USC's President might not be all smiles like he was a few days ago......

[The Prowler]

After a full three days of interviews, including two full days focused on Pete Carroll’s football program, the NCAA has wrapped up it’s investigation of the USC athletic program.  And while an investigation of this duration is virtually unheard of,  the worst news for the Trojans football program appears to be coming from leaked reports popping up over the last several hours.

One official directly connected to the investigation was directly quoted as saying that the only matter for discussion at this point is the severity of the sanctions.  It is all but assured that the Trojans will lose a significant number of scholarships and bowl eligibility for as many as two years, and will not be appearing on television.

This is part of what is rapidly becoming the norm in college football; two of the last four BCS championship game participants have all been on some form of probation.  It’s an issue that desperately needs to be addressed.

USC may very well pay the price for the trend, as the NCAA will in all likelihood look to set an example of the Trojans, leveling some rather harsh penalties and probation.  It isn’t as if we didn’t see it coming; Pete Carroll jumping ship the way he did pretty well tipped us all off.

http://sportales.com/football/source-leaks-usc-placed-on-major-probation/

Damn, I love the offseason.

[BZ770]

What the Hell, lets claim the 2004 MNC by default.  On the Rumors off the Skreets,  The no TV penalty is by far the worse of any sanction.  Auburn was the last one as far as my knowledge to receive that penalty.  I can't wait to watch Keeping up with the Kardashians to get the scoop from Kim about Reggie's involvement.

[AUChizad]

No USC on TV would be the greatest gift of all, just behind serious sanctions for uat. Especially for Lame's first season.

ESPN won't be able to handle it.

[Lurking Tiger]

What the Hell, lets claim the 2004 MNC by default. 

Don't even joke about that shit. No one with an IQ over 100 wants it.

bummer would sure claim it if they were in our shoes though.

[Saniflush]

Don't even joke about that shit. No one with an IQ over 100 wants it.

bummer would sure claim it if they were in our shoes though.

I would imagine that since we are not claiming it someone in dark pink has justified claiming it for themselves.

[Lurking Tiger]

I would imagine that since we are not claiming it someone in dark pink has justified claiming it for themselves.

They have just as much of a claim to it as they do to most of their MNCs. Cruitin' or otherwise.

[dallaswareagle]

Don't even joke about that shit. No one with an IQ over 100 wants it.

bummer would sure claim it if they were in our shoes though.

They may claim it anyways. 

[Aubie16]

I'm calling bullshit on no TV. Does anybody think the NCAA would actually punish the other 12 schools on their schedule? That would suck for every other school. I think the days of those punishments are over.

I could see the other punishments happening though.

[Lurking Tiger]

I'm calling bullshit on no TV. Does anybody think the NCAA would actually punish the other 12 schools on their schedule? That would suck for every other school. I think the days of those punishments are over.

I could see the other punishments happening though.

I'm calling BS on your BS.

[Saniflush]

I'm calling bullshit on no TV. Does anybody think the NCAA would actually punish the other 12 schools on their schedule? That would suck for every other school. I think the days of those punishments are over.

I could see the other punishments happening though.

Welcome to Auburn circa 1993

[Aubie16]

I'm calling bullshit on no TV. Does anybody think the NCAA would actually punish the other 12 schools on their schedule? That would suck for every other school. I think the days of those punishments are over.

I could see the other punishments happening though.

Welcome to Auburn circa 1993

[jadennis]

I'm calling bullpoop on no TV. Does anybody think the NCAA would actually punish the other 12 schools on their schedule? That would suck for every other school. I think the days of those punishments are over.

I could see the other punishments happening though.

I don't know that they (the NCAA) would care.  

It would hurt primarily the other Pac-10 schools, and the Pac-10 itself.  That is something the NCAA probably likes, as a conference office is closer to the programs in their conference and can assist in cracking down on things.

And I can't say for sure, but there are probably no more than 3 games on the USC schedule that would have been nationally televised anyway.  And even if local TV is lost, it only hurts those 12 schools for one game....they still have 11 more for TV.  And yeah, it is USC, a big name, but I think that may be the point the NCAA wants to make.  Even USC can get in big trouble.

Or you're right, which is also a possibility, and I partially agree with half of your statement on some level...as these things could go either way.  So whatever happens, something or nothing, either way, you heard it here first, from me.

[Saniflush]

Yea. That didn't really come across like I wanted. Was just expressing the feeling that it could definitely happen.

[jadennis]

I think the days of those punishments are over.

I think that at some point the NCAA is going to have to hit someone with no bowls and no TV again. 

It's like when the UN had issued about 15 resolutions to Saddam over the years  Most of them contained the "threat" of force should they be violated.  Eventually I was glad to see that the US had the balls to actually enforce what everyone agreed was the violation of yet another resolution that contained the use of force as the outcome of violation (whether you liked the idea of invading or not, what I just wrote is not really disputed by either side of a war or Bush argument....those resolutions were issued by the UN, and they were violated without penalty....until the last one).

The point in the example is that eventually the NCAA is going to have to do more than take away 4 scholarships (out of 85) and make programs retroactively vacate victories.  That's just too weak.  As long as those are the common and expected penalties, programs will continue to stretch the limits, turn a blind eye to agents (Carroll), and break the rules.  Why wouldn't you?  The potential reward appears to far outweigh the likely consequences if you're caught.

To me, the NCAA has to quit with all these toothless "resolutions" and actually "invade" someone so that they are taken serious.  USC may be their Iraq.  It might be their "we're not screwing around anymore, the bombs are gonna drop" example to the rest of the college sports world that no one is above the law.  It's been too much quiet walking and no big stick for too long.

If USC gets it in between the legs, maybe even Saban will quit "bumping" into players daily during no-contact periods.  Maybe even he will take things seriously.