LSU self-imposes scholarship reduction, bans Odell Beckham for 2 years, NCAA may levy postseason ban

LSU has self-imposed scholarship reductions, banned Odell Beckham, Jr. from the facility and the NCAA may levy a postseason ban for improper booster payments.

Remember when Odell Beckham Jr. handed out cash as LSU celebrated winning the National Championship Game last year vs. Clemson? Remember how LSU said it was fake money initially before relenting and saying it was real after Joe Burrow said as much in an interview, but playing it off like it was a joke? Well, the former Tiger standout’s action has cost LSU eight scholarships over the next two years and resulted in Beckham being banned from the facilities for two years, according to Ross Dellenger and Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated.

LSU self-imposed those scholarship reductions and barred Beckham from the team with the hope the NCAA will take it easy on them and not bring forth harsher penalties.

LSU could face a postseason ban on top of their self-imposed sanctions

“LSU has worked proactively and in cooperation with the NCAA to identify and self-report any violations that occurred within our football program,” Robert Munson, LSU Senior Associate Athletic Director, said in the statement. “We believe these self-imposed penalties are appropriate and we will continue to coordinate and cooperate with the NCAA on this matter.”

According to the report, the recruiting restrictions won’t stop LSU from signing a 25-man class for the next two years when four scholarships are withheld each of those two years. But further penalties include official and unofficial visits being cut by 12.5 percent, off-campus contacts will be reduced by 21 days, down from the normal 168 and there will be a six-week “dead period” where there is no communication with recruits.

Where it gets complicated is whether the NCAA will drop the hammer and levy a postseason ban, which the school obviously does not want.

Additionally, the Beckham $100 handshakes is not even the most egregious violation. The Level 1 charges involve booster payments to the father of former offensive lineman Vadal Alexander who got $180,000 in stolen money from booster John Paul Funes. The disgraced booster admitted to embezzling funds from Out Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge that totaled more than $500,000 from 2012-2017.

The SI report notes what could benefit LSU getting the benefit of the doubt from the NCAA is Joe Aleva and Les Miles, the former athletic director and head coach, are no longer with the university.

LSU’s men’s basketball program has been subject to NCAA eyeballs with Will Wade and improper benefits circling above the program like buzzards for what feels like years now, but the football and basketball cases will be reviewed separately.

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