Arizona State self imposes bowl ban for recruiting violations under Herm Edwards, the ex-NFL coach who was fired by the Sun Devils in 2022

Arizona State has issued a self-imposed one-year bowl ban amid an NCAA investigation for possible infractions incurred under former football coach Herm Edwards.

The ban announced Sunday is a preemptive step as the NCAA investigates the Sun Devils for alleged recruiting violations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NCAA has been investigating the program since 2021, looking into allegations that the Sun Devils hosted recruits during the NCAA-imposed ban on in-person recruiting during the pandemic, known as the ‘dead period.’

The NCAA shut down official visits to campus by high school prospects in all sports and banned coaches from taking recruiting trips for more than a year because of COVID-19.

The investigation into Arizona State was spurred by a dossier of documents sent to the NCAA on May 31, 2021 that detailed the alleged violations.

Edwards was fired last September just three games into the Sun Devils’ 2022 seasons

One such alleged violation, according to the documents, was Regina Jackson – the mother of quarterback Jayden Daniels –  helping book more than $1,100 in flights for recruits during the dead period.

 ‘Arizona State University has informed the NCAA and Pac-12 conference that it will self-impose a one-year postseason ban on its football program for the upcoming season,’ Arizona State athletic director Ray Anderson said. 

‘In light of the ongoing investigation and our membership obligation to maintain the confidentiality of the matter, we will not be commenting further at this time.’

Edwards, formerly the head coach of the NFL’s Jets and Chiefs, was fired three games into last season, but was given a $4.4 million buyout instead of being fired for cause.

Several assistants were also fired or resigned, including defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce, a Super Bowl winner with the Giants in 2008.

Antonio Pierce, the team’s former defensive coordinator, was also fired by the school

ESPN wrote that Pierce was alleged to be the ‘ringleader’ of a rule-breaking culture within the program, and reported that the reaction among players to the bowl ban was ‘devastating.’ 

Edwards’ replacement, former Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham, said the situation was ‘upsetting.’

‘Like I told the guys: you can’t control it,’ Dillingham said after practice Sunday. ‘Not one person in the country feels bad for us. 

‘As a matter of fact, a lot of people are happy about it because people love to see other people down. It’s the world we live in. If we allow people to feed off this circumstance for us, then that’s on us.’