Minnesota to self-report “minor” NCAA violation on P.J. Fleck

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Alex Muller
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NCAA Football: Michigan State at Western Michigan
Sep 4, 2015; Kalamazoo, MI, USA; Western Michigan Broncos head coach P.J. Fleck talks to referees during the 1st half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Waldo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

It was earlier this month when former Western Michigan head coach and current Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck was in the news, regarding a possible NCAA violation.

Reports were Fleck had illegal contact with one of his former players from Western Michigan, linebacker Robert Spillane. It was believed that Fleck was trying to recruit his former player while Spillane was still enrolled at WMU. Spillane, who was granted his release from the program shortly after the news, later announced that he was now pursuing a transfer to Minnesota to play for Fleck.

Officials from both schools have been looking into the matter ever since, hoping to resolve it quickly. It appears this brief saga may be coming to a close, as Minnesota will reportedly be self-reporting a “minor” NCAA infraction involving their head coach.

According to Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle, who has been in constant contact with his Western Michigan counterpart Kathy Beauregard, Fleck is not actively recruiting any current Bronco players. However, Fleck has been in contact with at least two WMU players since being hired as the next Gophers head coach back in January.

NCAA rules state that a coach from school ‘A’ is not permitted to contact players from school ‘B’ in any form without consent from school ‘B’ even if it is merely conversational matter.

This story has been heightened since the news of Spillane, one of the most high-profile and productive players at Western Michigan during the Fleck era, being granted his release from the program surfaced. Speculation was that Spillane was considering a transfer to Minnesota, though he reaffirmed very quickly after his release from WMU that he is not seeking a transfer to the Gophers.

It appears that both schools are ready to move on from the matter. Fleck and the Gophers began their spring practices this week. Neither Fleck nor Spillane have publicly commented on the matter.

Broncos AD Kathy Beauregard said she would just “really like this to just go away.”