Just read this cryptic and frightening tweet from one of our better bloggers

[Xnex]

http://www.cockytalk.com/showthread.php?t=133132

New NCAA news - not necessarily good - for South Carolina. Clarifying and confirming now. This is not going away.

5 minutes ago via web

To me, this sounds very bad. I expect to have our hearts broken very soon and almost to a point that it will be expected that UGA comes into Williams-Brice and handles us. I am so tired of all this waiting and wondering; I swear I am.

[slamee101]

You know with all the AJ talk I forgot all about the issues SC had.

[Xnex]

You know with all the AJ talk I forgot all about the issues SC had.

I tried to but they just won't let me. Seems that they are enjoying all of this.

[Xnex]

Okay, it looks like we may be getting an official "Letter of Inquiry" from the NCAA and that supposedly indicates that they believe there are issues with the athletic department overall and not just on a player by player basis.

Quotes from the President of the school:

Here's a statement from SC president Harris Pastides: "I assure our fans and community that we will do what is right for the university ...

Pastides: "Winning and playing by the rules go hand in hand. And playing by the rules is the only way to win. We will continue to cooperate

Pastides: "with the NCAA, our expectations have always been that our student-athletes and staff maintain highest NCAA standards."

Some people on the a Gamecocks' board says that they don't think this means anything, but is instead an offical notice of the issues that they have been investigating, and that the investigation will take longer. This poster says he believes that UGA got one of these letters a little while back when this investigation began. Can someone who knows for a FACT let me know if UGA did receive on LOI from the NCAA? Also, is the Letter of Inquiry simply a formality and a restatement of what has already been discussed? Any knowledgeable help will be appreciated.

[Xnex]

This tweet is from TBS (The Big Spur) which is a site dedicated to Carolina sports.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TheBigSpur247

One source within the football program just told us "standard operating procedure".

******************************

Supposedly the decision to make a LOI public knowledge is up to the school. The NCAA doesn't tell anyone about the letter being sent. I guess USC has decided that it is easier to come out with it than to try and cover it up. So it's possible that several schools receive such letters, but they manage to keep it private.

[CalDawg]

At this point, the possibility has to be acknowledged that the NCAA is intentionally focusing on the SEC. There are a lot of people who resent the league's dominance in cfb and they have taken some extraordinary steps (like major conference shuffling) in an attempt to stem the flow of money and power to the SEC. The NCAA has certainly turned their enforcement gaze directly at one corner of the country and I'm having doubts about whether this is coincidental.

[Xnex]

At this point, the possibility has to be acknowledged that the NCAA is intentionally focusing on the SEC. There are a lot of people who resent the league's dominance in cfb and they have taken some extraordinary steps (like major conference shuffling) in an attempt to stem the flow of money and power to the SEC. The NCAA has certainly turned their enforcement gaze directly at one corner of the country and I'm having doubts about whether this is coincidental.

I'm going to say something here that might WILL sound childish. But I don't think there's any bigtime college football program that would come away 100% clean of any violation if the NCAA decides to crawl up their azzes with a microscope. I just don't believe it. There's always something happening that might be a violation if every player, coach, and support staff is given the white glove treatment.

[CalDawg]

I'm going to say something here that might WILL sound childish. But I don't think there's any bigtime college football program that would come away 100% clean of any violation if the NCAA decides to crawl up their azzes with a microscope. I just don't believe it. There's always something happening that might be a violation if every player, coach, and support staff is given the white glove treatment.

People are people, cheating is evenly distributed. Anyone who doubts that never paid attention to politics. When the NCAA starts to find a rash of problems in one area of the country, it's because that's where they're looking. They averted their attention from Southern Cal for a long, long time after it became obvious there was a problem until media coverage forced their hand. Alternatively, in the southeast, they find a problem and suddenly they're feverishly digging everywhere.

Edited September 9, 2010 by CalDawg

[SacFalcFan]

Xnex,

Here is what this means: Their investigation is far from over. UGA received an interview notice when they started to investigate AJ Green not letter of inquiry. It does mean IMO they have some info/proof on SC and it's why they have not concluded their investigation. I know some are saying it's what they do every 6 months or so, but I don't think this is just status quo for this to be sent. This is a not a good sign (which you already know) and expect some more visits from the NCAA. It also means if your guys play anyone who is currently being held out due to this investigation you are facing you are playing some poker regarding their elgibility. As CalDawg said they are targeting the SEC bigtime. Expect Tennessee Volunteers to be receiving an Letter of Inquiry as well for another investigation very soon. The guys up in knoxville are already antsy from what they are hearing.

[Xnex]

Xnex,

Here is what this means: Their investigation is far from over. UGA received an interview notice when they started to investigate AJ Green not letter of inquiry. It does mean IMO they have some info/proof on SC and it's why they have not concluded their investigation. I know some are saying it's what they do every 6 months or so, but I don't think this is just status quo for this to be sent. This is a not a good sign (which you already know) and expect some more visits from the NCAA. It also means if your guys play anyone who is currently being held out due to this investigation you are facing you are playing some poker regarding their elgibility. As CalDawg said they are targeting the SEC bigtime. Expect Tennessee Volunteers to be receiving an Letter of Inquiry as well for another investigation very soon. The guys up in knoxville are already antsy from what they are hearing.

Thanks for getting back to me. Oddly enough, after the LOI story comes out, we then get notice that Chris Culliver has been cleared to play again.

[richham]

What it means is that they are investigating your athletics department, not just individual players. That is normally a "bad" sign. UGA was informed that the ncaa wanted to interview a player. A formal LOI is much, much worse because the penalties, if there are any, generally apply to everyone or whatever sport they are investigating.

[Xnex]

What it means is that they are investigating your athletics department, not just individual players. That is normally a "bad" sign. UGA was informed that the ncaa wanted to interview a player. A formal LOI is much, much worse because the penalties, if there are any, generally apply to everyone or whatever sport they are investigating.

Well I think it's pretty obvious what this means. We will wipe the floor with UGA; then proceed to go undefeated and win the BCS championship. After that the NCAA comes in and strips us of all victories, vacates the title, strips our baseball team of their championship, takes away our ACC championship from the 1960's, forces us to officially change our name from Gamecocks, to cheatin' chickens, and makes us wear pink uni's for a period of two years. :ph34r:

[SacFalcFan]

Well I think it's pretty obvious what this means. We will wipe the floor with UGA; then proceed to go undefeated and win the BCS championship. After that the NCAA comes in and strips us of all victories, vacates the title, strips our baseball team of their championship, takes away our ACC championship from the 1960's, forces us to officially change our name from Gamecocks, to cheatin' chickens, and makes us wear pink uni's for a period of two years. :ph34r:

lol cheatin' chickens.. hilarious.