CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: ELA on June 16, 2021, 04:44:33 PM
-
Looks like ole Herm might be in some trouble here. I demand to see the passenger manifests of SDF's trains!
NCAA investigating Arizona State football over allegations of recruiting violations during dead period
TEMPE, Ariz. — The NCAA is investigating whether the Arizona State football program hosted high school prospects during the recent COVID-19 dead period, and possibly other recruiting violations, The Athletic has learned.
It’s unknown how many prospects Arizona State is alleged to have entertained during the COVID-19 period or when they might have visited. Per one source, the school’s athletic compliance office recently started interviewing staff members. A former athletic department employee said some people in the football offices are concerned about losing their jobs.
“ASU can confirm the NCAA is conducting an investigation regarding allegations related to our football program,” Arizona State vice president of media relations and strategic communications Katie Paquet said in a statement to The Athletic. “In accordance with NCAA bylaws, the university cannot provide further comment at this time.”
In March, 2020, the NCAA halted in-person recruiting for 15 months because of the pandemic. Although play resumed on the field, coaching staffs were forced to communicate with recruits through video calls and other electronic means. Prospects often committed to schools they had not seen.
The allegations are a bad look for a program that had its season shut down for nearly a month last year because of COVID-19 issues. Half the coaching staff, including head coach Herm Edwards, tested positive. The Sun Devils played only four games, finishing 2-2. On Zoom sessions with reporters, Edwards urged fans to take the virus seriously. With coaches and players exhausted at season’s end, the program removed itself from bowl consideration.
Edwards’ involvement in the school’s investigation is not clear. Although he coaches in practice, Edwards has adopted a “CEO” face-of-the-program role for most of the past three-plus years. He leans heavily on Antonio Pierce, the program’s associate head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive coordinator. If it were up to him, Edwards has said more than once, Pierce would replace him when he retires.
A former NFL linebacker and head coach at Long Beach Poly High, Pierce arrived with strong Southern California high school connections. In 2020 one co-worker described his recruiting efforts as “tireless and enthusiastic.” Behind this drive, the Sun Devils have established themselves more on the national recruiting landscape, reaching outside the traditional Pac-12 footprint. In 2019, they had the nation’s No. 28 recruiting class, per the 247Sports Composite. The next year, they were 23rd.
Asked if Edwards would be aware of potential recruiting misdeeds, one former athletic department staffer responded without hesitation, “No way.” Another wasn’t so sure. “He is probably aware of 90 percent of the recruiting stuff that goes on,” he said.
In April, the NCAA announced that all Division I sports could return to their regular recruiting schedules June 1, business as usual. This month, Arizona State football has hosted both in-state and out-of-state prospects on official and unofficial visits. The Sun Devils have four high school prospects committed to their 2022 class but are in contention for top prospects across the country.
— The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman contributed reporting.
https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1405255448677212161?s=20
https://twitter.com/georgewrighster/status/1405188750074814465?s=20
-
Makes no sense.
Why give up a high-paid, low stress, and pretty stable gig doing broadcasting to go coach in college... And then cheat?
-
Makes no sense.
Why give up a high-paid, low stress, and pretty stable gig doing broadcasting to go coach in college... And then cheat?
ego
-
Makes no sense.
Why give up a high-paid, low stress, and pretty stable gig doing broadcasting to go coach in college... And then cheat?
Is it that high paid? Seems like ESPN has cut ties to anyone making money
-
(https://i.imgur.com/3J1VDxI.jpg)
-
They could hire Tom Herman, and then no one in the athletic department would have to learn a new name.
-
Makes no sense.
Why give up a high-paid, low stress, and pretty stable gig doing broadcasting to go coach in college... And then cheat?
Had he not been caught, he'd be in line for at least $16 million as of the end of last season.
If you like coaching, seems like an OK deal
-
:o
"Sources said members of the football program deliberately, blatantly and consistently broke rules related to hosting players during the dead period, including coach Herm Edwards meeting with recruits."
:o
"Multiple sources indicated that at least 30 players visited campus over a span of months, a practice so common coaches referenced “official visit weekends” in staff meetings, coaches bumped into recruits and families in a back stairwell and a routine developed of facility tours being given around 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. at night.
:o
On one weekend in October, there were so many high school kids visiting that a staff member parked a 12-person van in the staff parking lot to tour around recruits. The visits spanned months, sources said, including some in October, the weekend of the UCLA game in December and through the spring game, which one source said “was like an official visit weekend.”"
