LSU is imposing self-penalties on its football program after a two-year investigation revealed a booster paid the father of a former player for a no-show job. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the penalties include a reduction of eight scholarships over two years, plus eliminating a percentage of official and unofficial recruiting visits.
“This one stuck out to me, a six-week ban on communication with prospects. Six-weeks not talking to prospects is a killer,” said Higgins.
LSU has also self-imposed a 21-day reduction of the normal 168 days of allowable off-campus contacts.
Higgins says the self-imposed penalties are in hopes of reducing what the NCAA would impose for the infractions.
“What LSU has done is, they’re hoping it’s the end. The NCAA could come back and say no that’s not enough penalties, and they come back and really hit them harder. They could give them post-season sanctions; they could dock them more scholarships. I thought LSU docked themselves pretty good actually,” said Higgins.
And former LSU star Odell Beckham Junior is been banned from the program for two years after handing out cash to players following the national championship. Higgins says it could have been worse.
“Two-year ban, that’s probably fair, and if NCAA accepts that, that will be nice, because they could make that much worse, LSU had reported he was in the locker room after the game too,” said Higgins.
Last October, John Paul Fumes, the former CEO of Our Lady of the Lake Foundation was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for stealing $555,000 from the foundation. Prosecutors say $180,000 went to the father of former LSU lineman Vadal Alexander.
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