Associated Press
The college football notebook …
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina told the NCAA it agrees that major violations took place in its football program and will eliminate six football scholarships over the next three years as part of several self-imposed penalties.
The school released its response Wednesday, three months after the NCAA accused the Gamecocks of receiving $55,000 in improper benefits for staying at a Columbia hotel at a reduced rate and for its involvement with a Delaware-based mentoring group who’s president and treasurer with South Carolina graduates.
HONEY BEAR
LSU has issued a cease-and-desist order warning vendors to stop selling goods depicting a honey badger if they are connecting the image in any way to cornerback Tyrann Mathieu.
The popular player has sparked a demand for T-shirts with his now-famous nickname, but school officials are warning that the merchandise is not sanctioned and should not be sold.
NCAA rules forbid selling any goods with a player’s name, number or likeness on it.
ARKANSAS STATE
JONESBORO, Ark. — Gus Malzahn was ready to be a college head coach, and Arkansas State presented a familiar setting to reach that goal.
The Arkansas native and Auburn offensive coordinator returned to his home state Wednesday to take over as the new coach of the Red Wolves. He was greeted by a standing ovation inside the school’s Convocation Center and promised to put Arkansas State in the Top 25 mix annually.
Malzahn said he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a head coach in his home state after spending the last six seasons as one of the top offensive coordinators in college football.
That included the last three seasons at Auburn, where he helped guide the Tigers to a national championship last season and tutored Heisman Trophy quarterback Cam Newton.
WEIS CONTRACT
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Charlie Weis is guaranteed $2.5 million annually over the course of his five-year deal with Kansas, along with incentives that could push the total over $3 million.