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In the fall upon hearing of the allegations waged against UCF by the NCAA regarding improper recruiting, the university cut ties with Athletic Director Keith Tribble and assistant football coach David Kelly.  They also suspended head men’s basketball coach Donnie Jones for the first three Conference USA games.

To prepare for April’s official ruling from the NCAA, more self-imposed penalties were released today by UCF.  Per a release from UCF Athletics, additional punishments including the vacating of basketball wins from the 2008-09 and  2009-10 seasons, reduction of basketball financial aid, and cutting recruiting visits in football and basketball.

The financial aid reductions mentioned in UCF’s response amount to the loss of  one basketball scholarship in both 2012-13 and 2013-2014.  For the next two academic years, basketball coaches allowed off campus at one time are reduced from three to two. Also, permisable paid visits were reduced by 20 percent from the program’s average over the past four seasons.

Two basketball coaches cited in the initial report, Jones and assistant Darren Tillis are also precluded from receiving raises for the next two years.

Similar penalties against recruiting in football were also issued.  The reduction in coaches allowed off-campus at one time went from seven to six.  UCF Football also received a 20 percent reduction in official visits allowed.  Head coach George O’Leary received a letter of reprimand in similar fashion to ones sent to Jones and Tillis.

Recruiting and evaluation days were also cut for both programs for the next two years.

*Update* UCF News and Information Associate Director Chad Binette sent out additional correspondence that they are proposing the basketball program vacate wins from the 2010-11 season in addition to 2008-09 and 2009-10.  The 2010-11 campaign saw the Knights score historic victories over Florida and Miami during a 14-0 start to the season.

*Update 2* According to the Orlando Sentinel’s Mike Bianchi, a statement released by the attorney of fired athletic director Keith Tribble said,“Until this case, Tribble had a very superficial and somewhat misinformed understanding of NCAA recruiting legislation.”

News & Notes

• In an unrelated decision Monday the university also relieved Associate Athletics Director Joe Hornstein of his duties. UCF said in a statement, “Joe Hornstein has been released from his duties as the Associate Athletics Director for Public Relations and Communications. We thank Joe for his dedicated service and many contributions to our program and wish him well in all future endeavors.” Hornstein was originally hired by Tribble in 2006 and the move was seen as another attempt to give new AD Todd Stansbury a clean slate.
• Marc Daniels, the Voice of UCF Athletics and host of ESPN 1080′s The Beat of Sports, noted in a column on UCFAthletics.com today that there is a chance UCF and Florida State meet up in football in 2013.  The Seminoles are looking to get out of their game at West Virginia after the Mountaineers pulled out of their matchup in Tallahassee for this upcoming season.  With Bethune Cookman, Akron, South Carolina, and a road game at FIU on the non-conference schedule already, the Knights would need to drop a game.  Daniels conjectured that the folks at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville are very interested in putting this neutral site game on.
• UCF Baseball moved up the Baseball America Top 25 rankings two spots to #19 after a weekend sweep of Long Island.  The Knights won the games over LIU Brooklyn by finals of 13-7, 9-1, and 9-1.  They will travel to Gainesville on Wednesday to take on the number on ranked Florida Gators.  First pitch is set for 7:00 and the contest will be televised by Fox Sports Florida.

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