Training camp separates the Brinkleys

AUGUSTA — Jasper and Casper Brinkley were on the same side this past week for what might be one of the last times in a long while.
Brothers face playing on different teams for first time


The football-playing, twin brothers who starred as defensive stalwarts at Thomson High School and the University of South Carolina were not gearing up to face Tim Tebow or Knowshon Moreno. Rather, they took time to greet fans, sign autographs and show their appreciation, before heading off to NFL training camp.

For the first time since they have been playing on the same level, they will not be on the same team. Casper is starting his second season with the Carolina Panthers while Jasper agreed to terms on a contract after being selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of April’s draft.

“It’s one of those things. We knew it would come,” Jasper said. “We’ve been able to handle the adjustment well, but if there weren’t cell phones, we’d be devastated.”

Casper echoed his twin’s sentiments, saying it was a great feeling to have played together for so long but the two knew it would not last forever.

“We prepared,” Casper said. “We knew one day it would be like this.”

The only reason the twins did not face this dilemma as NFL peers a year ago was because of a leg injury Jasper suffered early in the 2007 season. He missed so much time that he was eligible to redshirt and returned to Columbia for an extra season, preparing himself for NFL scouts.

While Jasper played another season as a college linebacker, Casper gained some NFL experience. He was signed by Carolina as an undrafted rookie and spent the majority of the season as a defensive end on the Panthers’ practice squad.

What advice does Casper offer the new rookie in the family?

“Only thing I tell him is to be positive,” Casper said. “Take a deep breath and take things one day at a time. Don’t put too much on your plate.”

Casper said the biggest adjustment in becoming an NFL player was “staying in the playbook. The hardest part was the playbook and all of the meeting time.”

Jasper seemed to be heeding his brother’s advice saying, “I don’t know what to expect because I’ve never been there. I know it’s going to be tough. I was told to show up (to training camp) in shape and be ready to run like the wind.”

One thing Jasper plans on doing is learning from the experienced players on the Vikings.

“The great ones do extra things to make themselves great,” Jasper said. “I’ve got to hook up with some veterans and see how they do things.”

One of the veterans Jasper potentially could turn to is free-agent quarterback Brett Favre who is rumored to be joining Minnesota.

“I grew up playing old Sega games with him on it,” Jasper said. “I’m going to get a couple of things signed. He’s a Hall of Famer.”

The brothers could have a reunion on Dec. 20, when the Vikings travel to Charlotte to play the Panthers.

“I always told Casper if I saw him on the field, watch out,” Jasper said.

Gamecocks report 14 secondary violations

Six incidents are Level I and must be reported to NCAA
Seth Emerson
semerson@thestate.com

USC reported 14 NCAA secondary violations in the past six months, according to the school, including six that were considered Level I.

Secondary violations are defined by the NCAA as being “isolated” and “inadvertent.” They typically carry a minimal penalty or sometimes none at all. Level I infractions are sent to the NCAA for review, and Level II violations go to the SEC.

Two of the Level I violations were committed by the football program:

• On May 29, recruits viewed a display at the new training room that simulated the game-day entrance into Williams-Brice Stadium. It was determined afterward that the display, which includes “2001” on loudspeakers and a smoke machine, no longer should be included on recruiting tours.

“The important thing is that it wasn’t anything that the coaches themselves staged,” said Jennifer Stiles, USC’s assistant athletics director for compliance.

• On March 6, a football assistant coach sent a recruit a text message, which was banned two years ago by the NCAA. Stiles said the coach, who was not named, returned a text from a number he did not recognize, and ceased the exchange when he found out it was a recruit.

The men’s basketball program also was charged with a Level I violation for “impermissible entertainment” when the team went bowling. That act itself, which also included a recruit, is not banned, but Stiles said the NCAA permits such team-wide, off-court activities to be held at certain times.

Three other Level II violations were attributed to the men’s basketball program. One occurred when a recruit was interviewed by The State during an official visit.

Two of the other Level I violations included the track and field team, and the other was in men’s swimming.

The athletics department also reported seven positive marijuana tests out of 530 tests taken during the first six months of the year.

Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.

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University of South Carolina

Secondary Violation Reports Summary

January to June, 2009

NOTE: The NCAA has classified secondary violations as Level I or Level II. Under the secondary infractions reporting process effective August 1, 2004, all secondary violations are submitted to the conference office. Level II violations will be reviewed and processed by the conference office and the conference office will submit an annual report of Level II secondary violations to the NCAA enforcement staff at the conclusion of the academic year. All Level I violations are submitted to the NCAA enforcement staff for review and processing via the conference office. All eligibility restoration requests were granted.

January 9, 2009 Men’s Basketball prospective student-athlete was interviewed by the media during an official visit [NCAA bylaw 13.10.1] — Level II

January 12, 2009 Ineligible Football student-athlete was provided transportation to an away-from-home contest [NCAA bylaw 16.8.1.2] — Level II

January 12, 2009 Student-athlete practiced beyond the permissible 14-day period prior to being added to the squad list [NCAA bylaw 30.13] — Level II

January 29, 2009 Track coaches were present during voluntary athletically-related activities on one calendar day [NCAA bylaw 17.02.13] — Level I

January 30, 2009 Men’s Soccer student-athletes were provided an impermissible nutritional supplement [NCAA bylaw 16.5.2] — Level II

February 9, 2009 Student-Athletes were provided impermissible snacks during away-from-home contests [NCAA bylaw 16.5.2] — Level II

February 13, 2009 Men’s Basketball prospective student-athlete and current student-athletes were provided with impermissible entertainment during an official visit [NCAA bylaw 13.6.7.5] — Level I

March 5, 2009 Women’s Track coaching staff provided two prospective student-athletes with an official visit prior to receiving proper approval [NCAA bylaw 13.6.3] — Level I

March 6, 2009 Assistant Football coach sent an impermissible text message to a prospective student-athlete [NCAA bylaw 13.4.1.2] — Level I

March 24, 2009 Men’s Basketball complimentary admissions were not issued via the proper procedure [NCAA bylaw 16.2.1.2.1] — Level II

April 22, 2009 Impermissible complimentary admissions were provided to the Men’s Basketball NIT contest [NCAA bylaw 13.8.1] — Level II

May 25, 2009 Men’s Basketball prospective student-athletes were provided with impermissible hotel accommodations during an official visit [NCAA bylaw 13.6.6] — Level II

May 29, 2009 Football prospective student-athletes viewed a display which simulated a game day experience [NCAA bylaws 13.6.7.9 & 13.7.3] — Level I

June 10, 2009 Men’s Swimming student-athlete participated in competition prior to being certified as eligible [NCAA bylaw 14.3.1] — Level I

Garcia