The University of South Carolina has proposed a two-year probation in football after admitting to 10 violations of NCAA rules.
The violations, covering 1999 to 2002, range from improper summer workouts, tutoring and contacts with recruits to use of ineligible players and inadequate monitoring and control of the program, which at the time was under Lou Holtz, the head coach.
The penalties proposed by USC, according to a summary report released Wednesday by the school, include giving up two football scholarships in 2006-07 and two in 2007-08, and cutting paid campus visits by recruits from 56 to 50 for both 2005-06 and 2006-07.
The probation would not impact the team’s schedule, its eligibility for post-season play, or appearances on television.
The report has been sent to the NCAA Committee on Infractions and could be considered at its regular meeting in August. At least five of the 10 violations of NCAA rules are considered major by the NCAA, according to the school’s report.
Herbert Adams of Laurens, chairman of the USC Board of Trustees, said in a prepared statement that a report that “includes 10 violations is very serious.”
“I believe that our response to the report is comprehensive,” he said, adding that he supports the school “seeking guidance from outside compliance professionals to assist us with our own determined efforts to ensure that mistakes from the past are never repeated.”
The violations — five uncovered by NCAA investigators — cover a range of conduct that the school says ran afoul of NCAA rules governing recruiting of players and their treatment as student-athletes.
For example, USC says two players received “impermissible” tutoring and played in games despite being ineligible, and one sports prospect apparently piggybacked on the campus visit of another recruit, violating the rules for counting “paid visits,” according to the report. The report also notes that “an academic dean deviated from institutional readmission procedures in readmitting a student-athlete from an academic suspension.” The athlete played while ineligible, which the report says “amounts to an extra benefit.”
USC President Andrew A. Sorensen said in a statement released by the school that “our responsibility now is to be even more vigilant to ensure that we always operate in complete and total compliance with all university and NCAA policies and procedures.”
Coach Steve Spurrier, who replaced Holtz following his retirement after last season, pointed out that the violations did not occur on his watch.
“Hopefully, the NCAA will agree to the penalties we are proposing, which I believe are fair, so that we can get this matter behind us,” he said in a statement. “I’m excited about the future of Carolina football.”
Holtz could not be reached Wednesday for comment.
Eric Hyman, who became director of athletics on July 1, said he had not read the full report. “The violations are regrettable,” he said.
“In this situation, there is a new staff on board, and the new staff has impeccable credentials. If you follow Coach Spurrier’s track record, it speaks for itself,” said Hyman.
Mike McGee, who retired June 30 after 12 years as USC athletics director, said he regretted that five additional violations were not previously discovered.
“Carolina’s athletics department has always been characterized by a strong commitment to full compliance with NCAA rules and the diligent pursuit of possible violations,” he said.
The NCAA enforcement staff contacted USC on Dec. 11, 2002, saying it had reports of possible rules violations in the football program. The final interview was conducted in June 2005, the report said.
In addition, on Feb. 9, 2005, USC reported a violation involving six baseball student-athletes. While not a part of the football investigation, the matter has been included in the “Review of Other Issues” section of the report.
According to the report, they were permitted to play golf free at a Columbia-area public course. The NCAA enforcement staff regards this violation to be major, according to the report. USC regards this violation to be secondary, according to the report.
In addition to the penalties, the university faces several corrective measures, including a review of the university compliance system, according to the summary report.
Also, athletics tutors will be required to sign a statement acknowledging appropriate training and understanding of NCAA rules, according to the report.
