Nov. 22, 2004

Columbia, S.C. – GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS MORNING WE SAID GOOD-BYE TO A COACHING LEGEND, OUR OWN Lou Holtz IN THIS VERY ROOM … THIS AFTERNOON, WE ARE HERE FOR ANOTHER REASON …

SOUTH CAROLINA WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY BOWL GAME INVITATION THIS SEASON NOR WILL CLEMSON …

THIS WAS NOT A KNEE JERK REACTION TO THE MOST UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT ON SATURDAY. AFTER MUCH CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE SEC OFFICE, WITH THE PRESIDENTS, ATHLETICS DIRECTORS AND ADMINISTRATION OF BOTH SCHOOLS, WE FELT IT WAS NECESSARY TO DECLINE ANY BOWL INVITATION WE WOULD RECEIVE THIS YEAR.

THE ACTIONS ON SATURDAY ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE CORE VALUES, MORALS AND ETHICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. WHILE WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO BUILDING CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS AT CAROLINA, WE ARE EVEN MORE COMMITTED TO SEEING STUDENT-ATHLETES DEVELOP WITH THE FINEST INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER POSSIBLE …

WHILE THIS DECISION WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL IMPACT ON USC AND WILL ALSO LOSE A MONTH OF PRE-BOWL PRACTICE IT WAS A DECISION THAT HAD TO BE MADE …

FOOTBALL IS A TEAM SPORT. THE PUNISHMENT WILL BE ONE THAT WILL AFFECT THE ENTIRE TEAM. THE PLAYERS ACTED WITHOUT THINKING. I AM CERTAIN THEY FEEL EMBARRASSED, UPSET, AND SORRY THAT IT HAPPENED. BUT, REGRET AND REMORSE DO NOT EXCUSE THESE ACTIONS FROM BEING PUNISHED. THE TEAM NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE CHOSE TO TAKE THESE ACTIONS AND KNOW THIS IS THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION …

ULTIMATELY, THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH SOUTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL ARE CHARACTER, COURAGE, PERSEVERANCE, SACRIFICE, INTEGRITY AND SELF-CONTROL. WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT ALLOW LAPSES OF THESE LIFE-LONG LESSONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. THE CAROLINA ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT AND ITS FOOTBALL STUDENT-ATHLETES AND ATHLETICS DIRECTOR EXPRESS THEIR DEEPEST APOLOGIES FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS TERRIBLY UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT.

Statement from Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive concerning the decision by the University of South Carolina not to participate in a post-season bowl this season:

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — SEC Commissioner Mike Slive issued the following statement today:

“The decision by the University of South Carolina not go to a bowl game sends the important message to student-athletes, not only at South Carolina and in the Southeastern Conference, but thoughout the nation that intercollegiate ahtletics will not tolerate the kind of behavior we saw in the South Carolina-Clemson game last Saturday. The Southeastern Conference supports this decision by the University. The conference continues to review game films to determine additional penalties where warranted.”