South Carolina Put On Probation, Lose Scholarships

The NCAA has accepted South Carolina's self-proposed penalties of their football program. After it was determined that the Gamecocks failed to monitor its athletic program, South Carolina will be put on three years of probation, and will lose six scholarships over the next three seasons.

$59,000 in impermissible benefits for football players, as well as recruiting violations, were the cause of the Gamecocks "failure to monitor" ruling.

In addition to the lose of scholarships, Steve Spurrier's (pictured left) football program's official recruiting will be cut from 56 to 30 in 2012-2013.

South Carolina's cooperation with the NCAA went "beyond standard expectations," which could have helped the Gamecocks avoid a forfeiture of games and a bowl ban.

South Carolina athletics director Eric Hyman released the following statement today regarding the penalties:

"The university regrets the past actions and decisions by individuals that resulted in violations of NCAA legislation. We are pleased, however, that the Committee on Infractions found the corrective actions we have taken and the penalties we have self-imposed reflect the University's commitment to full compliance with NCAA rules."