3yardsandacloud:
In my intial post I indicated my optimism regarding Williams re-instatement, but I neglected to mention my personal feelings about this matter.
Contrary to what the majority of posters seem to believe, there are complex and convoluted legal issues pertaining to this unprecedented situation. From a judicial stand-point, I can see why the University is as positive as I am about this particular case.
As a homer and an avid supporter of the USC football team, there is nothing more enjoyable than admiring big Mike isolated wide-left on a mortal DB. Conversly, as a USC graduate, I am concerned about the return of a player who would essentially become a temporary starter solely for the purpose of enhancing his draft positioning until next year.
Ethically, I would have been more confortable had he intimated during his latest news conference an intention to wanting to complete his football eligibility at the school. But such assertion remained conspicuous in its absence.
USC has strict academic requirements and it has become increasingly more challenging for "normal" HS students to gain admission to the school. I dread that no matter how extenuating Mike Williams' ciscumstances might be, this affair could cast an unfavorable impression on the academic integrity and excellence of the school, and elicit the inevitable scrutiny of the NCAA infraction committee if something irregular and/or questionable would surface
after his potential re-instatement.
I am sure that the USC attorneys have conducted an extensive background research on this historic court decision, but I inherently mistrust the NCAA and its elitist approach to student/athlete affairs.
But I am a USC football fan first and an admitted hypocrite, so..................
