Let the chorus of SEC haters come out with their "I told you so's" today as the NCAA announced penalties to SEC member Mississippi State for a host of infractions related to a now ex-assistant coach, a booster, and a recruit.They are on probation and have had two scholarships taken away for the next two seasons. It's a situation that's almost straight out of the book of stereotypes that people heap on the conference when talking about it's lawless nature.
On Friday we found out the details of what went down in Memphis and Starkville, MS and it's a scenario that belongs on the 30 for 30 documentary about SMU back in the 1980's – not in 2013. It included a booster giving cash for visits, cash for not visiting other schools, cars to use for visits, and selling a car for below it's retail value all in an effort to get recruit to come to the school.
You seriously can't make this stuff up folks…. How this goes on in this day and age is a bit beyond me, but then again… Anything goes in the SEC as long as you are winning football games, right?
Well, that booster's relationship with an assistant coach and said recruit (allegedly Will Redmond, who was a subject of an interview between NCAA and his old high school coach) got the Bulldogs into some major hot water in the coming seasons.
(the following is directly from the NCAA ruling today)
Penalties in this case include:
– 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).
The writing should've been on the wall as to what was coming as Mississippi State announced back in August of last year they were disassociating themselves with a booster and an assistant coach, noting that the booster situation was because of "improper benefits."
Nothing like living up to the jokes and stereotypes surrounding recruiting and playing in the SEC, huh? But, I guess… If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying in the SEC.
