With USC's football opener only more than a month away, coach Steve Spurrier and the rest of the Gamecock faithful have yet another setback to deal with before taking the gridiron. USC released a summary disposition report Wednesday outlining 10 NCAA violations within the athletics department.
USC, according to the report, has recommended the Committee on Infractions place USC on a two-year probation during which the football program would lose two scholarships and would be allowed six less official visits during the 24-month span. The committee can accept this proposal or add additional penalties and is expected to rule on the matter at a meeting Aug. 12-14.
The football program was the target of what turned out to be just under a three-year investigation. In the report, six major violations are outlined, leading the NCAA to cite a lack of institutional control within the football program.
Four of the described violations are listed as dealing with recruiting and two as extra benefits, leading the NCAA to say in the report, "While this case involves a number of different types of violations, at least one theme emerged from three of the violations of this case. That theme involved efforts to keep or get several top football student-athletes eligible but done so in violation of NCAA rules."
The full list of infractions can be found at uscnews.com.
The report's main target is former Associate Athletics Director Tom Perry, who is listed in all but one of the violations. According to the report, one witness reported Perry had an attitude of getting things done any way he could. USC terminated Perry in 2004 for "unethical behavior."
Former coach Lou Holtz is mentioned in one violation, described as "presence of media during recruiting contact". This incident occurred in January 2004, when Holtz met with then recruits Matt Raysor and Alonzo Middleton with a newspaper reporter present. Attempts by the media to get comment from Holtz have been largely unsuccessful, but Holtz shed some light earlier in the week in an interview transcribed by the AP.
"Five of the (10) violations were reported by us," Holtz said. "There was no money involved, no recruiting violations, no enticements. But nevertheless, you don't want to get any marks against you."
Former Athletics Director Mike McGee, who retired effective June 31, issued these remarks in a prepared statement.
"I believe that the NCAA's investigation of the university has been comprehensive and that the university has assisted in the investigation in an open and honest manner. Any violation of NCAA legislation is unacceptable, and I regret that five violations not previously discovered by the athletics department were discovered," McGee said. "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. The compliance program in place has been effective. When violations are discovered, they have been immediately reported to the NCAA, SEC and university administration, and swift and decisive corrective actions have been taken."
Spurrier, who in eight months has endured double-digit discipline problems among players and now has to deal with violations that occurred under someone else's watch, issued the following statement.
"These matters occurred before my staff and I arrived in November," Spurrier said. "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. I'm excited about the future of Carolina football."
Spurrier will have his 2005 team all together for the first time Aug. 1 when preseason practice begins in Columbia.
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