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News Nuggets, 07.14.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

South Carolina fesses up to "major" infractions

COLUMBIA — South Carolina admitted to 10 NCAA violations committed under former football coach Lou Holtz in a report released Wednesday. Five of the violations were classified as major.

The report was prepared jointly by the NCAA enforcement staff and the university and has been forwarded to the NCAA's Committee on Infractions, which can accept, reject or modify the proposed penalties.

The school found violations occurred when prospective student-athletes were given impermissible tutoring sessions and offseason workouts from 1999-2002.

South Carolina was also found to have a lack of institutional control.

``These are serious violations that are not in keeping with the values of the University of South Carolina and our athletics programs,'' University President Andrew Sorensen said. ``They certainly cast our university in a light which no one in the Carolina family condones.''

Holtz did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press at his home in Orlando, FL.

The school proposed two years of probation, a reduction from 56 to 50 paid campus visits for football recruits this year and next; and a loss of two football scholarships for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years.

Steve Spurrier, who replaced Holtz, says he hopes the NCAA will accept the penalties, ``which I believe are fair, so that we can get this matter behind us.''

School officials said Tom Perry, former senior associate athletic director for academic support services, is no longer with the school and and Pat Moorer, former strength and conditioning coach, was reassigned after Spurrier took the job.

Holtz retired at the end of last season.

``Any violation of the NCAA legislation is unacceptable, and I regret that five violations not previously discovered by the athletics department were discovered,'' said Mike McGee, who retired after more than 12 years as South Carolina's AD last month.

The report closes a chapter during which South Carolina had some of its greatest on-the-field successes, including the 2001-01 seasons when Holtz led the team to 17-7 record and two Outback Bowl victories.

``Any success that we have in athletics should be earned honorably and never be tainted by any violation of the rules and regulations that govern intercollegiate athletics,'' University of South Carolina board Chairman Herbert Adams said.

Player nabbed for trying to pass funny money

LAS VEGAS — Nevada-Las Vegas receiver Terry James Furlow was suspended from the team after he was arrested and charged with trying to spend counterfeit $20 bills.

Furlow entered no plea Wednesday during an initial appearance in Las Vegas Justice Court on felony forgery, possession of forged instrument and burglary charges, a court clerk said. He was assigned a public defender and a preliminary hearing date of July 27.

The transfer from Fresno State was arrested early Sunday at a nightclub at a hotel-casino, Las Vegas police said.

Furlow was suspended indefinitely for breaking team rules, UNLV spokesman Mark Wallington said.

He was being held Wednesday at the Clark County jail on $8,000 bail.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:26 PM