LSU given one-year probation

BATON ROUGE, La. — The NCAA says LSU committed major violations in its football program while recruiting a junior college player and cited a former assistant coach for unethical conduct.

The probe found that ex-assistant coach D.J. McCarthy improperly arranged for transportation and housing for former defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, then later tried to cover up those actions.

In a ruling issued Tuesday, the NCAA publicly reprimanded LSU and placed it on probation for one year. The NCAA also accepted LSU’s self-imposed reduction of two scholarships, as well as reductions in official visits and recruiting calls.

McCarthy resigned in December 2009. Hicks never played for the Tigers before he left LSU.

The investigation began after the university self-reported the violations to the enforcement staff. The committee lauded the university’s compliance staff for its efforts to investigate and uncover the violations.

The committee noted in its report, “The compliance office was proactive, fully investigated and cooperated with the enforcement staff to uncover the full range of the violations.”

NCAA.org contributed to this report.