Oregon, NCAA panel on infractions meet
The University of Oregon football team, whose recruiting practices have been investigated by the NCAA for the past two years, could know its fate before the start of the upcoming season.
Sports Illustrated reported that school officials, including former head coach Chip Kelly went to Dallas last week to go before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions, which is expected to issue a ruling in the next eight to 12 weeks.
Oregon has been under the NCAA microscope for questionable recruiting since March 2011 because of a $25,000 payment to Willie Lyles, a Texas-based talent scout who had close ties to several area recruits, USA Today reported.
In October, Oregon admitted to seven major rules violations regarding recruiting and proposed self-imposed penalties, which the committee rejected.
A Portland TV station obtained draft of the disposition that detailed Lyles' service, which gave Oregon "a meaningful recruiting advantage" by supplying the program with background information on prospective targets, according to Sports Illustrated.
Kelly, who left Eugene in January to become the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, is alleged to have worked directly with Lyles' recruiting efforts, USA Today said.
Oregon could be considered a repeat offender based on the NCAA's repeat violators clause. The Ducks last major infraction occurred in 2004, within five years of the first of its reported violations.
