Oregon Football Could be Facing Punishment for NCAA Violations

In a move that didn't really surprise college football insiders, the University of Oregon in the last 24 hours has released hundreds of pages of documents, and admitted at least one "major violation" related to recruiting between 2008 and 2011.

This was the period when former Coach Chip Kelly was building the Ducks into a major NCAA power. Rumors had begun to surface last year over violations in Eugene.

The school released over 500 pages of documents to the NCAA over an alleged payment of $25,000 to a Houston-based high school recruiting service, Complete Scouting Services.

KATU-TV in Portland reports Willie Lyles, who runs the service, had a connection to at least one Oregon recruit. These services help track the progress and expose high school prospects to major colleges for potential scholarships, but NCAA rules prevent schools from paying these organizations to get blue-chip players to sign.

The school has proposed a self-imposed punishment of a two-year probation, and a loss of one scholarship each year for three years for the alleged violations. According to reports, numerous other violations have allegedly been uncovered.

The NCAA will not comment on an ongoing investigation. In some situations schools have been hit with post-season bowl bans, big scholarship losses and even suspensions of coaches.

Adding fuel to the fire was the abrupt departure of Coach Kelly to the Philadelphia Eagles -- especially after he just committed to staying at Oregon. Critics compare it to Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll bolting from USC just before a slew of NCAA penalties hit the school -- some of which the Trojans are still recovering from.

Kelly has refused to comment on the issue until the NCAA gives its decision.