LSU implements self-imposed penalties, including ban on Odell Beckham Jr.

Odell Beckham Jr. has been banned from visiting LSU football facilities for two years as part of self-imposed penalties the university laid on itself for rule violations, according to Sports Illustrated, taking proactive measures with the hopes of avoiding further repercussions from the NCAA.

Beckham, who played for LSU between 2011 and 2013, faces the ban after handing out cash to Tigers players following the team’s national championship victory in January. While the school initially said the money was fake, the school later acknowledged the Cleveland Browns star’s money was real.

OBJ qui distribue les billets à tout-va après la victoire de LSU… vous en pensez quoi ? @TDActu #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/RQH6zZA16G

— MorganLagreeTBP (@MorganLagreeTBP) January 14, 2020

In addition to banning Beckham from facilities, LSU is cutting eight football scholarships over a two-year span — four each year — and will reduce recruiting visits, evaluations and communication. These penalties come after an investigation revealed that a booster made payments to the father of a player, according to Sports Illustrated.

Football coach Les Miles and athletic director Joe Alleva — in charge when booster payments were occurring — no longer work for LSU.

“LSU has worked proactively and in cooperation with the NCAA to identify and self-report any violations that occurred within our football program,” Robert Munson, LSU Senior Associate Athletic Director, told Sports Illustrated in a statement. “We believe these self-imposed penalties are appropriate and we will continue to coordinate and cooperate with the NCAA on this matter.”

While LSU is slimming the number of scholarships it will have at its disposal, the penalties do not stop the program from signing the maximum 25 newcomers to the team each year. The Tigers will see off-campus contact with recruits cut from 168 to 147 days, and visits will be slashed by 12.5 percent.

It remains to be seen if the NCAA will still pursue additional penalties against LSU.