NCAA to announce penalties against Alabama football program

TUSCALOOSA - The NCAA will announce its sanctions against the Alabama football program on Friday after a probe that included allegations of payments to recruit prep stars. <br> <br> The university is accused of 11 major violations and five minor charges, but has contested the two most publicized charges, involving alleged five-figure payments and two recruits. <br> <br> The NCAA can accept or add to sanctions Alabama self-imposed in December, including 15 scholarship cuts over three years and breaking ties to three boosters. <br> <br> The school-imposed punishments did not include giving up a postseason bowl or a ban on playing on television. <br> <br> The NCAA began investigating Alabama in April 2000 for alleged violations that occurred mostly under former coach Mike DuBose. <br> <br> None of the allegations involve current coach Dennis Franchione or his staff. <br> <br> The university contended allegations of a $20,000 payment to prospect Kenny Smith in the mid-1990s fell outside the governing body&#39;s statute of limitations. <br> <br> Alabama officials also argued that the NCAA couldn&#39;t prove that high school coaches for Memphis prospect Albert Means received money to steer the defensive lineman to Alabama, or that any money was tied to Tide booster Logan Young of Memphis. <br> <br> Means signed with the Tide, but has since transferred to Memphis<br>

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