The NCAA's investigation is underway on Ole Miss after Dabo Swinney's claims of Pete Golding tampering with then-Clemson student-athlete Luke Ferrelli.
There is not much Golding can do than await what the NCAA decides for his future.
In a situation like this, thigs could turn real ugly, real fast for Golding.
NCAA rules are strict about tampering
It all depends on what the NCAA finds in their investigation. If Swinney provied evidence of all the verbal recipts he claims, Golding will easily be charged with either Level II or Level I violation.
According to NCAA bylaw 13.1.1.4, tampering is against the rules and falls under the category of reaching out to players on opposing teams.
The rule states: "An athletics staff member or other representative of the institution's athletics interests shall not communicate or make contact with the student-athlete of another NCAA Division I institution, or any individual associated with the student-athlete (e.g., family member, scholastic or nonscholastic coach, advisor), directly or indirectly, without first obtaining authorization through the notification of transfer process. Before making contact, directly or indirectly, with a student-athlete of an NCAA Division II or Division III institution, or an NAIA four-year collegiate institution, an athletics staff member or other representative of the institution's athletics interests shall comply with the rule of the applicable division or the NAIA rule for making contact with a student-athlete."
The Clarion Ledger's Sam Sklar believes Golding could be looking down the barrel of punishments from mere fines to probation.
"Penalties for a Level I and Level II violations can include fines, suspensions, show-cause orders, postseason bans, scholarship reductions, recruiting restrictions and probation."
The situation is getting out of hand for Ole Miss. All that's left to see now is whether the NCAA decides to take any serious action against the Rebels to make them the example for college football, or let's them off the hook.