The NCAA announced the penalties for the Nebraska Football team regarding the Husker’s misuse of a team analyst during the 2020 season. A statement from the NCAA says that the university and head coach Scott Frost agreed with NCAA enforcement staff that the analyst in question had direct instruction with athletes during practice and film sessions. As a non-coach members of the staff, the analysts are not allowed to coach players. The statement said that Scott Frost was aware of the issue. While he addressed it directly with the analyst, he did not notify compliance staff about a violation and did not continue to monitor the situation appropriately.
As a result of the violations, Nebraska was given Level II-mitigated penalties. They are
- A one-year extension to the current probationary period (through April 2023).
- A $10,000 fine.
- A one-year show-cause order for the football head coach, plus a five-day suspension from all coaching duties during the championship segment of the 2022 football season.
- A reduction of the number of football countable coaches by one for two days of practice during the spring 2022 season.
- All noncoaching staff members will be removed from practice and competition for five consecutive days during the championship segment of the 2022 season.
Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts issued the following statement after the announcement of penalties.
“I am appreciative of the diligent efforts of our University of Nebraska staff in working to bring this matter to a close. We have had outstanding collaboration with the NCAA, and I want to thank the NCAA staff for their time and professionalism throughout this process.
“It is important for the Nebraska Athletic Department and football program to put this matter behind us and turn our full attention to the upcoming season. We are pleased with the outcome and believe the negotiated resolution is fair and equitable. At Nebraska we are committed to running an athletic department that is fully compliant with all NCAA rules.”
https://twitter.com/Huskers/status/1521160868997652480
The analyst in question was Jonathan Rutlidge, who is no longer with the program Rutlidge is now a special team coordinator at the Catholic University of America.
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