The NCAA has been busy these past few days. They threw down the hammer on Georgia Tech last week and today they slapped LSU on the wrist for committing “major” violations.
Yahoo! Sports reported today that the NCAA placed the school on probation for a year and cited a former assistant coach for unethical conduct.
The investigation found that ex-assistant coach D.J. McCarthy improperly arranged for transportation and housing for former defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, then later tried to cover up those actions.
McCarthy resigned in December 2009. Hicks never played for the Tigers before he left LSU.
The violations reported in the case also included more than 3,600 phone calls that three noncoaching staff members either made to or received from high school coaches and administrators, prospects and family members of prospective students.
The NCAA accepted LSU’s self-imposed reduction of two scholarships, as well as a 10 percent reduction in official visits and reductions in recruiting calls. The reduction in visits, which LSU already began during the 2010-11 academic year, also applies to 2011-12.
According to the NCAA, LSU’s Senior Associate Athletic Director Miriam Segar, saved the program from a more severe punishment. Segar became suspicious of Hicks’ living arrangements from the time he arrived inBaton Rouge.
Segar spent weeks pressing for answers and made the decision to bar Hicks from traveling to LSU’s 2009 season-opening game at Washington because she was unsatisfied with the information she had received.
I think Segar should teach a class on how to follow NCAA rules. Georgia Tech Athletics Director Dan Radakovich and former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel should be the first ones to sign up for the class.