South Carolina reports eight NCAA violations during 2022 calendar year
The University of South Carolina and its athletics department reported eight NCAA violations between Jan. 1, 2022 and Dec. 31, 2022, according to documents obtained by The State through an open records request. All eight of the violations reported were classified as Level III violations — the lowest level possible — by the NCAA.
The NCAA describes Level III violations as:
- Isolated or limited in nature
- Providing no more than a minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantage
- Providing no more than a minimal impermissible benefit
The Gamecocks football program committed the most violations (3) of any team included in the report. Other teams that incurred violations included women’s soccer (2), women’s swimming and diving (1), women’s volleyball (1) and men’s track and field (1).
Names of any athletes, recruits or coaches associated with the violations were not included in the documents released to The State.
The following is a full list of the report and the subsequent penalties — when applicable — from the Southeastern Conference and NCAA. Listed dates are when the violation was submitted by USC:
Football
Jan. 17, 2022 — “Coaching staff member commented in institutional press conference about a prospective student-athlete who had committed to another institution.”
Institutional action: The staff member involved was given a letter of education, while the entire coaching staff went through “rules education.”
NCAA/SEC action: Accepted institutional action
Feb. 23, 2022 — “Two student-athlete hosts and two prospective student-athletes received host money in excess of the legislated limit.”
Institutional action: Those involved current player hosts and recruits were declared ineligible until they were reinstated by South Carolina. All four were required to repay the value of the impermissible benefit to a charity of their choice.
NCAA/SEC action: Accepted institutional action.
Dec. 28, 2022 — “Prospective student-athlete was allowed to remain on the sideline for several minutes after the start of a home contest. Prospective student-athlete is not being recruited, but is of high school age and was with his parents who are donors.”
Institutional action: The coaching staff was prohibited from any in-person contact with the recruit for 90 days and limited to no more than one additional off-campus meeting, when permissible, with the person in question.
The prospective student-athlete was also required to repay the value of the ticket to a charity of his choice, while the entire coaching staff was given “rules education.”
NCAA/SEC action: Accepted institutional action
Women’s soccer
June 16, 2022 — “Prospective student-athlete was provide an official visit without being listed on the NCAA institutional request list.”
Institutional action: The entire coaching staff was given “rules education.”
NCAA/SEC action: Accepted institutional action
Oct. 25, 2022 — “Institutional social media account impermissibly tagged two uncommitted prospective student-athletes in a social media story.”
Institutional action: South Carolina was prohibited from contacting the involved prospect for a 30-day period. It was also prohibited from initiating any correspondence with said recruit for one week.
A “rules education” was also provided to the entire coaching staff.
NCAA/SEC action: Accepted institutional action
Women’s volleyball
April 6, 2022 — “Student-athlete participated in an impermissible outside competition during the academic year.”
Institutional action: The student-athlete was declared ineligible until being reinstated by the NCAA and withheld from one regular-season game.
NCAA/SEC action: Accepted institutional action
Men’s track and field
Oct. 24, 2022 — ”Student-athlete participated in one hour of countable athletically related activity (CARA) on one occasion prior to being certified as eligible to engage in CARA.”
Institutional action: The student-athlete was not allowed to take part in two hours of required CARA once he was made eligible. “Rules education” was also provided to entire coaching staff.
NCAA/SEC action: Accepted institutional action
Women’s swimming and diving
Oct. 12, 2022 — ”Coaching staff member placed a telephone call to a prospective student-athlete prior to obtaining authorization through the written notification of transfer process.”
Institutional action: Entire coaching staff was prohibited from contacting the recruit in question for 30 days. “Rules education” was also provided to entire coaching staff.
NCAA/SEC action: Involved coaching staff member was prohibited from engaging in off-campus recruiting activities for 14 days.
This story was originally published February 15, 2023 at 1:08 PM.
