For Release After 11 p.m. (EST) November 22, 1982
Contact: David E. Cawood
November 22, 1982
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY PLACED ON NCAA PROBATION
MISSION, KANSAS -- Clemson University has been placed on probation for a two-year period by the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Committee on In-fractions as a result of violations occurring in the conduct of the institution's intercollegiate football program.
The penalty includes sanctions that will prohibit the university's football team from participating in any postseason football bowl game following the 1982 and 1983 seasons or from appearing on any live football telecast during the 1983 and 1984 seasons.
In addition, the Committee on Infractions limited the university to 20 initial grants-in-aid for new football recruits (rather than the normal limit of 30) during the 1983-84 and 1984-85 academic years.
Further, as a result of his involvement in the case, the university placed one assistant football coach on probation for a three-year period and will prohibit him from participating in off-campus recruiting activities, accepting off-campus speaking engagements, participating in the university's summer football camps and from receiving salary increases during that period.
In addition, the university placed a second assistant football coach on probation for two years and will prohibit him from participating in off-campus recruiting activities, participating in the university's summer football camp and from receiving a salary increase for one year. Also, the university will prohibit four representatives of its athletic interests from participating in recruiting activities on behalf of the institution for at least a two-year period.
"Due to the large number and serious nature of the violations in this case," said Charles Alan Wright, chair, NCAA Committee on Infractions, "the committee believed that institutional sanctions related to appearances on television and in postseason football bowl games were appropriate. In addition, because the violations indicated a pattern of improper recruiting activities, the committee determined that a two-year limitation on financial aid to new recruits should be imposed to offset any recruiting advantage that was gained improperly by the university.
"Also," noted Wright, "based on the involvement of two of the university's present assistant football coaches and four outside athletic representatives in this case, the university took meaningful disciplinary and corrective action against those individuals.
"Accordingly, the committee believes that the actions taken in this case against the university, its coaches and representatives are fully justified and that the overall penalty supports the interest of all NCAA members in maintaining compliance with NCAA legislation."
In considering the case, the Committee on Infractions found violations of NCAA legislation related to recruiting, extra benefits to student-athletes, ethical conduct and certification of compliance with NCAA legislation.
The following is a complete text of the penalty imposed upon Clemson University and a summary of the violations.
Penalty To Be Imposed Upon Institution
1. Clemson University shall be publicly reprimanded and censured, and placed on probation for a period of two years, effect ive November 21, 1982, it being understood that should any portion of the penalty in this case be set aside for any reason other than by appropriate action of the Association, the penalty shall be reconsidered by the NCAA; further, prior to the expiration of this period of probation, the NCAA shall review the athletic policies and practices of the university.
2. The university's intercollegiate football team shall end its 1982 and 1983 football seasons with the playing of its last regularly scheduled, in-season contest and the university shall not be eligible to participate in any postseason football competition.
3. During the 1983 and 1984 football seasons, the university's intercollegiate football team shall not be eligible to appear on any television series or program subject to the administration or control of this Association or any other television programs involving live coverage.
4. During the 1983-84 and 1984-85 academic years, no more than 20 student-athletes in the sport of football shall be recipients of initial, athletically related financial aid (as set forth in 0.1. 600), which has been arranged for or awarded by Clemson University.
5. In accordance with the "show cause" provision of the NCAA penalty structure, the university will take disciplinary and corrective action in regard to:
a. One assistant football coach who will be placed on probation for a three-year period. During that period, he will be prohibited from:
(1) participating in any off-campus recruiting activities; (2) receiving a salary increase; (3) participating in the university's summer football camps or receiving income from the camps, and (4) accepting speaking engagements off-campus at booster club functions or at high school sports banquets.
b. A second assistant football coach who will be placed on probation for a two-year period. During the first year of that period, he will be prohibited from: (1) participating in any off-campus recruiting activities; (2) receiving a salary increase, and (3) participating in the university's 1983 summer football camp or receiving income from the camp.
c. Four representatives of the university's athletic interests, which will preclude these individuals from involvement in any activities associated with the recruitment of prospective student-athletes on behalf of the university during the institution's probationary period, and result in any further measures that the university determines to be within its authority to curtail the involvement of each individual in the university's athletic program during the probationary period.
Summary of Violations of NCAA Legislation
1. NCAA Bylaw 1-1-(b) [improper recruiting inducements] -- (a) In December 1980, a former assistant football coach offered to provide a prospective student-athlete a substantial sum of cash and an automobile to sign a letter of intent; (b) During the fall of 1978, a representative of the university's athletic interests offered to pay the costs for the two sisters of a prospective student-athlete to attend the university; © In 1978, the university awarded a scholarship to a friend of a prospective student-athlete; (d) During the 1980-81 academic year, representatives of the university's athletic interests directly assisted a prospective student-athlete and his family in paying four telephone bills; (e) During the 1980-81 academic year, a former assistant football coach and a representative of the university's athletic interests offered to provide the mother of a prospective student-athlete transportation to attend the university's football games during her son's enrollment; (f) During the summer of 1978, a prospective student-athlete was permitted to attend the university's summer football c amp at no cost to him, and (g) In January 1978, an assistant football coach offered inducements to a prospective student-athlete to attend the university that included substantial sums of cash to sign conference and national letters of intent, a television set, a wardrobe and six complimentary football tickets for the university's home football contests.
2. NCAA Bylaws 1-l-(b), 1-8-(j) and 1-8-(l) [improper recruiting inducements and entertainment] -- (a) In December 1979, an assistant football coach provided a prospective student-athlete local automobile transportation, a meal and made remarks that were reasonably interpreted by the young man to be an offer of an automobile, clothing and cash, and (b) In January 1981, a representative of the university's athletic interests offered to provide a prospective student-athlete the use of an automobile, and transportation home during his attendance at the university; further, the representative provided local transportation and a meal to the prospect on this occasion.
3. NCAA Bylaw 1-1-(b)-(l) [improper recruiting inducements] -- (a) In December 1980, a representative of the university's athletic interests gave a prospective student-athlete a substantial amount of cash in return for his signature on a letter of intent, as well as several other gifts; (b) In December 1980, a representative of the university's athletic interests arranged for a substantial amount of cash to be given to a prospective student-athlete and provided the young man and his mother other gifts; © During Christmas vacation in the 1977-78 academic year, a former assistant football coach arranged for a prospective student-athlete to receive round-trip airline transportation between a junior college he was attending and his home; (d) During the 1977-78 academic year, a prospective student-athlete made personal long-distance telephone calls through the use of a former assistant football coach's credit card number; (e) During the 1980-81 academic year, a former assistant football coach and a representative of the university's athletic interests gave two prospective student-athletes cash; (f) On numerous occasions during the 1980-81 academic year, a representative of the university's athletic interests gave a prospective student-athlete cash; (g) In January 1978, a former assistant football coach gave a prospective student-athlete's fianc
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