Notre Dame's athletic department emerged from its two-year NCAA
probation in December 2001, but a five-year "repeat violator"
provision remains in effect until December 2004. During the remaining
time any major violation would subject the program to
more severe sanctions.
The NCAA put Notre Dame on probation in December 1999 after
finding the athletic program guilty of major rules violations
for the first time ever.
The violations involved three situations: a woman booster romantically
involved with several football players who gave gifts and others
items of value to the players' teammates; a player who was found
to have offered complimentary tickets to his girlfriend in lieu
of paying her back a loan; and a player who was found to have
paid a tutor to write a paper for him.
In all three cases, Notre Dame officials brought the potential
infractions to the attention of NCAA investigators, as is school
policy.