:o
"In perhaps the most extreme example of how normalized the illicit recruiting had become, one Bay Area prospect — who enrolled at a rival Pac-12 school — worked out with a position coach at a local park. The video of that workout was shot on a cell phone camera and then evaluated in an offensive staff meeting of more than a dozen coaches. Not only was the workout and visit against the rules, but the staffers evaluated the illegal workout on the illegal visit as if it were a recruit's high school game tape."
https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-ncaa-investigating-arizona-state-football-for-recruiting-violations-194707554.html
-
USC must have done something truly heinous for them to come down on ASU like this...
-
“The NCAA is so mad at Kentucky it will probably slap another two years probation on Cleveland State.’’
-Jerry Tarkanian
-
From the behavior sounding fairly normal during abnormal times, I think ASU's plan is going to be the "plead ignorance" defense.
(https://i.imgur.com/VRIpKsW.jpg)
-
From the behavior sounding fairly normal during abnormal times, I think ASU's plan is going to be the "plead ignorance" defense.
Well according to Yahoo:
"Multiple former staffers said that the dozens of recruits who came on campus during the dead period should be easy to track by going through the ASU football building and the surrounding area’s security cameras. It wasn’t uncommon for Edwards and multiple coaches to host recruits in his office. As the amount of illicit activity rose, tensions simmered in the office. Coaches said that hosting recruits would have been too common to get security officials to agree to shut the cameras off every time a recruit came into the building during a dead period."
With video evidence in play, Arizona State could always go the route of that Shaggy song: "She even caught me on camera - It wasn't me!
(https://i.imgur.com/B1dmZqs.png)
-
More from Yahoo this week:
"The dossier of documents sent to the Arizona State compliance department and the NCAA enforcement department on May 31 begins with a blunt message about allegations of NCAA improprieties in the ASU football program. It specifically names 10 Arizona State “individual staff members to investigate” and lists 13 “illegal recruiting prospects” who visited campus during the COVID-19 dead period."
"The dossier also includes a picture that’s alleged in the documents to be head coach Herm Edwards purportedly leading a top 100 recruit from the Class of 2022 around ASU’s weight room. Yahoo Sports could not independently verify the identity of the photo’s subjects, who have their backs to the camera."
"In totality, the breadth of the evidence and potential investigative leads provide significant building blocks for an NCAA case against Edwards and ASU...multiple former staff members have told Yahoo Sports that they are happy to cooperate with the NCAA, a rarity for an organization that often gets stonewalled by the code of silence many adopt in the sport."
"The most detailed part sent to the NCAA is documentation of flights for recruits that were alleged to have been arranged by three ASU assistant coaches: Chris Hawkins, Prentice Gill and Adam Breneman. That includes screenshots of emails that show Regina Jackson, the mother of star quarterback Jayden Daniels, allegedly helping book more than $1,100 in flights for recruits and the adults accompanying them on a recruiting trip from Florida, according to the documents. Daniels himself is not implicated with any wrongdoing in the document and Jackson denied any involvement helping ASU."
"Still, the dossier of allegations includes a photo that is said to be of head coach Herm Edwards touring a top 100 recruit around the ASU football weight room. The picture provided to the NCAA and viewed by Yahoo Sports is taken from a distant stairwell. Neither Edwards nor the recruit are directly facing the camera, but the image captures a subject of Edwards’ stature wearing a maroon bucket hat Edwards often wears. In the backdrop of the picture on an oversized weight room television is a women’s basketball game between Notre Dame and Louisville, which tipped off Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. at the Yum Center in Louisville."
"The point of the group text wasn’t to accumulate allegations and pictures with a time stamp. Rather, it was used as a real-time exclamation of the disbelief of what was happening in the program, a source said. That disbelief was accentuated as staffers saw coaches who weren’t participating in the alleged behavior pushed out of their jobs or had responsibilities stripped away as associate head coach Antonio Pierce gained power."
"There appear to be two layers to the alleged illegal visits that NCAA investigators will likely have to examine. The first is the actual visits and any potential complicity of Edwards and the coaching staff in encouraging recruits to come to Tempe and escorting them through the facility at a time when that was explicitly barred at every program. The second is how the players who came on the alleged visits paid for the travel, including plane tickets, meals and the hotels or other places that they stayed."
https://sports.yahoo.com/yahoo-sports-exclusive-dossier-reveals-extent-of-ncaa-allegations-against-arizona-state-football-055252113.html
https://twitter.com/NickKingSports/status/1314654690219450368
-
Two more ASU football assistants suspended with pay, to go along 26 year-old TE coach Adam Breneman (former Penn State Tight End 2013 – 2015) who two weeks ago was placed on paid administrative leave.
