USC Sanctions by the NCAA

by Kevin
(South Bend)

Although I am a big supporter of Academic Athletes as a concept I find it difficult to say that this is a true NCAA focus. In fact, it isn't. They could care less about the Academic side of the program. It is all about Money. They take in great sums of money and then speak out of both sides of their mouth. These kids come out of High School with dreams of professional sports. The schools they eventually choose will reap huge monetary games from their accomplishments if successful. The athlete is just a pawn but when they reach out and grab the ring(s) they bring it all down to earth with severe penalties marshalled on the program by the all mighty NCAA Infraction committee.

But do they administer the program fairly? What is fair? Well past performances and the dishing out of sanctions would be a good way to start in my opinion. Let's fast forward before we go backwards. The current rage in Yahoo Sports and the NCAA is Reggie Bush and the USC Trojans against the NCAA. Did Reggie accept gifts along with his family while attending USC and playing football back in the 2004-2005 seasons? According to the findings there is no evidence. A 5 year witch hunt and millions of dollars spent and the findings are inconclusive. In any normal court proceeding the accursed with be let free.

Did Reggie Bush commit an NCAA violation? It sure looks that way to most of us in the media and fan base. But did we prove anything other than the comments from Ex Fellons in the California Prison system? I don't believe we did. So an entire school and football program is put on extreme sanctions for lack of evidence? Are they a bit out of control with their Personal Agendas here or are we all witnessing the end to the NCAA as we knew it?

USC has never changed it's position. They penalized their Basketball team immediately when the Coach (Tim Floyd) was found to have violated the recruitment rules of O.J. Mayo. Self inflicted sanctions on the entire Basketball program. But the Football Program at USC was never found (evidence) to have done anything wrong. Just opinions of what a group hell bent on victory ultimately decided. Guilty of being a Salem Witch. Burn the program tonight. Leave not witness to our actions. Put them on trial in a Mock Court of Law.

So let's look backwards now. A great coach passed away this month at the age of 99. Coach John Wooden. He had a tremendous run of success while at UCLA. However, it was widely known that a Booster/Fan was contributing jobs, money, cars and countless other gifts to the prized athletes of Coach Wooden. Nothing was done. It was talked about for decades but the NCAA never investigated. Never once assumed that such a legend would every allow such violations. The UCLA program should be re-visited and can you imagine the penalties for this one? Decades of l lies and misinformation. Well they should shut the school down for this right?

LSU, Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, Oklahoma all found guilty of Academic Violations and NCAA violations and all got off easy. No ban for their coveted Bowl runs just a slap and probation. Probation is a joke. The NCAA uses that as a timer. No review just a timer against the two strike rule if it happens again. So why the harsh penalties against USC?

Arrogance. USC was denying the accounts of the Reggie Bush claims from the beginning. They openly allowed the media, friends and fans to attend all practice sessions while enjoying a run similar to UCLA's famed basketball ERA under Coach John Wooden. Then the lights went out when the NCAA slapped the school and the Football Program with the hardest penalty they could. Brought them down to their knees then told the SEC and other conferences to call all their scholarship athletes immediately and offer free transfers to their schools. Sorry, I mean Football Teams. I slipped when saying School as this has nothing to do with the Academics of College Sports.

The NCAA is a modern Salem. They have no legal authority. They put previously guilty parties in charge of Rules and Ethics. They have Rival Schools with representation handing out rulings against their Rivals. This is American fair and impartial due process? I think not.

So, now we see the Major Conferences starting to merge and reduce the number of conferences thus forming Super Sized Conferences. Could this mean an Alliance and change to the out of control BCS and NCAA? Let's hope so. The NCAA like the Unions of America had it's day in the sun. It's time to move on. It's time to change. It's time to allow for the schools to decided their standards and compete as they choose. Drop this unfair NCAA and BCS now and forever. Let the games begin and let the kids decide the outcome of the Trophies at the end of each season.....

Enough already.