Aug. 27, 2003
Columbia, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Athletics Department announced Wednesday afternoon that it is withholding from competition senior wide receiver Chavez Donnings for the first two football games of the season and senior placekicker Daniel Weaver for the first game of the season. This action is being taken as a result of the athletics department determining that the eligibility of both of these student-athletes could potentially be in question.
The action involving Donnings is an amendment to an earlier NCAA self-report that the athletics department had submitted to the Southeastern Conference in September, 2001. That report acknowledged that Donnings had received tutoring arranged by the University prior to his enrollment at USC while attending summer school at a local technical college. Donnings participated in the first two games of the 2001 season prior to the filing of this self-report. Thus, this action is now being taken with Donnings for the first two games of this season.
Weaver is being withheld from competition pending final review of an academic eligibility issue related to his participation during the 2002 season.
********************************************************************************************************** Preseason Football Practice Report
* On the practice field Wednesday, USC linebacker Lance Laury, who has missed virtually all of preseason camp with a sore knee, did some light work. He still is not expected to play against Louisiana-Lafayette this Saturday. Defensive tackle Eric Stroman has a sore foot, but he is expected to play against the Ragin’ Cajuns.
* Wide receiver Mikal Goodman has been moved up to one of the receiver spots in light of Chavez Donnings being held out of the first two games this season. Goodman is a senior from Daytona Beach, Fla., who had surgery last May after suffering a chest injury while weight lifting.
* With senior Daniel Weaver missing this week’s game, the placekicking job is still up in the air between Josh Brown and Charlie Carpenter. Assistant head coach Skip Holtz said it could be a game time decision.
* Following Wednesday’s workout, Skip Holtz said that he didn’t anticipate this week’s suspension of Matthew Thomas and decision to hold out Chavez Donnings and Daniel Weaver would have an adverse affect on the team. “You can either hold your head and sulk or march on and we intend to march on,” said Skip.
* Senior Teddy Crawford is expected to start at the other cornerback spot opposite Dunta Robinson.
* As many as 12 newcomers could see action this Saturday night against Louisiana-Lafayette, including CB Fred Bennett, RB Cory Boyd, LB Ryan Brown, TE D’von Hill, LB Marcus Lawrence, WR Syvelle Newton, QB Mike Rathe, DT Freddy Saint-Preux, DT Darrell Shropshire, RB Demetris Summers, OL Woodly Telfort, and WR Noah Whiteside.
* The admission status of junior college transfer Charles Silas is still pending.
