NCAA sanctions Oregon for recruiting violations

EUGENE, OR (KPTV) - The Oregon Ducks football program avoided a bowl game ban in sanctions handed down by the NCAA on Wednesday, but the university will be on NCAA probation until 2016.

NCAA officials said Oregon and former head coach Chip Kelly failed to monitor the football program, gave cash and free lodging to a recruit and broke the rules in their contacts with recruits and their families.

In addition to the three-year probation period, the Ducks will lose a football scholarship and several official paid visits. They will also lose evaluation days and will not be allowed to use recruiting services during the probation period.

Kelly, now a head coach for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, received an 18-month "show cause," which makes it more difficult for him to return to college coaching during that time.

Here's a full list of the punishments handed down by the NCAA, as described by NCAA officials:

The investigation into recruiting violations lasted more than two years.

The NCAA began looking into violations following reports about payments Oregon made to recruiting services, including a $25,000 payment to Willie Lyles and Houston-based Complete Scouting Services in 2010.

Lyles was connected to an Oregon recruit, according to investigators.

University of Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens said the Ducks staff never intentionally violated the rules.

"Throughout this process, there has been speculation and innuendo regarding the nature and severity of potential violations, much of which was unfounded," Mullens said in a statement. "As stated by the NCAA Enforcement Staff, the violations committed in this case were unintentional."

Earlier this year, school officials proposed a self-imposed two-year probation and the loss of a scholarship for three years at that time. The committee on infractions rejected that proposal, and instead returned Wednesday's punishment.

"We have all learned from this experience and look forward to continuing the progress of broad-based excellence in Oregon athletics," Mullens said.