Oregon proposes probation over violations in football program

The University of Oregon has acknowledged major NCAA violations in connection with football recruiting and proposed a self-imposed two-year probation with the loss of one scholarship in each of the next three years, according to documents released by the school.

The revelations were made in a summary disposition report included in the documents released Monday night. The contents were first reported by KATU-TV in Portland.

Oregon and the NCAA have failed to come to an agreement on the matter and the case is expected to go before the infractions committee at some point this year.

The NCAA began looking into possible violations following reports about payments Oregon made to recruiting services, including a $25,000 payment to Willie Lyles and Houston-based Complete Scouting Services in 2010. Lyles had a connection with an Oregon recruit.

The NCAA will not comment on the ongoing investigations.

Oregon’s athletic department issued a statement that said: “The review is ongoing until the NCAA Committee on Infractions issues its final report. The integrity of the process and our continued full cooperation with the NCAA prohibits us from publicly discussing the specifics of this matter.”

The university released 515 pages of documents on Monday night in response to public records requests. The documents were heavily redacted and included several drafts of the summary disposition report.

The report included details of Oregon’s relationship with Lyles. Following allegations of possible violations in 2011, Oregon released information that Lyles had produced but it was largely outdated.

“There were underlying major violations coupled with failure to monitor violations involving the head coach (2009 through 2011) and the athletics department (2008-2011),” the report said. “While the violations were not intentional in nature, coaches and administrators of a sports program at an NCAA member institution have an obligation to ensure that the activities being engaged in comply with NCAA legislation.”

However, the summary disposition also noted no “lack of institutional control,” typically one of the most severe charges the NCAA can bring after an investigation of rules violations.

“There is no finding of lack of institutional control and no findings of unethical conduct,” the report said. “None of the underlying violations were intentional in nature.”

Chip Kelly was head coach at Oregon for the past four seasons, leading the Ducks to a 46-7 record with appearances in four straight BCS bowl games — including a bid for the national championship against Auburn in 2011. He left Oregon to become head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year.

“I am aware of the recent reports and of the ongoing investigation being conducted by the NCAA and the University of Oregon. While at Oregon, I know we were fully cooperative with all aspects of the investigation and I will continue to contribute in any way that I can. But until the NCAA rules on the matter, I will have no further comment,” Kelly said Tuesday in a statement released by the Eagles.

Ducks offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich was promoted to head coach at Oregon after Kelly’s departure.

ETC.

Spurs sign Tracy McGrady

The San Antonio Spurs signed veteran forward Tracy McGrady, adding depth and experience as the playoffs arrive.

The 33-year-old McGrady is a seven-time NBA All-Star drafted ninth overall in 1997.

He most recently played for Qingdao of the Chinese Basketball League, averaging 25 points and 7.2 rebounds in 29 games.

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The New York Knicks signed guard-forward Quentin Richardson for the remainder of the season.

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The Baltimore Ravens signed quarterback Caleb Hanie to a one-year contract. The 27-year-old Hanie has not thrown a pass since 2011, when he was with the Chicago Bears.

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The Detroit Red Wings and goalie Jimmy Howard agreed to a $31.8-million, six-year contract. The 29-year-old Howard is in his fourth season as the Red Wings’ No. 1 goalie.

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The postponed game between the Ottawa Senators at the Boston Bruins, originally scheduled for Monday night, has been rescheduled for 4 p.m. PDT on April 28, at TD Garden.

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Cynthia Cooper-Dyke received a rousing welcome home when she was introduced as USC’s women’s basketball coach at the Galen Center.

A group of former Trojans teammates, USC administrators and fans and football Coach Lane Kiffin were among those on hand at a news conference to welcome Cooper-Dyke, who grew up in Los Angeles, played on USC national championship teams in 1983 and 1984, won an Olympic gold medal and led the Houston Comets to four consecutive WNBA titles.

Cooper-Dyke, 50, had a 150-106 record at Texas Southern, UNC-Wilmington and Prairie View A&M.; She replaces Michael Cooper in a program that last qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2006.

“We want to be on top of the Pac-12 [Conference] and be a national powerhouse again,” Cooper-Dyke said.

Senior forward Cassie Harberts said players were excited about the hiring of Cooper-Dyke, whom Athletic Director Pat Haden described as “a Trojan icon.”

“She’s more of a college, back-to-the-basics teaching coach,” Harberts said. “That’s something we really need.”

— Gary Klein

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North Carolina guard Reggie Bullock and Marquette guard Vander Blue will enter the NBA draft, the players announced.

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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet advanced to the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters at Monaco.

Tsonga beat Russian Nikolay Davydenko, 7-6 (3), 6-2, and Gasquet had defeated Benoit Paire, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1. Janko Tipsarevic lost to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, 7-6 (3), 6-1.

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NBC is all in with the English Premier League. The EPL feels the same way about the U.S. broadcaster.

All 380 English Premier League games will be televised live by NBC and its networks next season as part of a three-year, $250-million contract.

The deal comes at a time when Fox and ESPN also have heavy involvement in soccer. But the world’s most popular league in the world’s most popular sport will belong solely to NBC for the next three years.

The telecasts begin Aug. 17 and will be carried on NBC, NBC Sports Network, Telemundo, Mun2, other NBC television properties, and various digital outlets.