Sep 26, 2014 11:54 AM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

University of South Carolina (SC) has unveiled the "Gamecock Promise," which will guarantee four-year scholarships for its student-athletes.

According to the Associated Press, the program is the first in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), arguably the NCAA's top Division I football conference. The guaranteed four-year scholarships will extend to all SC's qualified athletic programs.

"We are excited to announce this comprehensive commitment to our student-athletes to help them achieve the ultimate goal of a college degree," SC President Harris Pastides said in a news release. "The forthcoming NCAA governance changes provide the autonomy we need to enhance our ability to support these students in their path toward graduation and success in life after college. I commend Ray Tanner, Fran Person, all of our coaches and our entire athletics department staff for their efforts to formalize South Carolina's dedication to the overall well-being of our student-athletes."

121 SC student-athletes will now have guaranteed four-year scholarships, those who play on what the NCAA calls "headcount" sports: football, men's and women's basketball, and women's tennis and volleyball. Charles Bloom, senior associate athletic director at SC, said the school is trying to extend the Gamecock Promise to the "equivalency" sports because unlike the "headcount" sports, not all the student-athletes get full rides.

"Intercollegiate athletics prepares our student-athletes for life after graduation," SC Athletic Director Ray Tanner said in the release. "We are committed to supporting them during their time at South Carolina. This document details the variety of commitments and services we provide to assist them in meeting their goals here."

The Gamecock Promise, like similar programs at Maryland and Indiana, would allow student-athletes to go pro in their respective sport and be able to re-enroll in school later in life, picking up their scholarship where they left it. It encourages players to finish their degree after a professional sports career and also provides a fallback option for someone whose professional athletic career was cut short.

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