Ty Butterfield

June 10th, 2010 at 1:24 AM ^

I really hope this is true. It would be so nice to see the NCAA throw the hammer down on USC. I always thought it was kind of weird the way "slippery" Pete left town. He probably realized the ban hammer was coming and did not want to be the last person without a chair when the music stopped. I am watching the 1:00 am Sportscenter and they are reporting it right now.

AAB

June 10th, 2010 at 1:31 AM ^

that people mosey on over to WeAreSC or one of the other Trojan message boards. The current theory there is that the NCAA intentionally went super harsh on USC because it knows it doesn't have an actual case. Apparently by starting high, the NCAA can guarantee that at least some punishment sticks when a court overturns all these penalties and totally pwns the NCAA.

SpartanDan

June 10th, 2010 at 2:01 AM ^

Delusions

As was already said, if they contest it in an actual courtroom, Bush gets deposed and they have all the evidence they need to make it stick (and, in fact, probably make it worse!). If they appeal within the NCAA, I expect the reaction to be a riotous laugh.

HoldTheRope

June 10th, 2010 at 1:45 AM ^

Well this is a long time coming. I'll believe it when it's 100% official though. Honestly, the biggest issue to me is what should be done to guys who get out of Dodge before sanctions hit. Guys like Calipari and Carrol deserve some sort of punishment, IME, but what exactly can be done? Revoking wins, championships, etc.? Then again, the NCAA has had a hard enough time laying down the law against its own constituents, let alone people who have altogether left the arena of amateur sports (i.e., Carrol).

MGoAndy

June 10th, 2010 at 2:01 AM ^

Per Andy Staples, apparently USC juniors and seniors will be on the open market after this all goes down.

BRING ROJO HOME!

Blue since birth

June 10th, 2010 at 3:39 AM ^

All of the ESPN analysts have been saying that the worst case scenerio was they'd lose a few scholarships.

/sarcasm

Part of me is loving this...

The other part isn't exactly excited about the NCAA getting a heavy hand and "making examples of major programs".Not that there's any comparison...Still.

bignige1000

June 10th, 2010 at 6:07 AM ^

If this is true I am pretty surprised that the NCAA would really take a moneygrab like USC out of postseason play. However, that expectation is probably what caused them to have to appear tough.

P.S. and if theyre goin back to Bush can they please DQ that one ohio team for that clarett guy...

DGDestroys

June 10th, 2010 at 7:01 AM ^

In short order, I want Lane Kiffin to repay his debt to society by sending Dillon Baxter, Seantrel Henderson, Rojo, Nick Perry, and Kyle Prater to Michigan. 

P.S. Don't feel limited Lane, I want this list to be a guideline not a rule.

BlockM

June 10th, 2010 at 7:05 AM ^

omg rr probably new this wud happen so he didnt care wether deemar got in or not becuz he just plannd to get better players from usc neway when they got hit with the ncaa hammer stick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy shit. These last few days have really f'd over my cognitive skills.

Bosch

June 10th, 2010 at 7:35 AM ^

Good.  USC is getting hammerred.

My second thought:  I didn't think they would get hammerred this hard.  I am suddenly a little more concerned for what the NCAA decides in August for Michigan.

Yes, the situations are different.  However, the major infraction in each case is "Lack of Institutional Control." 

Is the NCAA in an example setting mood?  I certainly hope not.

kvnryn

June 10th, 2010 at 9:14 AM ^

Michigan did not get charged with lack of institutional control. Rodriguez was tagged, or attempted to have been tagged, with the "failure to monitor" thing (the Athletic Department did not agree), but those are not the same.

SpartanDan

June 10th, 2010 at 11:18 PM ^

1) You guys got hit with "failure to monitor", which is a notch below "lack of institutional control" (I think the difference is something along the lines of "you didn't do the legwork to figure out there was a problem" versus "you knew damn well there was a problem and didn't care").

2) USC was a major repeat violator (2001, plus the Mayo case and arguably McKnight afterward, though I haven't heard anything further about that). Michigan's majors in basketball were far enough back that that's not the case for you.

NFZ

June 10th, 2010 at 9:50 AM ^

And people thought our violations were major. Not anything close to this. I find it funny how all the ESPN guys are really suprised by this decision, thinking USC would only get a slap on the wrist and get probation. But they felt like the sky was falling when the original Michigan story broke and it was the end of our team. Way to go ESPN.

SysMark

June 10th, 2010 at 10:59 AM ^

I will say this in defense of Herbstreit (ESPN).  When our story broke he was on the following Saturday stating that in his opinion it was trivial and a "witch hunt" by the freep.  Granted that was more the football player than the ESPN commentator speaking but give him credit for it.  I also think that as we get into next season and this is discussed more on air, the ex-players and ex-coaches and going to generally reflect that opinion.  They know it was bullshit and no different from what any other major program does.  None of them are going to rip RR and invite the NCAA to start looking into their own favorite programs.