NCAA puts South Carolina on probation after recruiting violation

The NCAA announced on Tuesday the placement of the South Carolina Gamecocks on a 1-year probation, after the school self-reported a recruiting violation within the football program.

During the 2018 recruiting cycle, an assistant coach apparently made impermissible contact with a sophomore prospect via text messages and an in-person visit. This Level II infraction was reported by the school, and the punishment decided by the NCAA’s negotiated resolution process.

According to an ESPN report, the coach was former defensive assistant Lance Thompson, and the prospect was 2020 recruit Demonte Capehart, an IMG Academy product and current Clemson commitment.

There is no postseason ban associated with the ruling, but according to The Athletic’s Josh Kendall, South Carolina will lose multiple in-person recruiting visits, can no longer court the prospect in question, and will pay a $10,000 fine.

Frankly, I don’t know why any school bothers to self-report violations to the NCAA these days, and especially not with small potatoes such as these — North Carolina has laid out the blueprint on stonewalling and ultimately escaping, even from the most egregious of offenses, and the NCAA seems like an endangered species with all the proposed college athlete compensation laws popping up around the country. At least the Gamecocks didn’t put themselves in timeout for cookie cakes this time around, I guess?