Boise State gets NCAA probation, scholarship cuts

BOISE — The NCAA placed Boise State on probation for three years and imposed other sanctions today for major violations by the football program and other sports. The sanctions included a public reprimand, a one-year postseason ban for women’s tennis and recruiting restrictions and scholarship reductions for affected sports. Some of the penalties had previously been self-imposed by the university. Under the sanctions, Boise State’s football program will be able to offer nine fewer scholarships through the 2013-14 season. That’s six fewer than Boise State’s self-imposed sanctions announced earlier this year. The football team will also be allowed fewer contact practices during spring training for three years. In addition, Boise State will be prohibited for two years from recruiting prospective international student-athletes for cross country and track and field, as well as for women’s tennis. The sanctions follow an NCAA inquiry that found a lack of institutional controls necessary to fully comply with rules governing collegiate athletic programs. The NCAA says the case included numerous major violations involving more than 75 prospects and student-athletes in five sports. “The committee concluded that a competitive advantage was gained in most instances,” said Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky, a member of the NCAA infractions committee who reviewed the case.