Looks like ASU will slash from the bottom up and hope that enough cuts from the lower rungs will be enough to save the top.
But practically speaking how does ASU's staff fill in for THREE missing assistant coaches? That's kind of a big deal when it comes to strategizing and game prep, right? Or does ASU bring all three back during zero week to get their players pumped for big bad Southern Utah?
https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1424737727568875534
-
To go along with 2 additional Arizona State coaches starting administrative leave this past Monday, the NCAA is moving into the interviews phase of its investigation into numerous suspected recruiting violations:
https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/1430940765652283398
-
This is gonna be an ugly outcome. Truly. I don't know how Herm survives this, based on what's happening.
-
Cue old Herm soundbites
-
:o
"Three Arizona State coaches who were put on paid administrative leave in August following the start of an NCAA review into the program's recruiting practices are no longer employed by the athletic department, according to people familiar with the development. Wide receivers coach Prentice Gill and secondary coach Chris Hawkins were fired for cause on Jan. 21 for what ASU deemed to be violations of their work agreements, while tight ends coach Adam Breneman resigned from his position on Monday."
:o
"Athletic department officials have privately expressed concern to colleagues and others about the serious nature and far-reaching implications of the case ASU is facing, which is expected to include Level I violations in a Notice of Allegations by the NCAA later this year."
:o
"The most serious allegations against ASU include its coaches paying for the travel of recruits to Tempe and for their lodging while in town, as well as meeting with them in person both on and off campus during a 14-month period between March of 2020 and May of 2021 when such action was not allowed due to the pandemic."
:o
"NCAA investigators have been told in interviews that in addition to Breneman, Gill and Hawkins, other ASU coaches participated in impermissible local meetings with recruits, including head coach Herm Edwards, Hill and associate head coach Antonio Pierce, two people with knowledge of those conversations told Sun Devil Source. Multiple ASU assistant coaches are additionally alleged to have traveled outside the state for recruiting purposes during a period when it was not allowed, which the NCAA is also inquiring about."
:o
"ASU football has already been severely impacted by the NCAA investigation. The program had three committed four-star prospects earlier than any previous recruiting cycle in history by June of last year when school officials received an email believed to be from a former ASU staff member that included evidence of recruiting violations. At the time, the Sun Devils were ranked among the top-20 teams in the national 247Sports recruiting rankings, with Hawkins at No. 2 in the Pac-12. They have signed just one four-star recruit in the class and currently rank No. 85 nationally — lower than in any prior year this century — and No. 11 in the Pac-12, which is tied for their worst mark with the 2011 class."
https://twitter.com/SunDevilSource/status/1487110932702523397
-
It still doesn't make sense. Why leave a cushy TV gig if you're just going to go be a cheater?
-
MSU had a pretty popular staffer who was in the recruiting department, not have her contract renewed. Made no sense, but a lot of people pointed that she came here from working under Herm at ASU, and were trying to disassociate from her
-
Arizona State bravely and courageously self-imposes a bowl ban effective this season. All while ASU was more than likely NOT to be strong enough to qualify for a Bowl anyway. It's a flimsy PR move everybody sees through. It’s like announcing self-restrictions from consuming alcohol for 3 months on the day before you ship off to basic training at Parris Island Island. No bowl is already a "priced-in" expectation going into this season.
All of this is preemptive of what greater punishments the NCAA might impose, though I don't believe those sanctions will be very severe.
https://twitter.com/DougHaller/status/1695808723632234973
-
Arizona State bravely and courageously self-imposes a bowl ban effective this season. All while ASU was more than likely NOT to be strong enough to qualify for a Bowl anyway. It's a flimsy PR move everybody sees through. It’s like announcing self-restrictions from consuming alcohol for 3 months on the day before you ship off to basic training at Parris Island Island. No bowl is already a "priced-in" expectation going into this season.
All of this is preemptive of what greater punishments the NCAA might impose, though I don't believe those sanctions will be very severe.
https://twitter.com/DougHaller/status/1695808723632234973
Forgive my language, but just a horseshit move.
Shouldn’t be able to impose bowl bans this late. Not right for the players.
-
Forgive my language, but just a horseshit move.
Shouldn’t be able to impose bowl bans this late. Not right for the players.
Exactly this. And I believe the transfer window is closed. If it isn't. it's too late to join a new team now. Games have started.
-
saw somewhere that some seniors are looking into legal action for waiting this late to take those actions. don't blame them.
-
saw somewhere that some seniors are looking into legal action for waiting this late to take those actions. don't blame them.
