It's been a rough month for BYU fans around the country.
First there was the difficult-to-swallow news that the ACC and SEC won't recognize the football team's status as a "Power 5" program for scheduling purposes. On Wednesday, things got worse, however, as a report surfaced saying the NCAA was investigating allegations of players receiving improper benefits.
The school later confirmed to The Salt Lake Tribune that the school was also investigating the claims.
"BYU is aware of the allegations and has been conducting a thorough review of the matter," BYU Associate Athletic Director for Communications Duff Tittle told the paper.
Local radio station 1280 The Zone first reported word of the investigation after speaking with the manager for former Cougars receiver Cody Hoffman. The Tribune said the probe centers on former director of football operations Duane Busby, an 18-year veteran who abruptly resigned from the program in March. Busby reportedly provided discounted housing, free meals and other benefits to selected players on the team.
"You don't replace him," Cougars head coach Bronco Mendenhall said in a release when Busby retired. "He is a personal friend, trusted advisor, essential to our success over the last nine years."
Under a new NCAA penalty structure, Mendenhall could be responsible for violations by members of his staff.
A source close to the program also informed the Tribune that BYU has either already self-reported violations or are close to doing so, indicating the investigation is further along than at first thought. Further, the source told the paper that the school could suggest a self-imposed punishment of some form to the NCAA.
The allegations are surprising for BYU given the fact that the school is one of the few major programs to never have committed a major NCAA violation.
The NCAA does not comment on pending or potential investigations. A possible BYU case would be one of the first major violations under the new NCAA penalty structure and for vice president of enforcement Jon Duncan.
Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter @BryanDFischer.
