Patterico's Pontifications

6/2/2010

End to USC Probe Near?

Filed under: Sports — DRJ @ 12:19 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

Rumors are the NCAA’s report will be issued soon in a four-year investigation of the Trojans’ athletic program. Heisman winner Reggie “I am USC and I represent USC” Bush isn’t worried:

“Meanwhile, out on the West Coast, the football powerhouse that is Bush’s alma mater, Southern California, braced for possible NCAA sanctions expected to be handed down later this week, stemming from the alleged gravy train Bush was on in Los Angeles when he won the Heisman Trophy and was part of a national championship team as a Trojan.

“None, just whatever happens, happens, ” Bush said when asked his thoughts about Southern Cal. “What I’m really focused on is where I’m at right now, where I’m at with the Saints’ team right now, and so just really looking toward the future.”

Bush maintained, as he has all along, that he did nothing untoward while at Southern Cal. Still, there has been speculation that should the NCAA rule some or all of Bush’s glorious undergraduate days occurred when he should have been ineligible, then the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City, which awards the Heisman Trophy, might be compelled to strip Bush of that coveted prize.

To be sure, that speculation has not come from any former Heisman Trophy winner or any one else who votes on the award. The Orange County Register on Tuesday published a survey of 50 Heisman Trophy voters from 25 states, and 58 percent of those polled said Bush should not lose the Heisman.

Bush said he’s not devoting any thought to the matter at all.

“That hasn’t even crossed my mind, ” he said. “I’m not even worried about it.”

I don’t know if Bush will lose his Heisman but if it is rescinded, would it go to runner-up Vince Young? And what will happen to USC?

— DRJ

18 Responses to “End to USC Probe Near?”

  1. I’m with Orson Swindle – USC’ll skate and the NCAA’ll nuke Akron. (Watch out, Zips!)

    jdub (ba3489)

  2. USC will get hit with something, but instead of going back in time and vacating wins and all that, they will get the typical scholarship reductions, extra monitoring, etc. USC is too big a player and football is too huge a business for the NCAA to really clamp down.

    That is, it goes without saying, unless the NCAA has uncovered something really serious, such as the coaching staff knowing about Bush’s parents’ living situation or something that directly ties a key coach or a USC administrator to all of this. If this is just “sources have claimed” or “we have reason to believe” then I don’t think USC has much to worry about.

    JVW (221d56)

  3. This entire NCAA farce about “student athletes” ceased to be valid about four decades ago, if not farther back than that. Schools should be able to pay their athletes a modest stipend, or at least enough to avoid the inevitable temptations offered by boosters. So many of the athletes recruited come from impoverished backgrounds, and no one can deny their wish to provide for their families if they’re given the opportunity to do so.

    Dmac (3d61d9)

  4. Given the way that the NCAA exploits the likenesses of student athletes in video games in order to earn revenue, I have little respect for the organization.

    The fact that everyone, schools and the NCAA, can make money off of the college players while the college players cannot make any money only extends the farce.

    It would be one thing to put any money that the NCAA football player earned into a trust that he/she can only access after graduation. It is quite another to say, “we’re going to make millions on your likeness — but if your parents take ‘graft’ from con men your school will suffer.”

    The NCAA made money off of Bush’s likeness, and Young’s, from video game licenses. WTF?

    Christian (3290f5)

  5. don’t they have any editors at the LA Wines….”To be sure, that speculation has not come from any former Heisman Trophy winner or any one else who votes on the award. “….and yet only “58 percent(of Heisman voters) polled said Bush should not lose the Heisman.”…call me crazy, but I think that means there are some voters who think he should be stripped of the award.

    twinsdad (d3ad98)

  6. The NY Times won a Pulitzer Prize for the lies written by Walter Durante (sp). c 1938.

    The NY Slimes have held on to this day.

    rab (7a9e13)

  7. Oh piffle, the NCAA has much more important things to do, such as declaring our beloved Chief Illiniwek an hostile and abusive symbol, and blackmailing the university to get rid of him. Priorities, people!

    elissa (7e69bc)

  8. This is an “extra benefits” case, and those usually do not involve harsh sanctions. The NCAA’s harshest sanctions generally go to academic cheating, and illegal recruiting.

