South Carolina Sanctions: NCAA Adds Probation To Self-Imposed Punishments

The South Carolina Gamecocks avoided any major hazards in the NCAA's set of sanctions for the hotel mini-scandal of 2010, largely thanks to their own cooperation and self-punishment, which the NCAA praised as "beyond standard expectations." After the Cocks limited themselves by six total scholarships due to the affair, the NCAA handed down its additional ding on Friday: three years of probation. Not so bad.

From a NCAA release, the total damage:

Public reprimand and censure.
Three years of probation from April 27, 2012, through April 26, 2015.
Reduction of total football scholarships by three (from 85 maximum) during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years.
Reduction of initial football scholarships by three (from the 25 maximum) during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years (self-imposed by the university).
$18,500 fine (self-imposed by the university).
Indefinite disassociation of both involved boosters and the local hotel (self-imposed by the university).
Limit of 30 official visits in football (from the 56 maximum) for the 2012-13 academic year (self-imposed by the university).
Limit of 50 official visits in men's and women's track and field (from unlimited maximum) for the 2012-13 academic year (self-imposed by the university).
Suspension of the head track coach during the 2012 Penn Relays (self-imposed by the university).
An assistant men's basketball coach was withheld from recruiting in December 2011 (self-imposed by the university).
An assistant football coach was withheld from off campus recruiting during January 2012 (self-imposed by the university).