Boulder, Colo. ? Colorado’s football team was placed on two years’ probation by the NCAA on Tuesday for recruiting violations, most of which occurred under former coach Rick Neuheisel.

The NCAA cut the school’s football scholarships and accepted Colorado’s self-imposed recruiting limits, including reducing the number of visits by recruits.

Neuheisel, now head coach at Washington, was barred from off-campus recruiting for the Huskies until May 31.

Colorado was not banned from television or bowl appearances but must reduce the number of new scholarships it offers from 25 to 20 in either the 2003-04 or 2004-05 academic year.

The football program was accused of 53 violations, 51 of them when Neuheisel was Colorado’s head coach (1995-98). Many involved improper contacts with recruits.

Gary Barnett, Neuheisel’s successor at Colorado, had told the committee that any penalties should follow Neuheisel.