TAMPA, Fla. — The University of South Florida’s men’s basketball program has violated numerous NCAA rules over the past months, a former USF assistant coach, former USF players and other school sources told FanHouse.

Most of the NCAA violations involve USF video and conditioning assistant Terrelle Woody, who was hired Aug. 26, 2008, in a non-coaching position by USF coach Stan Heath (right) as part of a package deal to guarantee the signing of highly touted Maryland transfer Gus Gilchrist.

The violations include Woody providing transportation to student-athletes, watching “open gyms,” coaching players and illegally working out USF players.

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TAMPA – USF leads the fulmer-cup rankings, which rates universities by the criminal activity within their football programs.

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TAMPA – The University of South Florida’s football program had the nation’s worst Academic Progress Report (APR) among BCS conference schools, while the men’s basketball program had the nation’s third-worst score, according to the most recent figures released by the NCAA on Wednesday.

The APR is based on the eligibility, retention and graduation of each scholarship student-athlete.

The reports are based on NCAA Division I APR data submitted by each institution for the four academic years between 2004-05 and 2007-08. There is a maximum score of 1,000.

USF’s football program had a 909 APR this year, a drop of eight points from last season (917). USF’s men’s basketball program had an 878 APR this year, a drop of 26 points from last season (904).

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USF’s football team avoided scholarship losses by applying for an NCAA waiver and received it for a second consecutive year

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida defensive tackle Torrey Davis, who made two goal-line tackles in the national championship against Oklahoma, has left the team.

School spokesman Steve McClain confirmed Davis’ departure Saturday, but would not divulge the reason for his decision.

Davis, a sophomore from Seffner, had academic trouble and at least two off-the-field problems during his time in Gainesville. He was cited for alcohol possession and driving with knowledge of a suspended license.

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03/03/2009 Joe Tresey (Cincinnati DC) Accepts USF DC Offer
03/03/2009 Joe Tresey (Cincinnati DC) gets 2nd interview / DC Offer(6)
03/03/2009 Chris Ash (Iowa State) turns down USF DC job
03/02/2009 Mike Ekeler (Nebraska LB Coach) turns down USF DC job for a 2nd time
03/02/2009 Chris Ash (Iowa State) gets DC offer(6)
03/02/2009 Mike Ekeler (Nebraska LB Coach) gets 2nd offer for USF DC job (5)
03/02/2009 John Jancek (GA LB Coach) turns down USF DC job
03/01/2009 John Jancek (GA LB Coach) reportedly interviews, gets DC offer(4)
03/01/2009 Greg Brown (CU) turns down USF DC job
02/27/2009 Greg Brown (CU) reportedly interviews, gets DC offer(3)
02/27/2009 Greg Hudson (ECU DC) reportedly considered/interviewed?
02/26/2009 Chris Ash (Iowa State) reportedly interviews
02/25/2009 Dan Disch (Illinois co DC) turns down USF DC job
02/25/2009 Mike Ekeler (Nebraska LB Coach) turns down USF DC job
02/24/2009 Jeff Genyk (Eastern Michigan coach) reportedly interviews
02/24/2009 Dan Disch (Illinois co DC) reportedly interviews, gets DC offer(2)
02/24/2009 Ron Hudson (Kansas State/Kentucky OC) reportedly interviews
02/23/2009 Chris Demarest(Rutgers coach) reportedly interviews
02/23/2009 Mike Ekeler (Nebraska LB Coach) reportedly interviews, gets DC offer(1)
02/21/2009 Joe Tresey (Cincinnati DC) interviews
02/17/2009 Wally Burnham leaves USF for Iowa State

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USF basketball guards Mike Mercer and Anthony Crater have been suspended from the team indefinitely after being arrested late Friday night near campus and charged with a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.

This is the second late-night arrest for Mercer since he transferred to USF after being dismissed from the basketball team at Georgia in December 2007, putting his future with the team in doubt.

According to police reports, both players were arrested by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s officers at 11:56 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and Bearss Avenue, close to USF’s campus.

A blue Dodge Charger driven by Mercer, going north on Bruce B. Downs, “crossed three lanes of traffic and cut in front of” the arresting officer, causing him to brake, according to the arrest report. The car was pulled over at 11:15 p.m., and the officer reported “the smell of marijuana was emitting from within the vehicle.” A search of the vehicle produced a “brown marijuana cigarette” under the passenger seat, where Crater (pictured below) was sitting, and both players told police they had knowledge of the marijuana and were “about to smoke it,” according to the arrest report.

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TAMPA — A former University of South Florida basketball player was shot Thursday by a deputy U.S. marshal serving a drug-related warrant.

David Christopher Sills, 26, was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital after the 11:30 a.m. incident, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent Jim Madden said.

Sills was shot in the torso, but his injuries were not life-threatening, Madden said. He was booked into the Orient Road Jail about 4 p.m. Friday, after being treated at St. Joseph’s. He is being held without bail.

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A police report at the time indicated that he shoved a USF parking patroller who was placing a boot on his car in the parking lot adjacent to the Bulls’ basketball arena. Officers said they found marijuana in his impounded car.

A former junior point guard for the USF Bulls, Sills was dismissed from the team in 2005, with then-coach Robert McCullum citing Sills’ poor attitude and behavior. Sills studied communications at USF for two semesters, from May until December 2005, and left without graduating, USF spokeswoman Lara Wade said.

Sills’ most recent arrest came in January, when he was charged with trafficking in cocaine. Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said a warrant had been issued for Sills’ arrest after he sold cocaine to an undercover officer in November.

On Thursday, when the shooting occurred, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force was serving a TPD-originated warrant for failure to appear in court on those charges, McElroy said.

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Tampa – The controversial former USF linebacker was cut from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad. Ben Moffitt was  alleged to have cheated while attending the University of South Florida. Although the employer of his wife disciplined her for writing papers and taking tests for Ben Moffitt, USF never took action to investigate their former star linebacker. 

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TAMPA – During the past year, University of South Florida leaders have overhauled the academic support for student-athletes and made scholastic success among players a top priority.

NCAA data released this week shows that job may be harder for some sports than others.

Just 56 percent of football players who entered USF between 1998 and 2001 graduated in six years. That compares with the national average of 67 percent in Division 1-A football.

It’s also the worst graduation rate among Big East football teams.

In men’s basketball, it’s worse. At USF, the graduation rate among student-athletes in that sport was 42 percent, compared to the national Division I average of 62 percent.

USF’s graduation rates among student-athletes in those sports have fallen while national averages have improved. NCAA figures from last year showed that USF’s football players had a graduation rate of 61 percent. That rate dropped five percentage points this year.

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Former Lakewood and USF offensive tackle Theodric “Thed” Watson, who had a tryout with the Giants in May but wasn’t signed, was arrested in St. Petersburg on Thursday night on a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana.

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