A few months ago, the NCAA handed South Carolina a Notice of Allegations following an investigation into impermissible benefits handed to 12 student-athletes from May 2009 through Oct. 2010. The school had until today to respond to that NOA.
And, as expected, South Carolina has responded with a lengthy letter to the NCAA agreeing with all three allegations, including the failure to sufficiently monitor allegation. As a result, self-imposed sanctions against the football program will include a loss of six scholarships over the course of three years, a reduction of official recruiting visits to 30 for the 2012-13 year and an $18,500 fine for allowing four ineligible football players to compete during the 2009-10 football season.
You can also see exhibits in the school’s response HERE if you can’t fall asleep.
“We continue to work in full cooperation with the NCAA on this very serious matter,” school president Harris Pastides said. “As an institution, we established self-imposed penalties and implemented corrective actions.”
South Carolina’s total amount of impermissible benefits from the Whitney Hotel are roughly $47,000. Again, that’s a loss in six scholarships. For $47,000. Boise State received a loss of nine scholarships over the course of three years for impermissible benefits -- or, sleeping on the floor of some bro’s apartment, as we like to call it -- totaling less than $5,000, and Ohio State received a loss of five scholarships over three years for impermissible benefits to players totaling less than $1,000.
Just so we’re clear.
The school is scheduled to meet with the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions on Feb. 17-18.