Gamecocks' case officially closed

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The NCAA outlined 11 violations - five of them major - in its final report Wednesday concerning South Carolina's football program under ex-Gamecocks coach Lou Holtz.

The NCAA listed a sixth secondary violation, raising the total infractions by one from South Carolina's summary disposition report this past summer.

The penalties against South Carolina did not change.

Another change from the summary disposition report was the NCAA classified only five infractions as major, reclassifying a violation about the Gamecocks' off-season conditioning program to a less serious secondary violation.

The sixth and final secondary violation involved South Carolina's coaching staff letting a football player practice "despite the fact that he was not enrolled in a full-time program of studies," according to the NCAA report.

University spokesman Russ McKinney said the additional secondary infraction was originally grouped with one of the five from South Carolina's report.

"They just chose to list it that way," McKinney said.

The NCAA's report officially closed its case against South Carolina.

The NCAA's Committee on Infractions informed the school in August it was adding a third year of probation to the school's recommended penalty of two years. No restrictions were placed on bowls or TV appearances for the Gamecocks.

Additionally, South Carolina will have two fewer scholarships during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, and can have no more than 50 paid recruit visits during those years. The maximum number is 56.

Former South Carolina administrator Tom Perry, who the NCAA said was central to several infractions, has a four-year show cause order attached to his future employment at NCAA institutions.

The NCAA's three-year probation expires on June 6, 2008.

South Carolina administrators accepted the NCAA's additional penalties in August. NCAA spokesman Kent Barrett said the governing body's inquiry into South Carolina, which began in the summer of 2002, is complete.

In South Carolina's August report, it had disagreed with the NCAA on a violation concerning transportation given a player to ensure "he made it to class, practice, doctor's appointments, weightlifting and tutoring," according to the NCAA's release. The NCAA classified that as a major violation while school administrators had deemed it secondary.

But the NCAA's final document had it listed among its five "Findings of Violations of NCAA Legislations" and not its six secondary infractions.

University of South Carolina President Andrew Sorensen said he was gratified the NCAA thought the school had done a complete and thorough investigation into the violations.

"From the outset, Carolina has taken this matter very seriously," Sorensen said, "and we will continue to pursue with vigilance and honesty our goal of full compliance (with NCAA rules)."