Via the Trib:

The NCAA placed the University of Illinois on probation for one year Thursday because a booster improperly provided payments and other benefits to a football prospect who eventually enrolled at the school, the organization said.

 

The violations, which occurred between April 2003 and January 2004, involved an athletic booster who provided lodging, transportation and use of a vehicle and paid the prospect for work he never performed, the NCAA's infractions committee said in a news release announcing the penalty.

 

"These inducements and extra benefits began while the student-athlete was a prospect and continued after he began football practice and enrolled at the institution," the committee said. "The committee found that the university gained a substantial advantage as a result of the improper recruitment and extra benefits provided to the student-athlete, which totaled $2,348 during a nine-month period."

 

The committee also said the booster and the player lied about the vehicle to university investigators.

 

The NCAA said the booster was a former football player, but neither he nor the athlete were identified.

jesus christ. they were paying players and still couldn't recruit good ones? what the f*** ron.

The article doesn't exactly define "probation." There are numerous levels of punishments that could be levied, ranging from cutting scholarships to postseason bans (not that that would affect the Illini this year ). My guess is they'll probably just loose a couple of scholarships next year, but you wouldn't know from this article.

The article doesn't exactly define "probation." There are numerous levels of punishments that could be levied, ranging from cutting scholarships to postseason bans (not that that would affect the Illini this year  ). My guess is they'll probably just loose a couple of scholarships next year, but you wouldn't know from this article.

 

Cancel those plans you had to go to a BCS bowl game!

LINK

 

Guenther's response to the NCAA's decision. The NCAA is a f***ing joke by the way

It was Marcus Mason.

 

This is just great...just what we need at this point.

If boosters were paying football recruits, what must the Illini baskeball team's payroll be? No wonder Dee Brown didn't go pro.

If boosters were paying football recruits, what must the Illini baskeball team's payroll be? No wonder Dee Brown didn't go pro.

Green?

If boosters were paying football recruits, what must the Illini baskeball team's payroll be? No wonder Dee Brown didn't go pro.

 

Looking at how Weber's recruited, the boosters must have gone to Kansas with Self.

If boosters were paying football recruits, what must the Illini baskeball team's payroll be? No wonder Dee Brown didn't go pro.

 

recruit, not recruits.

 

it was clear in the ncaa's investigation this was one player and one booster.

Chief did it.