S.C. WR Byrd has appeal denied

Byrd

SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The NCAA has turned down South Carolina’s appeal of the four-game suspension given freshman wide receiver Damiere Byrd.

The school announced Saturday that the NCAA’s committee on reinstatement turned down South Carolina’s request. The 10th-ranked Gamecocks take on Navy Saturday night.

Byrd was suspended four games and asked to pay back $2,700 in impermissible benefits from someone the NCAA ruled was a South Carolina booster.

Byrd was involved with the Student Athlete Mentoring Foundation, a Delaware-based group that says it supplies supplementary support to high schoolers in academic and athletic areas.

Byrd has missed South Carolina victories over East Carolina and Georgia. He won’t play against Navy or Vanderbilt on Sept. 24.

Byrd is eligible to return Oct. 1 against Auburn.

Related:
• S.C. WR Byrd must sit four games