NCAA punishes USC - Reggie Bush, OJ Mayo, Dwayne Jarrett, Joe McKnight investigation

[BB73]

10 National writers weigh in on Reggie.

CFN

They talk about how programs should be punished.

CFN

. Keeping the NCAA’s rules in mind, in general, what would you do to punish offending programs?

Pete Fiutak, CFN : Make the schools give the bowl money back that was earned by using an offending player, and don’t allow them to take any money for bowl appearances for two years (depending on the offense). Unless you’re Notre Dame, having to write a $10 million check would be really, really painful.

Reggie Bush played for USC, USC won those games, and he won the Heisman. You can try to take that all away with an *, or a keystroke, or an eraser, or a vote by a group of self-righteous blowhards, but the bell can’t be unrung. It’s ridiculous to punish this year’s USC team for the school’s past sins; Matt Barkley and the crew shouldn’t be denied an opportunity to play for a national title just because Bush was being naughty. Let USC go to a bowl, but the payout should go to the other teams in the Pac 10. USC would then be making money for UCLA, Oregon, and the rest of its conference rivals.

Richard Cirminiello, CFN : Obviously, it depends on the severity of the infraction. Assuming cheating is involved, you’ve got to hit a coaching staff and a program where it hurts most and limit their number of scholarships. Nothing is more damning or sends a stronger message than shrinking the talent pool and tying the coach’s hands in February.

Matt Zemek, CFN: Well, for starters, the rules - written and unwritten - need to be clearly laid down and then consistently applied. Everyone needs to be aware of and then be punished in accordance with the same standards across the board. The other key thing to do is to place punishments on the shoulders of the college presidents, athletic directors and coaches, the people who - at least at this point in time - are the only people who can tuck away take-home pay in the college sports industry. Punishing the 2010 and 2011 USC football players makes no sense, just to give one example. Punish the bejeezus out of Mike Garrett and Steven Sample. Also, punish Pete Carroll.

Dennis Dodd, CBSSports.com: Sue the offending coaches and players for damages after the fact. If the NCAA doesn't do it, an affected school like USC or a private individual(s) should do it. That brings up another question: Why is Reggie Bush being allowed to help USC with its appeal? Shouldn't the school be disassociating itself from Bush?

Verne Lundquist, CBS : If the football program is found cheating, I'd punish them in the manner to which we've grown accustomed: bowl game ban, reduced scholarships, etc. I'd also keep them off television because exposure on the tube is the life blood of the recruiting process. I can hear my bosses at CBS breathing abnormally because having big time football programs on the air on Saturday afternoons is the reason the network is willing to pay those huge rights fees. What I would not do is administer the 'death penalty'. Google 'SMU football'.

Joe Schad, ESPN : 1) Forget vacating of win-loss records, that's pointless. 2) Take personal records away. 3) Take even more scholarships away. 4) Suspend the coaches who were involved, if they were

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

why does everybody get sand in their vagina over the SMU punishment? they cheated at an extraordinary level, and got punished accordingly. don't want your program to be decimated? don't cheat. they need a few more SMU punishments to scare these programs straight.

 

[muffler dragon]

why does everybody get sand in their vagina over the SMU punishment? they cheated at an extraordinary level, and got punished accordingly. don't want your program to be decimated? don't cheat. they need a few more SMU punishments to scare these programs straight.

I believe it's in light of the hypocrisy of what was allowed under the Switzer regime. I could be wrong though.

 

[Palpie]

why does everybody get sand in their vagina over the SMU punishment? they cheated at an extraordinary level, and got punished accordingly. don't want your program to be decimated? don't cheat. they need a few more SMU punishments to scare these programs straight.

I think it has more to do with the effect it had on the rest of SMU. As I understand it they saw applications drop. The prestige of a top D1 athletics program can be a big draw for universities. And of course the school, which was a D1 football power, is in one of the minor conferences instead if a BCS league. No death penalty and there's a good chance SMU not Baylor is in the Big 12. Not to say SMU didn't deserve to get hammered, but I think the penalty probably had a greater and longer term effect than intended.

 

[MaliBuckeye]

The prestige of a top D1 athletics program can be a big draw for universities.

Can't find the link right now (of course), but there's research that also indicates that success of athletic programs has no impact on enrollment, retention, or giving (alumni or otherwise).

FWIW.

My favorite USC/SMU comparison:

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

I think it has more to do with the effect it had on the rest of SMU. As I understand it they saw applications drop. The prestige of a top D1 athletics program can be a big draw for universities. And of course the school, which was a D1 football power, is in one of the minor conferences instead if a BCS league. No death penalty and there's a good chance SMU not Baylor is in the Big 12. Not to say SMU didn't deserve to get hammered, but I think the penalty probably had a greater and longer term effect than intended.

Then maybe they shouldn't cheat.

 

[methomps]

Can't find the link right now (of course), but there's research that also indicates that success of athletic programs has no impact on enrollment, retention, or giving (alumni or otherwise).

FWIW.

My favorite USC/SMU comparison:

I like it too: it highlights the error of focusing on the dollar amount. I think anyone who thinks the institutional violation at SC is even half as bad as SMU is crazy.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

I like it to: it highlights the error of focusing on the dollar amount. I think anyone who thinks the institutional violation at SC are even half as bad as SMU is crazy.

qft

There is a canyon of difference between the "blind eye" that USC was found to have vs. the institutional involvement in the cheating at SMU.

 

[Gatorubet]

I like it to: it highlights the error of focusing on the dollar amount. I think anyone who thinks the institutional violation at SC are even half as bad as SMU is crazy.

Agreed.

 

[brodybuck21]

I like it to: it highlights the error of focusing on the dollar amount. I think anyone who thinks the institutional violation at SC are even half as bad as SMU is crazy.

 

[BB73]

Former RB coach Todd McNair is appealing the NCAA ruling against him.

CBS

 

[BB73]

CBS

Suspended USC RB Baxter unlikely to go to Hawaii

LOS ANGELES -- Southern California running back Dillon Baxter is unlikely to travel with the team to Hawaii for the season opener on Sept. 2 after being suspended.

The heralded freshman spoke to reporters Wednesday for the first time since coach Lane Kiffin handed out the discipline last week for violating team rules. Kiffin has not said specifically what Baxter did to warrant a suspension.

Baxter says he made "mistakes" and he is "not going to do anything wrong from here on out." He has continued to practice with the rest of the team.

Cont'd ...

 

[buxfan4life]

Kiffin has not said specifically what Baxter did to warrant a suspension.

Baxter says he made "mistakes" and he is "not going to do anything wrong from here on out.

Kiffy: Dillon, where is my 10%?
Baxter: What do you mean, coach?
Kiffy: Damn it, Dillon!! I told you I get 10% of all recruits signing bonuses!
Baxter: Sorry, coach. Here is a check for $20K. Are we cool?
Kiffy: No, your suspeneded for the Hawai'i game as a late payment penalty. Next time, don't forget who you need to pay to play on this team.

 

[HINYG8]

Bryce Brown has spoken to NCAA about recruitment by Tennessee - Campus Rivalry: College Football & Basketball News, Recruiting, Game Picks, and More - USATODAY.com

Maybe something....maybe nothing...but certainly interesting.

 

[MsScarletNGray]

New to the board, hello all. GO BUCKS!

Regarding Dillon Baxter: there's already been two "mistakes" pulled by this kid (lying about illegal contacts from other schools immediately after the sanctions came down and now whatever he's done to get suspended) before he's even stepped on the playing field. Character issues, anyone?