Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | T | The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR)

NCAA slaps UO with probation.

Article Excerpt
Byline: Bob Clark The Register-Guard

The University of Oregon athletics department will be on probation for two years but otherwise received relatively light penalties Wednesday for what was officially termed a `major' violation of NCAA rules involving the recruitment of a football player 17 months ago.

Gary Campbell, an assistant coach found to have been involved in `unethical' conduct, was suspended for one week without pay and limited in his recruiting duties for a year. He already has served those penalties.

All of the penalties were self-imposed by the UO, and then accepted by the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions, which announced its ruling Wednesday afternoon.

Campbell violated several rules while encouraging an indecisive recruit to sign with the Ducks, including telling the recruit to lie about when he signed his letter of intent, and watching as the recruit forged his father's signature on the letter. In the end, the recruit did not enroll at Oregon.

Campbell, a Duck coach for 21 years, also received a reprimand warning that any future violation of rules `may result in his termination.'

Campbell did not respond to a telephone message seeking comment. He issued a statement through the UO media relations office to `publicly apologize to all parties affected' and said, `I accept full responsibility for my involvement and offer no excuses.'

As an additional...