Boise State Football: NCAA Sanctions Broncos and Puts Program on Probation

The NCAA Committee on Infractions issued its long-awaited report today on Boise State University's athletic department. In a blistering 73-page report, the NCAA found that the university did demonstrate a "lack of institutional control" and imposed stiff sanctions, the Idaho Statesman reported today. In addition to a public rebuke and censure, the NCAA placed Boise State on probation for three years.

The Broncos will be on probation through September 12, 2014. Although the heftiest of the penalties were levelled against the tennis program and track team, the football program was also handed additional penalties.

The Bronco football team will lose three scholarships in each of the next three years, as well as reductions in the allowed number of spring and fall practices, totalling six practices per year.

Longtime athletic director Gene Bleymaier was fired recently, ahead of the NCAA ruling.

The impact of the NCAA ruling will have on the team is uncertain. A reduction of scholarships from 85 to 82 per year for three years and a reduction of the number of spring and fall practices by three for the same period may not have as much impact as the public rebuke, censure and probation.

USC was put on probation last year and banned from postseason, play which adversely impacted recruiting. Some highly-recruited athletes did change their plans after USC was put on probation. Whether or not today's NCAA ruling will impact recruiting at BSU remains to be seen.