In wake of the NCAA sanctions report handed to Oregon, Duck fans have mixed feelings. On one hand, Oregon got off as close to scot-free as possible. But the slap on wrist left Oregon fans confused. If the infractions were so minor, why did the investigation take 27 months? Why were fans forced to endure the uncertainties? Was it all really worth it?
The Oregon athletic department and the NCAA claim that all committed infractions were accidental. Maybe so, but even if the Ducks didn’t knowingly dance with the devil, they are still guilty of the incompetence that spurred the whole mess. Ignorance, in this case, is not exactly bliss. Furthermore, Oregon refuses to acknowledge that this may not be the end of the unpleasant relationship between Oregon and the NCAA Committee on Infractions. If the oversight, which persisted over several years, happened before, what’s ensuring it won’t happen again? If a serious change hasn’t been made, the three-year probationary period could end up being more than just a slap on the wrist.
One step Oregon took was hiring a new chief compliance officer, Jody Sykes, but athletic director Rob Mullens admitted that one position isn’t an end-all for possible infractions.
“It’s important to note that compliance isn’t the responsibility of just an office or an individual,” Mullens said. “It’s the culture you create. It’s the responsibility of everyone in our department and everyone associated with our program.”
In addition to the limbo Oregon went through for more than two years, the team will continue to pay for its mistakes. On the surface, the loss of a scholarship over the next three years doesn’t seem costly — Over the past four years Oregon has only used 83 of its 85 available scholarships — but with college football recruiting as competitive as it is, it’s impossible to say with certainty that it will have no effect.
Lost in the shuffle of it all is that Oregon’s accidental cheating didn’t result in any quantifiable gain. At the hard of the investigation was Oregon’s relationship with Willie Lyles and his connection and influence with Oregon recruit Lache Seastrunk. Oregon was able to ink Seastrunk, but he saw such minuscule playing time due to Oregon’s log-jam at the running back position that he transferred to Baylor. Now, he’s a preseason candidate for the 2013 Heisman trophy. Why put so much illegal effort into recruiting for the most sured-up position?
Oregon lost $93,741 in scholarships, spent nearly $210,000 in legal fees, will now be limited to 37 paid recruit visits and will be on probation. Worst of all, though, was the 27-month-long investigation that put a stain on the Oregon program. After it’s all said and done, the NCAA has nothing tangible to show for it.