The NCAA penalized Mississippi State's football program with two years of probation, a loss of four total scholarships, and a loss of four recruiting visits, and cited a former assistant coach for unethical conduct for major recruiting violations.
According to the NCAA, a since-disassociated booster assisted a player in securing a car, provided cash to a recruit on multiple locations and told the recruit if he did not take a visit to another school, he would be paid $6,000.
Mississippi State said the athlete (defensive back Will Redmond) has been reinstated after paying back $2,660 in benefits, forfeiting a year of eligibility and being withheld from the first five games of the 2013 season.
"We're pleased the committee on infractions accepted our self-imposed actions and Mississippi State's full cooperation," said MSU athletic director Scott Stricklin.
Byron De'Vinner, Redmond's 7-on-7 coach, said he advised the player not to take the $6,000 and instead fly to Georgia. Redmond took the visit. Georgia was Redmond's second choice after Mississippi State.
Last year, ESPN reported that Redmond faced NCAA scrutiny and that De'Vinner said the involved booster was Denton Herring. Also last year, Mississippi State wide receivers coach Angelo Mirando was said to have resigned for personal reasons, but ESPN reported he was involved in an NCAA investigation that also involved Redmond.
At the time, Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen criticized ESPN's reporting regarding Mirando and Redmond.
E-mail communication between Herring and Mirando has been reviewed by ESPN. The e-mails showed constant communication, including the booster suggesting players Mirando should be recruiting.
According to NCAA committee on infractions chair Britton Banowsky, the case was serious in nature because it involved a booster who helped bring a top recruit to campus and because a coach had knowledge.
Mirando was given a one year show-cause penalty, which hinders his ability to secure employment at the college level. The penalty would have been worse except the NCAA said Mirando cooperated to an extent beyond what was required. The report says Mirando "became aware of the improper recruiting activity but did not report it to university officials."
According to the report released Friday, the Mississippi State booster also helped the recruit secure a car for $2,000 below the actual value.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.