The Oregon athletic department has received an inquiry via telephone from the NCAA regarding an ongoing investigation of the school’s use of scouting services, officials announced Saturday.
The call was received earlier in the week by University President Richard Lariviere, and served the purpose of formally informing school officials that the NCAA’s investigation is official and ongoing.
“This notice has been anticipated and is simply the next stage of the process,” Oregon Director of Athletics Rob Mullins said in a statement. “The University of Oregon football program, from Head Coach Chip Kelly through the entire organization, has tremendous respect for the NCAA’s important role in monitoring collegiate athletics and, to this end, continues to fully cooperate with the NCAA’s ongoing examination.”
The NCAA first trained its eye on Oregon back in March, when questions arose regarding a $25,000 dollar payment to a service headed by Texas scout Willie Lyles. The investigation, however, had not been made official until today.