Bulldogs Punished For Recruiting Violations

As a result of recruiting violations, Mississippi State was put on probation by the NCAA for four years, stripped of eight foootball scholarships over the next two seasons and banned from postseason play. The NCAA found that 2 former assistants and several boosters broke recruiting rules between 1998 and 2002. Mississippi admitted to secondary rule violations, but denied more serious allegations of bribing potential players with cash and other perks.