UCF self-imposes recruiting restrictions on football program

In response to the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations of recruiting violations within the football and men’s basketball programs, Central Florida released a list of self-imposed sanctions today.

As far as UCF football is concerned, the self-imposed sanctions are related to recruiting only. The Orlando Sentinel has a run down of all the sanctions, but here’s what will apply to the football program:

• A reduction in the number of football coaches allowed to simultaneously recruit off campus over the next two years. That number has been reduced by one, from seven to six.
• A reduction in the number of football evaluation days during the next two years. That number will decrease by nine in the fall and 34 in the spring.
• Restricting the number of official football recruiting visits to 27 per year, a 20 percent reduction in average visits during the past four years.

Additionally, UCF placed itself on probation for three years and football coach George O’Leary received a letter of reprimand. No scholarship losses or postseason bans were self-imposed, although the basketball program will have one scholarship taken away over the next two years.

Keep in mind these self-imposed sanctions do not represent the final outcome of this case. This is merely a response to the NOA and UCF will appear before the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions in April. Given the severity of some of these accusations coupled with the school’s “response”, this has the looks of something that could end up being a lot worse for the Knights.

UCF has been dealing with the recruiting allegations since a NCAA Notice of Inquiry in August, specifically involving quarterback recruit DaMarcus Smith. Smith is now reportedly heading to Western Kentucky. The NOA, released in November, stated the following:

“It is alleged between March 2009 and July 2011, Ken Caldwell, a recruiter for a professional sports agency, and Brandon Bender, an associate of Caldwell’s, assisted the institution in recruitment of six men’s basketball and five football prospective student-athletes by promoting the institution’s athletics programs. … Certain institutional staff members were aware of Caldwell’s and Bender’s activities while others involved Caldwell and Bender in the recruitment of specific prospective student athletes.”

The 11 recruits allegedly received $16,005.74 in benefits beginning in March, 2009.

UCF originally had 90 days to respond to the NOA, but received an extension to today. In the wake of the allegations, athletic director Keith Tribble and assistant football coach David Kelly resigned from their positions. Tribble is said to have “violated principles of ethical conduct when he knowingly (a) attempted to provide an improper inducement to the mother of a prospective student-athlete and (b)provided false and misleading information to the institution and enforcement staff.”

For those interested, the Sentinel obtained a copy of Tribble’s response to the allegations against UCF.

What’s more is that the Sentinel notes that UCF is still on probation for previous football infractions involving improper cell phone calls, which means the school could face a repeat violator status.

Retired Admiral Al Harms had been named interim AD and new AD Todd Stansbury will start in March.