School self-reports 17 violations

The Clemson athletic department announced 17 NCAA secondary violations Friday.

Athletic spokesperson Tim Bourret said the number of violations were greater than normal, because for the first time, violations regarding prospective student-athletes were included.

Six of the violations involved prospective student-athletes, including three incidents involving prospective student -athletes accepting small sums -- less than $500 -- of prize money. In those cases eligibility was restored on condition prize money was repaid, and in two cases student-athletes will be withheld from several college events.

Clemson coaches received five letters of admonishment, including one for a head coach giving athletic department staff members "a monetary gift distributed from the coach's LLC." Recipients were required to return the gifts.

Several letters addressed exceeded practice time, and another addressed an assistant coach leaving a message on a prospective student athlete's Facebook Web page.

As defined by the NCAA, secondary violations are "isolated or inadvertent in nature, provides or is intended to provide only a minimal, competitive or other advantage and does not include any significant recruiting inducement or extra benefit."

Clemson reports the violations to the NCAA as they occur.

The athletic department releases the violations twice each year, typically at six month intervals.