response to NCAA Rules Violation Ruling
[fightingillini.collegesports.com]
