Oregon Football: NCAA Violations Won't Cripple the Ducks' Program

Yesterday the Oregon Ducks admitted violating NCAA recruiting rules from 2008-2011.

Yawn.

The biggest violation has been known for a while—the $25,000 the school paid for a "recruiting package" from Willie Lyles. That package ended up being, allegedly, running back Lache Seastrunk’s commitment to the University of Oregon. Seastrunk is now at Baylor.

An NCAA investigation states the University of Oregon, "failed to adequately monitor the football program"s use of recruiting or scouting services."

Basically, the NCAA is saying the school turned its head while the football team did what it wanted to bring in big-name recruits.

It seems like a big-time violation that will bring with it big-time punishment.

It won't.

Based on what has happened recently at schools like USC and Ohio State, the Ducks will be stripped of a handful of scholarships, possibly be banned from the postseason for a couple years and have to say they're sorry.

These sanctions will not have long-lasting effects on the football program.

Oregon did not need to—allegedly—cheat to bring in these big-name recruits in the first place. Nike University, as it is so often known to outsiders and Oregon State Beaver fans, provides the best facilities in the nation.

While it may be tough to convince recruits to take a high-mileage visit to Eugene, once they step foot on the campus, see the facilities and wear the gear, having them sign is a formality.

So that's where one must focus on why Oregon is allegedly engaging in these illegal practices: Getting recruits to Eugene. It becomes a chicken-and-egg debate.

The Ducks' on-field performance in recent years—two Rose Bowls and a National Championship Game in the last three seasons—speaks for itself.

But did the Ducks reach those new heights because of recruiting violations?

No—only one of the key players from those teams has been implicated in recruiting allegations.

LaMichael James arrived as an unheralded recruit out of Texarkana, Texas.

Darron Thomas came to Eugene after being recruited as an ATH by LSU. He wanted to play quarterback, and he was told he'd have that opportunity in Eugene.

Casey Matthews was overlooked by many schools before committing to green and yellow. Same with Kenjon Barner, John Boyett and so many others.

The one who came with red flags was De'Anthony Thomas. His last-second decision to come to Oregon rather than USC has weighed heavily on the minds of conspiracy theorists, but there is no evidence he was tampered with illegally.

That means Oregon was doing just fine without these recruiting services and practices that the university failed to monitor.

As long as Chip Kelly doesn't get fired or jump ship during this likely two-year period of sanctions, recruits will still want to play for Oregon.

They'll still want to wear Nike's flashy experiments.

They'll still want to compete for Pac-12 titles year-in and year-out.

And they'll want to be able to play for a Rose Bowl or a National Championship, even if they won't be able to do so as a freshman or sophomore.

Look at USC—still no shortage of talent there. The Trojans should have been in the Pac-12 Championship Game in 2011 and will likely find themselves there in 2012.

The Ducks will absorb the bumps and bruises they brought on themselves—and they will emerge on the other side largely unscathed.