    That being said, the biggest risk for SUC would e a finding of Lack of Institutional Control, and the fact that both the football team and basektball team — as well as one unnamed lesser sport — find themselves before the Infractions Committee all at one time, is what really makes USC fans nervous.

    There will be probation and scholarship reductions. Maybe a one year bowl ban, but probably not much more.

    But the report will state that USC is “on notice” to clean up its athletic programs, or the next infraction could bring the LOIC finding.

    Pretty much the same as what they did to Alabama several years ago.

    shipwreckedcrew (fe3b5b)

  9. But the report will state that USC is “on notice” to clean up its athletic programs, or the next infraction could bring the LOIC finding.

    I think you are spot on, shipwreckedcrew. Also, look for Athletic Director Mike Garrett to suddenly decide that it is time to retire. He turned 66 this past year, so he can try to save face by saying that he wants to enjoy time with this family or whatever, but it will be pretty obvious that there was a hand guiding him towards the door.

    JVW (36eb17)

  10. Trojans burst under pressure.

    daleyrocks (1d0d98)

  11. elissa – That might be the low point in the history of the NCAA. Long live CHIEF !!!!!

    JD (de02cc)

  12. What will happen to USC? They’ll fight on…
    I went to school with Sam “Bam” Cunningham and loved watching his brand of tough athleticism, but then later had to forgive USC for not recruiting his younger brother Randall

    Steve G (7d4c78)

  13. Here’s a cool anecdote:

    That Sam Cunningham the football player or the man should make it into the College Football Hall of Fame should come as no surprise to anyone.

    Of course, those of us who were around to see him run for the greatest college football team of all time know, he was magnificent in so many instances.

    The four TD Rose Bowl slaughter of the Buckeyes. The “Turning of the Tide” game.
    An All-American career. And is there a nicer guy who seems as happy to see you as you are excited to see him to this very day?

    By the way, I know a few people who went to the game in Alabama that night in 1970, but none better than the stats guy for the Trojan football broadcasts…THE best statistician in the business, Mark Hoppe. Hop even brought me a game program, which is now on display along with all the rest at the Newport Sports Museum run by great Trojan John Hamilton over on Fashion Island. (It’s free…one of the absolute treasures in all of Southern California)

    “My favorite Sam Bam story, though, comes from just a few years ago. Opening game against Auburn. We are staying in Montgomery. Sam is having dinner, and word gets out that he’s there…..the entire kitchen staff, young and old, come out and shake his hand, and before his dinner is over, hundreds have walked and driven to the diner to meet the legendary man. You think the folks down there don’t remember?”

    SteveG (7d4c78)

  14. Ladies and Gentlemen: your 2003 (now) Undisputed National Champions LSU!

    SaveFarris (5b611b)

  15. I butchered that anecdote.. but whatever… you are all smart enough to figure it out

    SteveG (7d4c78)

  16. Shipwreckedcrew has it about right. They are very lucky that the last infractions were in 2001 or they would have been in serious trouble. I’ve been through two investigations and they aren’t anything nice.

    As to paying student athletes, they get, in USC’s case, a very expensive scholarship for services rendered. They know what they are getting into when they sign on the dotted line and are entitled to nothing else.

    BradnSA (980254)

  17. .

    THIS IS BAD.

    You **know** what happens when The Left gets a chance to Blame Bush.

    .

    IgotBupkis (79d71d)

  18. .

    > such as declaring our beloved Chief Illiniwek an hostile and abusive symbol

    Oh, geez, that idiocy:

    Look, you morons. Any (classic) sports mascot is clearly NOT a derogatory or abusive slur. A mascot (at least until the generation that decided on “Banana Slugs” as a mascot… which one would that be? Hmmm… Hmmmm….) is a bold figure, intended to reflect either some virtue the school thinks well of: Wisdom (Owls), Combativeness (Gamecocks), or Fierceness (Eagles).

    Alternately or relatedly, it is a fierce warrior archetype intended to strike fear and concern into the opposition — Panthers, Tigers, Trojans, etc.

    There is not, nor woud there ever be a sports mascot tied to an abusive term. No “Nashville N*****s — No “Chicago C***s”.

    Q.E.D. — Sports mascots are not insulting and demeaning.

    End of Dsicussion.

    Now sit down, and open up a big huge can of STF.

    IgotBupkis (79d71d)


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