Clemson Releases NCAA Violations

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Clemson revealed seven NCAA secondary violations Friday, including an instance where an athlete's brother got free transportation, lodging and meals from an athletic booster

Friday, April 27th 2007, 4:10 pm

By: News On 6

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Clemson revealed seven NCAA secondary violations Friday, including an instance where an athlete's brother got free transportation, lodging and meals from an athletic booster while attending one of his sibling's road games last September.

That was among the two most serious, Level I violations the athletic department reported directly to the NCAA between July 1 and Feb. 1, according to documents released by the school. The names of those involved and the teams were not released, as per school policy, sports information director Tim Bourret said.

The athlete whose brother received what the NCAA describes as an "extra benefit" was initially declared ineligible until the governing body restored his status. The NCAA did not make the family repay the cost of the trip due to "documented financial hardship." The athlete was also required to attend weekly rules education meetings with compliance services before completing complementary ticket forms.

The other Level I violation occurred on Jan. 16 when Clemson's compliance office found a coach had granted more financial aid than allowed for a midyear enrollee. The school said the coach incorrectly thought that aid going to an athlete graduating in December would not figure into the team's total for the spring semester.

The coach involved received a letter of reprimand along with a review of NCAA guidelines. The school says it also "reduced maximum limit for 2007-08 by twice the amount" of the extra aid awarded.

The school's compliance office said it would hold a rules education session with all sports reviewing squad lists.

The other five violations were classified as Level II, which are reported to the Atlantic Coast Conference and are defined as "inadvertent, isolated of operating bylaws" of the NCAA.