NCAA Penalizes Texas for Football Violations

The University of Texas football program was put on two-year probation Wednesday by the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. because of rules violations over the past several years.

The penalties against Texas will reduce the number of football scholarships in 1988-89 from 25 to 20 and the number of recruiting visits in the coming academic year from 95 to 75. Bowl and television appearances were not affected.

A report by the NCAA committee on infractions said that the probation could be reduced to one year if the university complies with 13 changes the school proposed on June 3.

Texas President William Cunningham said there will be no appeal.

The penalties were announced two weeks after a hearing in Kansas City, Mo., at which the university responded to 51 alleged rules violations cited by the NCAA.

The NCAA said that a significant number of violations, some of which took place more than four years ago, were found. But, with a single exception, “none of the serious violations involved the recruitment of prospective student-athletes, and it does not appear that the violations resulted in a significant competitive advantage for the University of Texas,” it said.

The NCAA’s report said one finding, however, involved a serious violation of recruiting rules and the gift of “very substantial, improper extra benefits to a very talented enrolled student-athlete.”