California State University, Northridge, has been placed on probation for three years and the university's football program will be ineligible for postseason competition after the 2000 season for violations of NCAA legislation governing recruiting, extra benefits, ethical conduct, financial aid and institutional control.

In addition, the Division I Committee on Infractions placed a limit of 75 on the number of football student-athletes who may receive athletically related financial aid in 2001-02.

The case involved numerous violations in the football program during the 1998-99 academic year, primarily by the former head football coach. The committee also concluded that a lack of institutional control occurred at the university.

The committee found that the university failed to enforce its policy on acceptance of athletically related financial aid donations to an independent booster club, and to maintain control and conduct financial audits of the booster club. For example, during the 1998 football season, a representative of the university's athletics interests who also was a member of the Quarterback Club used club funds to pay for 10 weekly post-practice barbecues for the football team. The committee determined there was no clear guidance from the athletics administration about whether the barbecues were improper.

The committee found that the university should have monitored more closely and provided more rules education and guidance to its football coach, who was in his first year.

The committee also determined that the former head football coach acted contrary to the NCAA's principles of ethical conduct. The members of the committee said they were particularly troubled by the coach's violation of legislation relating to contact and evaluation periods.

The Division I Committee on Infractions acknowledged that some of the violations could be attributable to the former coach's inexperience; however, the committee also determined that some violations appeared to demonstrate willful and blatant disregard for basic NCAA legislation.

Specifically in one instance, the former head coach and two assistant coaches attended a high-school basketball game during a NCAA quiet period to watch two football prospective student-athletes compete. After the game, the head football coach and one assistant exchanged brief greetings with one of the prospects.

It later was learned that the coaches had discussed before the contest that attendance at the game could be a violation of NCAA recruiting legislation, and one assistant coach did not attend the game for that reason.

Also during the 1998-99 academic year, the former head football coach arranged air transportation for a prospective student-athlete to be flown to southern California from his home at no cost to the young man. Once in the local area, arrangements were made to provide the prospect local transportation, occasional meals in the university's cafeteria, lodging in student housing on the Cal State Northridge campus, telephone calls, employment and cash for tuition in order to enroll at a local junior college.

Other violations included improper recruiting contact with student-athletes enrolled at other institutions, impermissible compensation to student-athletes, impermissible supplemental pay for a coaching staff member and excessive football grants-in-aid.

The university imposed a number of penalties and extensive corrective actions, which were considered by the committee. The following actions were taken:

* On May 24, 1999, initiated an internal inquiry under the direction of the university auditor, in response to allegations of NCAA violations in the institution's football program. The inquiry was completed on August 10, 1999.

* On July 12, 1999, accepted the resignation of an assistant football coach.

* On July 16, 1999, notified the former head football coach that he would not be retained.

* Issued letters of reprimand to two assistant football coaches and an equipment manager for their roles in NCAA rules violations.

* Immediately following completion of the university's internal inquiry, began educating the athletics department staff about the problems identified in the report and initiated a search for a new assistant athletics director for compliance. In January 2000, the school hired an assistant athletics director for compliance who was charged by the director of athletics to develop and implement appropriate compliance programs, in general and in specific response to the football investigation.

* On August 12, 1999, issued a memorandum from the director of athletics to all coaches asking them to read the auditor's report concerning the investigation, review the involved NCAA rules and provide information concerning any "booster" organization, regardless of how informal such an organization might be. The institution initiated restoration of the eligibility of student-athletes whose eligibility was affected by violations discovered in the football investigation.

* On August 19, 1999, sent to the university controller a memorandum from the university's interim vice-president for administration and finance asking that an outside agency conduct the NCAA-required financial audit of athletics for 1998-99 and evaluate the athletics department's internal financial controls and travel reimbursement processes.

* Dissolved the Quarterback Club and closed its bank account, with the modest sum remaining deposited with the Matador Athletic Association, the university-controlled all-sport booster organization.

* On September 17, 1999, the director of athletics conducted a meeting with the remaining football coaches referenced in the auditor's report in order to review the involved NCAA rules.

* On October 8, 1999, issued a memorandum from the director of athletics to all athletics department staff establishing a procedure for reporting any alleged violations of NCAA rules within the department to the university's auditor or faculty athletics representative, both of whom are outside of the athletics department.

* On October 11, 1999, issued a memorandum from the director of athletics to all coaches providing a copy of the NCAA rules noted in the auditor's report and requiring the coaches to read and understand them.

* Initiated a comprehensive review of the financial aid provided to student-athletes and reported the violations discovered to the NCAA.

* On December 3, 1999, issued a letter indefinitely disassociating an athletics representative from the university's athletics program and related organizations.

* Created a brochure to inform all representatives of athletics interests of the rules applicable to their support of the institution's intercollegiate athletics program.

* Reduced initial grants-in-aid in football by two and the total number of grants in aid by four during the 2000-01 academic year.

The committee on infractions imposed the following additional penalties:

* Public reprimand and censure.

* The institution will serve three years of probation, beginning June 1, 2000. The institution's probationary period will conclude on May 31, 2003. The committee believes that, given the lack of institutional control demonstrated by Cal State Northridge, it is appropriate for the university to be subjected to the three-year term of NCAA oversight and compliance reporting requirements.

* The institution shall be limited to a total of no more than 75 football student-athletes receiving athletically related financial aid during the 2001-02 academic year.

* The institution's football team shall end its 2000 season with the playing of its last regularly scheduled, in-season contest and shall not be eligible to participate in any postseason competition or take advantage of any of the exemptions provided in Bylaw 17.10.5.2.

* The former head football coach will be informed in writing by the NCAA that, due to his involvement in certain violations of NCAA legislation found in this case, if he seeks employment or affiliation in an athletically related position at a NCAA member institution during the period of time commencing with the date this report was released (June 1, 2000), and concluding on July 15, 2001, (two years after he was released from the employ of Cal State Northridge) he and the involved institution shall be requested to appear before the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions to consider whether the member institution should be subject to the show-cause procedures of Bylaw 19.6.2.2-(l), which could limit the coach's athletically related duties at the new institution for a designated period.

* During the probationary period, the university will develop and implement a comprehensive educational program on NCAA legislation, provide the NCAA with a report by July 15, 2000, setting the schedule for establishment of the program, and file annual progress reports.

As required by NCAA legislation for any institution involved in a major infractions case, Cal State Northridge is subject to the NCAA's repeat-violator provisions for a five-year period beginning on the effective date of the penalties in this case, June 1, 2000.

The members of the Division I Committee on Infractions who heard this case are: Jack Friedenthal, committee chair and professor of law, George Washington University; Alice Gresham Bullock, dean, school of law, Howard University; Richard J. Dunn, professor of English, University of Washington; Frederick B. Lacey, attorney and retired judge, LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, Newark, New Jersey; Gene A. Marsh, professor of law, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; Josephine R. Potuto, professor of law, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; and Thomas E. Yeager, commissioner, Colonial Athletic Association.

A copy of the complete report from the Division I Committee on Infractions is available on NCAA Online at www.ncaa.org.