Oregon State self-reports minor recruiting violation

Oregon State violated NCAA rules by mailing recruiting materials to current Hawaii players.

Oregon State self-reported a minor recruiting violation to the NCAA, the Oregonian reported Friday.

The violation involved mailings of recruiting materials sent to current Hawaii players, inviting them to attend the Beavers' spring game.

"We initiated a self-report to the NCAA once we learned the inadvertent mistake was made," Oregon State associate athletic director of communications Steve Fenk said in a statement. "We admit and understand that what we did was an unintentional violation. The punishment fits. We didn't try to do anything covert. It was an honest mistake that we took responsibility for."

In May, Hawaii football coach Nick Rolovich called out Oregon State through social media for sending recruiting material to his current players. Rolovich posted on Twitter that some of his players received materials that included invitations to Oregon State's spring game. The packages were mailed to the university.

Three Oregon State assistants were assistants at Hawaii in recent years. They are special teams coordinator Jake Cookus, wide receiver coach Kefense Hynson and defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa.

"My apologies for our players not being able to attend your Spring game," Rolovich wrote. "Ours was the same day, bad timing. Quick question, in the 203 years of coaching, none of you realized you couldn't actively recruit another school's players? Sent to campus?"

Coaches and programs cannot actively recruit players who already have signed a letter of intent with another school, according to NCAA rules.