It's not a joke. The extra benefits were minor but that's not the total story as Ironman has already noted.
The NCAA wasn't turning over rocks in Boise looking for violations. Allegations of NCAA violations were made in a lawsuit by a former BSU Track & Field coach. The NCAA sent a routine inquiry and BSU undertook an internal investigation which is the usual procedure.
Violations were indeed found in several programs including football most were very minor, most likely carelessness and/or a poor understanding of the rules. The athletes involved made restitution per NCAA policy.
The NCAA was going to hold a Summary Hearing to dispose of the issues when a major infraction(s) in the Tennis Program surfaced. Among of a number of blatant violations the Tennis Coach played a recruit in a match PRIOR to enrollement. That's what sent the case to the Infractions Committee.
A list of the football "extra benefits" was published on May 2nd by BSU. I read the pdf identifying each misspent dollar Monday night but can't find it now. BSU has acknowledged "errors" in complaince and had already fired the Tennis coaching staff.
As there were violations in 5 programs that IS a lack of control.
Boise State already has implemented several changes to avoid future violations, including
the hiring of additional compliance staff
updating policies in its athletics compliance manual
increasing rules education and improving compliance documentation
transferring compliance responsibility and oversight from the athletic department to the President’s Office through the General Counsel
This isn't the big bucks of USC and Bush nor the allegation of a parent selling his kid's skills or a HS coaching selling his player's skills (Bama/Means) BUT it was one area where the NCAA didn't need subpeona power it DOESN'T have. The NCAA didn't have to wait for Federal of Civil courts to gather evidence through their subpoena power. BSU cooperated and provided the information.
BSU will likely take a hit in Tennis and Track & Field.