Oregon Ducks Receive Notice of Inquiry for the Willie Lyles Case - Is Trouble Close Behind?

Rachel Bachman explains the Notice of Inquiry by the NCAA is "a step that typically falls late in an investigation and signals the NCAA soon will list its allegations against the school." She continues saying this "is significant for Oregon...because it marks the first concrete step toward an NCAA finding of wrongdoing." 

The inquiry into Oregon began following a report showing Oregon paid Lyles $25,000 three weeks after star running back, Lache Seastrunk, had signed in February 2010 to be a member of the Oregon Ducks 2010 football recruiting class. According to Bachman, this "payment raised eyebrows because of Lyles' role as a mentor to Seastrunk and because the fee, ostensibly for scouting reports of players in 22 states, exceeded the going rate for such reports." Ted Miller from ESPN.com, writes the Ducks claim they "paid $25,000 in 2010 for a 'national recruiting package.' When Oregon released what Lyles provided the Ducks for that payment, it was mostly worthless, outdated profiles and information."

Jon Canzano reported in the Oregonian that Lyles himself alleges "he was not paid for his scouting services, as Oregon coach Chip Kelly [has] suggested, rather, for his access and influence with key recruits such as Lache Seastrunk...Lyles has also admitted that he aided Ducks Heisman candidate LaMichael James in gaining his college eligibility post-high school, and also, helped orchestrate Seastrunk’s signing of his national letter of intent with Oregon."

Bachman explains "it is against the NCAA rules for someone who is not a school employee, but is a representative of its athletic interests, to help the school recruit athletes. The Ducks' payment to Lyles could prompt the NCAA to classify him as an Oregon representative." 

As for the investigation process, Bachman says "the NCAA's typical protocol is to follow a notice of inquiry with a notice of allegations, then to summon the school before its Committee on Infractions. After a hearing, the NCAA takes roughly six to eight weeks to issue a ruling, according to timelines from other recent investigations." 

In a recent article, Canzano argues "Ducks coach Chip Kelly is a brilliant football mind and a great quote. But he wasn't accustomed to the complexity involved in running a major college football program when he took over at Oregon." He continues saying "those working in the football offices say the program abandoned protocol and felt 'wild west.' Kelly didn't delegate responsibly, either -- hold up, the head football coach was texting and calling a low-level scouting wanna-be?!? -- and the result now is an inquiry."

Simply stated, this investigation just got real and the NCAA seems to think they have a reason to dig farther around in our program. Canzano says receiving a "Notice of inquiry...that's like being served divorce papers or a lawsuit. You know it's really happening. You understand it's going to get worse before it gets better." Since the Oregon Ducks have now been notified of an official investigation occurring, how confident do you feel trouble is or is not close behind?