Chip Kelly apologizes to his former team.
(Image via Cleveland.com)
The NCAA issued sanctions for recruiting violations at the University of Oregon that took place during Chip Kelly’s tenure on Wednesday. The penalties didn’t amount to much for the school or the current Philadelphia Eagles head coach.
The NCAA Division I Infractions Committee said that Kelly and the Ducks failed to monitor the school’s program. As a result, Oregon will be put on probation for three years and lose one (count it- ONE) football scholarship for each of those years. Additionally, the school’ s official paid visits will go from 56 to 37 over the next three seasons and the program is banned from using any recruiting services over the three-year probationary period.
The investigation came about after questions emerged following a $25,000 payment in 2010 to Willie Lyles and his Texas-based Complete Recruiting Services. Lyles was connected with an Oregon recruit.
Kelly, who coached the Ducks for four seasons, also faced punishment from the Committee, in the form of an 18-month show-cause penalty should he wish to return to college coaching after only a short time with the Eagles. This means, according to ProFootballTalk, that
“If Kelly wants to return to coaching college football in the next two seasons, he and the school that hires him will have to show that they have a plan in place to abide by any restrictions that the NCAA puts on his recruiting.”
The penalties amount to little more than a slap on the wrist for both the Ducks and Kelly. There was at least one person enraged by the lightness of the NCAA’s touch in addressing Oregon’s violations—and that is Spencer Hawes of the Sixers, who played his college ball at Washington.
“Probation huh @NCAA?!? That’s all you have for Oregon! What a joke!#fingerpointed #cheatcheatcheat”
— Spencer Hawes (@spencerhawes00) June 26, 2013
Kelly issued an apology to his former team and school, also stating that the impending sanctions played no role in his decision to leave the college ranks and make the move to the NFL.
“Now that the NCAA has concluded their investigation and penalized the University of Oregon and its football program, I want to apologize to the University of Oregon, all of its current and former players and their fans. I accept my share of responsibility for the actions that led to the penalties. As I have I stated before, the NCAA investigation, I do expect the University of Oregon and its football program to continue to thrive at a high level. They are a talented and resilient group of coaches and players and I’m sure they will attempt to put today’s news behind them very quickly and move forward as they prepare for the 2013 season.”
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