SMH. Even West Point has recruiting violations

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Army has disciplined 20 cadets for promoting underage drinking and has self-reported a football recruiting violation to the NCAA stemming from an incident that took place earlier this year, according to a report by The Gazette of Colorado Springs.

According to documents obtained by The Gazette, Army treated recruits to a party, dinner with female cadets, cash from boosters and VIP treatment on a party bus that included cheerleaders and a police escort in January.


The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, acknowledged the misconduct to the newspaper.

Two officers and two coaches were reprimanded, but those involved will not face additional punishment, according to the report.

The players involved, including starting quarterback Angel Santiago, are expected to play in Army's next game against Air Force on Nov. 1.

"Although seen as a minor infraction by the NCAA, the U.S. Military Academy takes this very seriously and adjudicated this at the highest level of the disciplinary code," West Point said in a statement. "We adjudicated this under Article 10 of the Cadet Disciplinary Code and all cadets appeared before the Commandant's Disciplinary Board."

According to The Gazette, Lt. Col. Chad Davis, West Point's director of football operations, also recruited cheerleaders and players on Army's women's basketball and volleyball teams to act as dates to recruits in February.

The NCAA handed Army a warning for the two incidents earlier this month, the Gazette reported. No sanctions were issued, but the NCAA said Army football coach Jeff Monken -- who knew of the incidents, punished the cadets involved and pulled them from the spring game -- could face a suspension if additional violations occur.

West Point spokeswoman Theresa Brinkerhoff said the academy didn't publicly detail the incident because it was handled "administratively."

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