Please yes give me pending litigation where a judge considers whether to order ASU to accept the Duke's Mayo Bowl bid
-
I'd like to see a judge with the power to punish the offending coaches that caused this hardship for college players
-
Exactly this. And I believe the transfer window is closed. If it isn't. it's too late to join a new team now. Games have started.
That is correct. ASU waited until the transfer window closed until imposing a bowl ban. ASU isn't likely to qualify for a bowl this year - on paper the Sun Devils don't appear much better than last year's 3-9 squad - but that's besides the point.
saw somewhere that some seniors are looking into legal action for waiting this late to take those actions. don't blame them.
The goal of legal action, IMO, would be for seniors to be granted an extra year of NCAA eligibility given the bad faith move by ASU.
On another related note, I've never heard of a coach receiving a contract extension before they've coached their first game, but good on Kenny Dillingham's agent for addressing the sanctions in Dillingham's contract:
https://twitter.com/johncanzanobft/status/1695908766871597499
-
Kenny Dillingham should have reported the transgressions
if he was aware
-
Please yes give me pending litigation where a judge considers whether to order ASU to accept the Duke's Mayo Bowl bid
not sure if you're asking for source or genuinely curious to see it happen, but i was mistaken, kinda. i misread or misremembered and it's not that they are seeking a suit, but that someone on twitter said they should (jon wilner, don't know who that is, but apparently he's cfb journalist). https://twitter.com/wilnerhotline/status/1695830962540888346?s=19
-
After Tennessee didn't receive much of a punishment from the NCAA after admitting to 18 infractions that are similar to what Arizona State was under investigation for, I didn't think the Sun Devils would face much of a penalty once all was said and done. Looks like the investigation is close to a wrap:
"Arizona State and the NCAA are seeking to conclude negotiations on a resolution that would end a 2 ½-year investigation into alleged football recruiting violations within the Sun Devils program...The school is expected to agree to findings of major violations in the case, which revolves around recruits being brought on campus during the COVID-19 recruiting dead period in violation of NCAA rules. A further postseason ban is not expected to be among those penalties. ASU in August self-imposed a postseason ban for 2023 in hopes of mitigating future penalties."
"On the table are potential show-cause penalties against former coach Herm Edwards and members of his staff, sources tell CBS Sports. That group includes current Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, who is considered a central figure in the investigation. Recruiting sanctions and a fine imposed on the program are also possible for ASU."
"Tennessee recently faced similar NCAA violations. The Volunteers' case ended last summer with the program being put on probation, suffering recruiting sanctions and paying an $8 million fine. Despite admitted widespread Level I violations, Tennessee did not receive a postseason ban."
https://twitter.com/dennisdoddcbs/status/1753159547919761868
-
The ASU thing is unique in that it was more ignoring altered COVID rules vs breaking the normal rules.
May be tough to penalize with any confidence.
-
Michigan just won a national championship while ignoring literally every rule that still exists. If they hammer Arizona State, then Michigan....sorry, I meant Eastern Michigan, is toast
-
If they hammer Arizona State, then Michigan....sorry, I meant Eastern Central Michigan, is toast
FIFY
-
From the NCAA: "Arizona State and four individuals who previously worked for the school's football program have reached an agreement with the NCAA enforcement staff on recruiting violations that occurred within the program and the appropriate penalties for those violations...The committee will not discuss further details in the case to protect the integrity of the ongoing process, as the committee's final decision — including potential violations and penalties for other involved individuals — is still pending."
So far the agreed-upon penalties in this case include:
[1] four years of probation for the school
[2] a fine
[3] a self-imposed postseason ban for the 2023 football season
[4] vacation of records for contests in which ineligible student-athletes competed
[5] undisclosed number of scholarship reductions and...
[6] recruiting restrictions in alignment with the Level I-mitigated classification for the school. Additionally...
[7] the school disassociated an involved booster for a period of five years...
https://twitter.com/DevilsDigest/status/1781359737243865467
-
If those are the penalties, it's no wonder why programs shoot their shot.
-
If those are the penalties, it's no wonder why programs shoot their shot.
Ole Miss almost getting away with murder every year and yet there they are. Their shenanigans make 80s SMU blush, yet there they are.
-
What has Ole Miss been doing?
-
“Senior Nebraska QB transfer Jeff Sims is currently visiting ASU, I’ve learned,” Karpman said via X. “Great size, impressive athlete and arm talent but struggled with turnovers in a few games last season. Before that, he was a three-year starter at Georgia Tech. He has 31 career TD passes and 29 INTs.”
-
https://twitter.com/azcsports/status/1782495600811872640