More USC Shenanigans
More allegations of a USC player receiving improper benefits.
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/ncf/news/story?id=4758848
The car owner's explanations seem improbable:
Joe McKnight's girlfriend owns the SUV, making $500/month payments + insurance, despite not qualifying for a loan.
I'm not a sports agent. The USC in "USC Marketing" stands for "United States China" and 4joemcknight.com just sounded nice.
I'm a Washington fan.
Something is rotten in LA. If things like what this sounds like continue to happen despite a seemingly decade-long NCAA investigation, SC is either certain they've found a loophole or have absolutely no influence over their players.
December 21st, 2009 at 1:51 PM ^
Wow, this is compelling news that I hadn't yet seen on this Board.
Thanks.
December 21st, 2009 at 1:52 PM ^
I was with you until the part where you said " SC is either certain they've found a loophole or have absolutely no influence over their players."
The first part sounds good, but how do we go from SC finding loopholes to having no influenece over players?
I am not sure how one has anything to do with the other. How do the players factor into the universities seeming ability to violate NCAA regulations without being caught?
I think the reverse might even be true. They found a loophole that very much influences their players.
Very interesting none the less. Thanks.
December 21st, 2009 at 2:00 PM ^
Sorry, I meant that as mild sarcasm. I don't really think there's a loophole, just that this seems like such a brazen thing given the NCAA situation that it's almost like they're certain they're not going to get in trouble for it.
December 21st, 2009 at 2:07 PM ^
I just don't get the correlation between them giving away cars and other things and not having control of their players, that was all.
As I said though, I agree this is beyond crazy and they seem to be thumbing their nose at the NCAA each time they do something like this.
December 21st, 2009 at 2:10 PM ^
I'm sure he's joking about the loophole and no influence referring to no matter what the compliance department tells players they either 1) don't understand the words coming out of their mouths or 2) don't really give a damn because they will do whatever they want because they are entitled.
December 21st, 2009 at 2:11 PM ^
apologies for being so slow on the uptake. My brain must have been barried under the 2 ft of snow that fell last night.
December 21st, 2009 at 2:13 PM ^
Thanks dude.
December 21st, 2009 at 2:05 PM ^
and many of the other major programs in the country appear to be nothing more than a joke (especially where USC is concerned).
How badly do teams have to break the rules in order to be sanctioned? Also, do they have the ability to proceed with sanctions without someone coming out and directly saying they violated the rules?
I don't know how an investigative body could look at this evidence and say that there is no way rules have been broken. USC marketing standing for "United States China Marketing" is about as likely as me winning the lottery. ONe of the many statisticians on the blog can tell what the likelihood of that happening is.
What a sham!
December 21st, 2009 at 7:26 PM ^
The NCAA seams to always overlook the big things, but spaz out about the small things. I dont know if they have control over game commentary but that has to be one change. I hate it when the announcers are biased like during the Mich. vs. Wisconsin game. They also can't figure out the fact that everyone stays late "after" practice like in the michigan allegations. Alright im done venting/ranting.
December 21st, 2009 at 2:12 PM ^
The problem there, as many have noted, is that the NCAA doesn't have subpoena power. They can't force Bush to talk b/c he's not an NCAA athlete anymore.
December 21st, 2009 at 3:30 PM ^
... drives around in an SUV he probably couldn't afford. Honestly, that headline could be written about most major programs. This is what happens when you have an enormous industry built around kids who are not allowed to legally benefit from being the main driver of the industries profitability. And no, I do not think a four year scholarship is fair pay for what is asked of these kids and what revenue these kids generate. It's like a signing bonus.
Now. I am off to unionize college athletes, because if ever there was an underpaid / overly abused employee base, it is they.
December 21st, 2009 at 4:59 PM ^
Regardless of your point of view on whether college athletes are exploited, the fact remains that USC has had a number of highly suspicious allegations swept under the rug without anyone giving it a second thought. The NCAA has rules that must be followed regardless of individual opinions on the rules merit. The fact that USC has gotten away with these infractions for so long without even a slap on the wrist is disgraceful. If the rules aren't going to be enforced, they might as well be repealed and we wouldn't have this argument. My faith in the NCAA being able to adequately police division 1 football programs will be shattered if nothing is done about the new allegations against both USC and Tennessee.
December 21st, 2009 at 6:20 PM ^
I'm just saying, don't hold your breath. The NCAA is a for profit enterprise that will make profit maximizing decisions. Punishing 2 high profile programs is probably not in their best interest.
They will delay and block as much as possible until the issue goes away. Only when faced with no other alternative will they act. Hopefully, I'm wrong, but I'm not counting on much to come out of it.
December 21st, 2009 at 10:01 PM ^
My sense is that nothing will happen as long as Carroll is there/winning. But string together 1-2 mediocre years or Carroll leaves, and expect the scrutiny to pick up. The NCAA hates to rock the narrative spun about a particular coach, but once he leaves it wouldn't surprise me for the investigations to ramp up. Not saying that skeletons don't exist in everyone's closet, but USC apparently has (a) so many that some are leaking out, or (b) an inability to keep theirs out of the public eye.
December 21st, 2009 at 4:47 PM ^
3 players (2 starters) were just deemed academically ineligible.
December 21st, 2009 at 6:38 PM ^
You'd think the OJ Mayo issue and Reggie Bush's parents would be enough to truly investigate, but now the Joe McKinght crap is just too much.
God forbid the NCAA investigate the shenanigans in the football program there. They would rather screw with little ole Michigan and mighty USC. Yep, Michigan's practice time is a bigger deal than players getting free cars, free money or houses.
December 21st, 2009 at 6:58 PM ^
2 Fast, 2 Furious.
December 21st, 2009 at 7:29 PM ^
This is almost like the Maurice clarett stuff back in like 02 or somthing. I think that if they can't get to the bottom of somthing in at least 4 months then they(NCAA) should just give up. Just give the dumb school sanctions and be over wiht it.
December 21st, 2009 at 7:43 PM ^
That's all USC will get. Just like OSU, they get away with major infractions while schools that pull in less money get sodomized for relatively minor ones.
That's why I am in favor of throwing out most of the rulebook and allowing players to take money. It's not like they aren't making a lot of money for the schools. It would certainly save the NCAA and the schools a lot of money for enforcement and compliance staffs.
December 21st, 2009 at 8:03 PM ^
or not (because I don't see this topic discussed all that much around here).
But, what do people think about paying the players with escrow accounts.
Choose a dollar amount (after factoring in a free education) per year on the team (without special performance bonuses).
Then when they leave school, they get the total $ owed to them.
Graduation = 100% pay out.
3 years = 50%
2 or less = nothing. (though transfers would be allowed)
Incentive to stay in school and graduate, along with some compensation for career ending injuries.
Seems to me to be a realistic choice based upon the economic realities of the day, yet still placing a premium on education.
Have at it.