S. Carolina feels wrath of NCAA

South Carolina will eliminate six football scholarships in the next three years as punishment for committing three major NCAA violations, the school announced Wednesday.

In a 111-page response to the NCAA, the school also said it will reduce official recruiting visits in football and track and field.

The NCAA said 10 South Carolina football players and two members of its women's track team received $47,000 in improper benefits for staying at a Columbia hotel for a reduced rate. The university also agreed it committed a major violation when athletes or prospects received $8,000 in benefits from two executives from a mentoring foundation.

The school didn't dispute the NCAA finding it failed to properly monitor its athletes, but called the hotel violation a "good faith error in judgment" from its compliance department.

Then-compliance officer director Jennifer Stiles signed off on players paying a rate the NCAA determined was only about a quarter of what should've been charged. Stiles was demoted to another job in the office earlier this month.

A person familiar with the decision says Pittsburgh coach Todd Graham is leaving the Panthers to take the same position at Arizona State.

Graham will replace Dennis Erickson said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Erickson was dismissed following a 6-6 season in which the Sun Devils dropped their final four games.

Graham spent just one season in Pittsburgh, where he led the Panthers to a 6-6 mark and a tie for second place in the Big East.

The move caps a tumultuous season for the Panthers, who announced in September they're leaving the Big East for the ACC by 2014 and will now be looking for their fourth head coach in the last 13 months.

There was no immediate word on who would coach the Panthers in the BBVA Compass Bowl against SMU.

Three of Graham's assistants at Pitt this season - Calvin Magee, Tony Gibson and Tony Dews - left the program earlier this month to become assistants under new Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez.

Navy's athletic director tells CBSSports.com that the academy is preparing to join the Big East, but when it will happen is unclear.

Chet Gladchuk told the website "everyone in Navy's chain of command is comfortable" with the Big East, though the decision will ultimately be made by academy superintendent, Vice Admiral Michael Miller.

Navy must re-work future schedules, and bowl and television contracts and how long that takes will affect when it can join the conference. Navy is an independent in football and would be joining the Big East for football only.

Defensive coordinator and interim head coach Vic Koenning has turned down an offer to stay at Illinois.

He will leave after coaching the Illini in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against UCLA on New Year's Eve.

New coach Tim Beckman said Koenning declined an offer to remain coordinator.

In a statement released by the school, Koenning said he will explore other opportunities.

Beckman was hired last week to replace Ron Zook, who was fired after the Illini finished the regular season 6-6. Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino left last week to return to Arkansas.

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.

A copy of the contract, which is dated Dec. 9, was obtained the Associated Press.

Weis' base salary is $230,000, though he is also in line for an additional $2.27 million in "professional services rendered," which includes educational, promotional and public relations duties.

Last February, Weis signed a three-year deal worth $2.495 million to be Florida's offensive coordinator, including $765,000 in 2011.