Mississippi State placed on probation

STARKVILLE, Miss., Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Mississippi State, coming off its biggest football win in years, was placed on four years probation Wednesday by the NCAA.

Because of recruiting violations, the school will have to give up eight scholarships over the next two years and will not be allowed to play in a bowl game this season. The school would not likely have qualified to play in a bowl anyway.

The NCAA cited two former assistant coaches and several boosters of the athletic program and said the violations took place from 1998 until 2002. Allegations of unethical conduct against former coach Jackie Sherrill were dismissed.

Sherrill retired after the 2003 season and was replaced by Sylvester Croom. The Bulldogs are 2-5 this season, but shocked Florida last Saturday. Florida promptly fired its head coach.