Just two days after it was reported that Arkansas was in possible violation of NCAA recruiting rules, SEC West rival LSU has self-imposed restrictions on its own football program after an internal investigation found multiple NCAA recruiting infractions.
The report, which was sent to the NCAA and SEC in March, outlined the the investigation of the recruitment of former LSU D-lineman Akiem Hicks. Hicks, who ended up transferring one year after coming to LSU in the summer of 2009, reportedly received impermissible transportation during an official visit and a reduced-rent apartment in Baton Rouge three months before actually enrolling at LSU. The benefits were tied to former WR coach D.J. McCarthy, who resigned in Dec. 2009.
Separately, LSU reported to the NCAA in October that “non-coach administrative staff members” (which, if you don’t know what that means, ask Rich Rodriguez) made impermissible phone calls to recruits, parents or their high school coaches.
A lot of phone calls.
Specifically, from August 2008 through April 1, 2010, 389 calls were made between football administrative staff members and recruits, and 3,615 calls were made to high school coaches of recruits.
According to the release, the non-coaching staff members said they were unaware making phone calls to recruits, parents and high school coaches was an infraction on NCAA rules.
Ah, yes. The ol Cam Newton defense.
As a result of the investigation, LSU is imposing “a reduction in official visits for the 2010-11 academic year, a loss of two scholarships for 2011-12 class, a loss of two overall scholarships for the 2011-12 academic year and a reduction of two national letters of intent LSU can offer before the February 2011 signing date.”
Now, LSU can only play the waiting game in hopes that their self-inflicted knuckle slap was enough to please Mother NCAA.
“LSU took quick and thorough action when we discovered these violations and we are hopeful the NCAA will ultimately agree with our assessment of this case,” said LSU Chancellor Michael Martin. “The reports to the NCAA and SEC and our decision to self-impose penalties are the culmination of many months of arduous work by our compliance office and I am confident their thorough examination of this case has produced appropriate sanctions for the football program.”
(A thank you to the The Daily LSU Reveille)