After a weeklong investigation, the Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences decided Monday to suspend the 12 players most directly involved in Clemson and South Carolina's Nov. 20 on-field brawl.
Six Gamecocks and six Tigers will be hit with a one-game suspension for the 2005 opener.
"The actions of these suspended student-athletes violate the letter and spirit of the SEC and NCAA rules and regulations of sportsmanlike conduct," SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said.
For its opener - Steve Spurrier's first game as head coach - South Carolina will be without Freddy Saint-Preux, Swainsboro native Charles Silas, Jermaine Sims, Woodly Telfort, Moe Thompson and Washington, Ga., native Daccus Turman.
Seniors Taqiy Muhammad, Matthew Thomas and Jamacia Jackson would have been suspended if they had eligibility remaining.
For Clemson, Nathan Bennett, Brandon Cannon, Duane Coleman, Roman Fry, Maurice Nelson and Anthony Waters were suspended.
Cory Groover, Tommy Sharpe, Nick Watkins and Bobby Williamson will receive letters of reprimand.
Running back Yusef Kelly would have received a one-game suspension if he had any eligibility remaining.
Kelly was the player who launched a helmet into the stands as a "souvenir." He was also photographed kicking a South Carolina player.
The melee and its fallout caused both Clemson and South Carolina to pull out of bowl games last week.
Although the fight investigation is over, a pregame incident involving a member of the Clemson color guard is still being looked into, university police said Monday.
Jessica Patterson, 20, filed a report last week that she was hit in the head and knocked to the ground by unidentified South Carolina players.
Reach Travis Haney at (706) 823-3219 or travis.haney@augustachronicle.com.
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