per Anderson (SC) Online - <a href="http://www.andersonsc.com/stories/story_page.asp?id=68922" target="_blank">http://www.andersonsc.com/stories/story_page.asp?id=68922</a>

Changed transcripts and grades involving former South Carolina running back Derek Watson at Palmetto High School aren't the only things NCAA enforcement representative Jeff Higgins is investigating.

Higgins, who is still in the state, is trying to determine whether or not Gamecock coaches made improper contact with Watson on the day he signed his National Letter of Intent to play for the Gamecocks, a source told the Anderson Independent-Mail.

A coach cannot be present when you sign a National Letter of Intent off-campus. Pursuant to NCAA Bylaw 13.1.6.2, any in-person, off-campus contact made with a prospect for the purpose of signing a National Letter of Intent or attendance at activities related to the signing of the National Letter of Intent is prohibited.

At question is whether or not the coaches were with Watson from early that morning up until he arrived at Palmetto, the source said.

Higgins arrived in the Upstate on Saturday and interviewed some folks Sunday before going early Monday morning to Palmetto. He is expected to continue interviewing people in the state through the rest of the week, including Watson, the source said.

Watson is currently at South Carolina State, where he was suspended indefinitely after receiving a traffic citation in late September.

South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough, said the NCAA has not yet contacted the school in regard to Watson.

Higgins' trip to Palmetto comes after a former teacher at the high school told the Independent-Mail last week that Watson received grades of incomplete on three consecutive report cards in her high-level English class before he was declared learning disabled.

Watson was then assigned to an English class with other learning disabled students, where he was able to get rid of the three grades of incomplete and receive a passing grade for the school year, all in a time frame of nine weeks.

"He wanted to speak to the teachers and some of the personnel about the treatment of Derek Watson while he was a student there," said Anderson County School District 1 Superintendent Reggie Christopher. "That's basically the reason he was there."

<small>[ October 04, 2002, 06:38 PM: Message edited by: JoltinJacket ]</small>

Please don't ever again say "Carolina" while talking about the Gamecocks.... <img border="0" alt="[NoNo]" title="" src="graemlins/nono.gif" />

Thank you.

-JD

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by JD Heel:
Please don't ever again say "Carolina" while talking about the Gamecocks.... <img border="0" alt="[NoNo]" title="" src="graemlins/nono.gif" />

Thank you.

-JD</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Huh? You didn't notice the "S" in front of it? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

That's better. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

-JD