The University of Nebraska and head football coach Scott Frost have been subjected to investigation for alleged NCAA violations. The investigation is intended to probe into two main accusations: improperly using analysts and conducting workouts off-campus last year when such activities were banned during the pandemic.
The newly appointed Athletic Director, Trev Alberts, said, “The University of Nebraska Athletic Department has been working collaboratively with the NCAA to review a matter concerning our football program. We appreciate the dialogue we have had with the NCAA and cannot comment further on specifics of this matter.” Alberts was the former AD of the University of Nebraska-Omaha before filling the position left unexpectedly by Bill Moos in July.
The Action Network claims Nebraska has “significant video footage” validating practice violations that transpired in the presence of football staff, including Coach Frost. The reports were attributed to unidentified sources.
According to the same report, Nebraska and Frost also engaged in impermissible use of analysts and consultants running special team drills. These analysts would not be among the 10 full-time assistants and are consequently not allowed to speak with players, which would substantiate a violation under NCAA policies.
Nebraska is accused of relocating its strength and conditioning workouts to an undisclosed location off campus to avoid the prohibition on organized athletic activities the NCAA imposed during the pandemic last year. The speculated workouts were allegedly held under Nebraska’s strength and conditioning staff’s instruction and would undeviatingly violate NCAA rules. It is still unknown if the NCAA is investigating these specific accusations.
Frost has acquired legal counsel amid the pending investigation, which will review allegations that go as far back as 12 months. The NCAA has interviewed Frost and several current and former staff members, administrators, and football players on the matter. Potential NCAA imposed penalties could include a suspension for Coach Frost for some unknown number of games.
Two former Nebraska staff members – special teams analyst Jonathan Rutledge and chief of staff Gerrod Lambrecht – are no longer with the program. Rutledge was fired in January, and Lambrecht resigned just two weeks ago. The Lincoln-Journal Star reported Lambrecht assisted in overseeing Nebraska’s football-related response to the pandemic last year. This timeframe would be aligned with the unauthorized workouts. Lambrecht was Frost’s chief of staff for the previous five years and joined him at Nebraska after their successful run together at UCF. Frost reported Lambrecht was departing to pursue other opportunities, and also said he considers Lambrecht one of his best friends. Any relation between the departures and the investigation is purely speculative, however.
This latest investigation comes just a week after the NCAA’s decision to not punish Baylor for their sexual assault allegations. Between 2011 and 2016, 19 football players were accused of sexual assault or domestic violence. One lawsuit even alleged 31 football players were involved in 52 acts of rape in a four-year span.
Many have grown frustrated with the widely varying verdicts the NCAA reaches, along with the level of severity of violations it chooses to direct its attention towards. The NCAA just dismissed a school failing to report and respond to dozens of allegations of sexual violence and is now investigating another school for holding practices and using special team analysts. It may also be noteworthy that Nebraska ruffled some feathers during their public campaign last year when they were adamant about playing and not canceling the season.
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