STARKVILLE, Miss.–The National Collegiate Athletic Association released their findings Friday morning into improper recruiting practices by a Mississippi State booster.
The release from the NCAA said a football booster made illegal contact with a recruit and provided him improper benefits while a former assistant coach knew about it.
“The booster befriended a top Mississippi State recruit and began arranging for him to use cars, gave him cash and provided other benefits,” was stated in the NCAA release.
The investigation also uncovered the booster offered the recruit $6,000 to no visit another university before he was set to go on his visit.
“In two initial interviews with the university and the NCAA, the former assistant coach denied any knowledge of the booster’s activity. After he resigned his position, the former assistant coach admitted he was aware.”
The following sanctions are directly from the NCAA release:
- Public reprimand and censure.
- Two years of probation from June 7, 2013 through June 6, 2015.
- A one-year show-cause order for the former assistant coach, which prevents him from recruiting activities and booster interaction. The public report contains further details.
- A reduction of the number of official visits to 39, from the four-year average of 41, for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years (Self-imposed by the university).
- A reduction of the number of recruiting days during the spring evaluation period by four, from 168 to 164, for the 2013-14 academic year (Self-imposed by the university).
- A reduction in the number of total scholarships by two, from 85 to 83, for the 2012-13 academic year (Self-imposed by the university).
- A reduction in the number of initial and total scholarships by two, from 25 to 23 and 85 to 83, respectively, for the 2013-14 academic year (Self-imposed by the university).
- For the first two conference contests of the 2013 season, complimentary admissions to football recruits will be prohibited (Self-imposed by the university).
- Disassociation of the booster by the university’s athletics program. Details of the disassociation can be found in the public report (Self-imposed by the university).
For the full findings and the report click here.
