COD Football on Probation, Banned from Postseason

CREATED Nov. 13, 2012

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  • College of the Desert's football program is on probation for two years and suspended from postseason play this year. This after a review by the Southern California Football Association. Video by kmir6.com

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College of the Desert's football program is on probation for two years and suspended from postseason play this year.
This after a review by the Southern California Football Association.

An investigation into COD's football program shows while the Palm Desert college did not break recruiting rules by approaching out-of-state students, they did provide furniture and transportation to players and did not fill out required out-of area recruitment paper work in a timely manner.
Even though the COD football program is now on probation for two years, some good news came from the investigation.
"There was no finding of recruitment of out of state or out of area students, or student athletes, and there was no real finding of any intent to do something wrong," said COD Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, Pam Hunter.
But the Southern California Football Association did find violations --- one, not completing paperwork for out-of-area students immediately when they step on campus.
And secondly,
"We were helping students, football students, have furniture for when they moved here.  We supplied periodically, some of the coaches gave one of the student athletes a ride to the airport, so both of those things because they were not available to the general population of students, that's against the regulations of the football association," said Hunter.
Now the football team can't compete in any playoff games in 2012, and will be on probation.
To some students, that seems too harsh.
"When I heard that news I was amazed, that's really not fair to the players who have worked hard all year you know, so I don't think that's right," said COD student, Daryean Bobuhl.
"I'm actually an ex-football player, I used to play football until I broke my leg, but I know exactly how it feels when they penalize you for things that aren't really your fault and sometimes not even true," said COD student, John Penny.
Now COD is tightening up their own internal policies as the football program remains in probation for two years.
"What probation means from the commission standpoint is that the findings that they've asked us to change, they will be watching to be sure that we implement those changes and that there's no further violations," said Hunter.
This investigation came just months after several COD football players were involved in violent crime.
After this review, the school says the athletic department will develop a team-level disciplinary process that includes training workshops for coaches and athletes.