Soooo many people bag on OU Compliance on this board but THIS is exactly why they are so important for keeping OU at the top of the food chain!
theathletic.com
TEMPE, Ariz. — The NCAA is investigating whether the Arizona State football program hosted high school prospects during the recent COVID-19 dead period, and possibly other recruiting violations, The Athletic has learned.
It’s unknown how many prospects Arizona State is alleged to have entertained during the COVID-19 period or when they might have visited. Per one source, the school’s athletic compliance office recently started interviewing staff members. A former athletic department employee said some people in the football offices are concerned about losing their jobs.
“ASU can confirm the NCAA is conducting an investigation regarding allegations related to our football program,” Arizona State vice president of media relations and strategic communications Katie Paquet said in a statement to The Athletic. “In accordance with NCAA bylaws, the university cannot provide further comment at this time.”
In March, 2020, the NCAA halted in-person recruiting for 15 months because of the pandemic. Although play resumed on the field, coaching staffs were forced to communicate with recruits through video calls and other electronic means. Prospects often committed to schools they had not seen.
The allegations are a bad look for a program that had its season shut down for nearly a month last year because of COVID-19 issues. Half the coaching staff, including head coach Herm Edwards, tested positive. The Sun Devils played only four games, finishing 2-2. On Zoom sessions with reporters, Edwards urged fans to take the virus seriously. With coaches and players exhausted at season’s end, the program removed itself from bowl consideration.
Edwards’ involvement in the school’s investigation is not clear. Although he coaches in practice, Edwards has adopted a “CEO” face-of-the-program role for most of the past three-plus years. He leans heavily on Antonio Pierce, the program’s associate head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive coordinator. If it were up to him, Edwards has said more than once, Pierce would replace him when he retires.
A former NFL linebacker and head coach at Long Beach Poly High, Pierce arrived with strong Southern California high school connections. In 2020 one co-worker described his recruiting efforts as “tireless and enthusiastic.” Behind this drive, the Sun Devils have established themselves more on the national recruiting landscape, reaching outside the traditional Pac-12 footprint. In 2019, they had the nation’s No. 28 recruiting class, per the 247Sports Composite. The next year, they were 23rd.
Asked if Edwards would be aware of potential recruiting misdeeds, one former athletic department staffer responded without hesitation, “No way.” Another wasn’t so sure. “He is probably aware of 90 percent of the recruiting stuff that goes on,” he said.
In April, the NCAA announced that all Division I sports could return to their regular recruiting schedules June 1, business as usual. This month, Arizona State football has hosted both in-state and out-of-state prospects on official and unofficial visits. The Sun Devils have four high school prospects committed to their 2022 class but are in contention for top prospects across the country.
— The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman contributed reporting.
NCAA investigating Arizona State football over allegations of recruiting violations during dead period
ASU confirmed the existence of an NCAA investigation in a statement on Wednesday morning.
theathletic.com
TEMPE, Ariz. — The NCAA is investigating whether the Arizona State football program hosted high school prospects during the recent COVID-19 dead period, and possibly other recruiting violations, The Athletic has learned.
It’s unknown how many prospects Arizona State is alleged to have entertained during the COVID-19 period or when they might have visited. Per one source, the school’s athletic compliance office recently started interviewing staff members. A former athletic department employee said some people in the football offices are concerned about losing their jobs.
“ASU can confirm the NCAA is conducting an investigation regarding allegations related to our football program,” Arizona State vice president of media relations and strategic communications Katie Paquet said in a statement to The Athletic. “In accordance with NCAA bylaws, the university cannot provide further comment at this time.”
In March, 2020, the NCAA halted in-person recruiting for 15 months because of the pandemic. Although play resumed on the field, coaching staffs were forced to communicate with recruits through video calls and other electronic means. Prospects often committed to schools they had not seen.
The allegations are a bad look for a program that had its season shut down for nearly a month last year because of COVID-19 issues. Half the coaching staff, including head coach Herm Edwards, tested positive. The Sun Devils played only four games, finishing 2-2. On Zoom sessions with reporters, Edwards urged fans to take the virus seriously. With coaches and players exhausted at season’s end, the program removed itself from bowl consideration.
Edwards’ involvement in the school’s investigation is not clear. Although he coaches in practice, Edwards has adopted a “CEO” face-of-the-program role for most of the past three-plus years. He leans heavily on Antonio Pierce, the program’s associate head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive coordinator. If it were up to him, Edwards has said more than once, Pierce would replace him when he retires.
A former NFL linebacker and head coach at Long Beach Poly High, Pierce arrived with strong Southern California high school connections. In 2020 one co-worker described his recruiting efforts as “tireless and enthusiastic.” Behind this drive, the Sun Devils have established themselves more on the national recruiting landscape, reaching outside the traditional Pac-12 footprint. In 2019, they had the nation’s No. 28 recruiting class, per the 247Sports Composite. The next year, they were 23rd.
Asked if Edwards would be aware of potential recruiting misdeeds, one former athletic department staffer responded without hesitation, “No way.” Another wasn’t so sure. “He is probably aware of 90 percent of the recruiting stuff that goes on,” he said.
In April, the NCAA announced that all Division I sports could return to their regular recruiting schedules June 1, business as usual. This month, Arizona State football has hosted both in-state and out-of-state prospects on official and unofficial visits. The Sun Devils have four high school prospects committed to their 2022 class but are in contention for top prospects across the country.
— The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman contributed reporting.
