The Pacific-10 Conference is the only remaining conference that penalizes its own members for violations of NCAA rules. That aggressive posture caused former Washington coach Don James to resign in protest, but it earned the Pac-10 a reputation as a conference that cares about rules compliance.
Below is a list of programs cited for major violations since the NCAA made its strongest statement yet against cheating, the SMU "death penalty" case in 1987. ESPN.com rates the severity of those penalties on a 0-5 scale, with 5 as most severe.
California
Year: 2002
Violations: Receivers Mike Ainsworth and Ronnie Davenport received credit for a course they didn't take during the spring semester in 1999. Without that course, both would have been academically ineligible for the 1999 season. There also were a series of minor violations that involved 34 football players who received "extra benefits" while staying at hotels before games. Those violations mostly involved the players making telephone calls from their rooms.
Major penalties: Bowl ban for the 2002 season and an overall reduction in nine scholarships over five years, with no less than two grant cuts in any given year. The Pac-10 had previously stripped the team of four other scholarships.
Severity of sanctions: 2
Notable: Bears are appealing the penalties through the NCAA process; a decision is due in November.
Southern California
Year: 2001
Violations: Accused of academic fraud, providing false information and a lack of institutional monitoring after tutors wrote papers for two players.
Major penalties: Total team scholarships reduced by two for one year, to 83 (from maximum 85).
Severity of sanctions: 1
Notable: Probe started after two athlete-counseling employees, including a tutor coordinator, alleged players routinely had papers written for them, a charge disputed by school after its in-house investigation. Tutor coordinator was later fired by school and cited in one violation.
Washington State
Year: 1995
Violations: Derrick Hentz was allowed to play despite a lack of proper class credits (23 hours instead of required 24 but university gave him credit twice for one class). School cited for lack of institutional control because officials allegedly failed to report known violations of the rules to the NCAA or conference.
Major penalties: Limited to signing 23 recruits for one year (down from the usual maximum of 25 recruits), with associated reduction in total team scholarships to 83 (from usual maximum of 85).
Severity of sanctions: 1
Notable: A Cougars track coach reportedly turned in the football program.
Washington
Year: 1994
Violations: School cited for lack of institutional control for failing to monitor summer jobs program run by booster who allegedly gave an estimated $30,000 in bogus wages to athletes. Investigation began after Billy Joe Hobert, quarterback for the defending national champions, had accepted $50,000 in improper loans based on his pro potential.
Major penalties: 2-year bowl ban, 1-year partial TV ban, limited to signing 15 recruits for each of two years (down from the usual maximum of 25 recruits).
Severity of sanctions: 4
Notable: Husky players sued Pac-10 after conference originally levied some of the sanctions, forcing the conference to defend itself in an expensive legal battle. Pac-10 investigation was led by associate commissioner David Price, who later became NCAA's top cop as head of its enforcement division.
California
Year: 1988
Violation: Recruiting coordinator Sam Parker allegedly submitted a transcript containing fraudulent academic credit for placekicker Steve Loop, a junior college transfer. Loop had practiced with the Bears and was expected to be their starting kicker going into the 1987 season, but he lacked the required number of transferable hours to be eligible.
Major penalties: Loss of 2 initial scholarships for one recruiting year.
Severity of sanctions: 1
Notable: Parker was fired. NCAA declined to add to penalties already levied by Pac-10.
