Air Force football placed on probation for recruiting violations

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- On Thursday, the NCAA placed the Air Force football program on two years probation for recruiting violations committed during the COVID-19 dead period.

The NCAA enforcement staff, Air Force, and four individuals reached an agreement on the appropriate penalties for those violations.

Effective immediately, some of the penalties include:

• Two years probation
• A fine
• A reduction of 46 total official visits for the football program during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years.
• A prohibition against unofficial visits in football from Sept. 1 through October 12, 2022.
• A prohibition against all recruiting communications in football for four weeks during the 2022-23 academic year.
• A reduction in evaluation days for football by 10 during spring 2022 and by 34 during fall 2022.
• A reduction of the football squad size by 10 for four years, starting with the 2022-23 academic year.
• Show-cause orders for the individuals who have agreed to their violations and penalties.
  

In a joint statement on the self-reported case and negotiations with the NCAA, Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Richard Clark and Director of Athletics Nathan Pine said, "The U.S. Air Force Academy is pleased that our case has progressed to the point of the NCAA accepting our negotiated resolution. We will continue working with the NCAA on this ongoing self-reported case from the COVID dead period, as it’s our responsibility to ensure integrity of the institution, athletics department, cadet-athletes and staff. We are working cooperatively with the NCAA Enforcement staff and Committee on Infractions to bring the matter to completion. Per NCAA rules and procedures, Air Force is unable to comment on any aspect of the ongoing case until it is fully resolved.”

A fifth person in the case has contested the enforcement staff's alleged violations and his portion of the case will be considered by the Committee on Infractions.