They will, of course, deny player interaction, even though the comments from this “consultant” belie the fact that he was at practices. Attending practices, watching games, and providing NFL insight is not “training” coaches (why does the highest paid NCAA coach need “training”), it is, pure and simple, coaching. Training coaches sounds more like what happens to graduate assistants or first year assistants at a seminar at a hotel conference room with a slide show or power point presentation. I can’t wait to hear the head in the sand, sanctimonious spin Hermitage (yes, hermit, a la OJ) Hall and U$C bandwaggoner put on this one.

Number one is this quote from the NCAA bylaws, which forbids consultants from “attending practices and meetings involving coaching activities, formulating game plans [and] analyzing video involving the institution’s or opponent’s team.” This “consultant’s” own comments fit squarely into this parameter.

Number two is that the guy allegedly turned down an offer from USD because of his “arrangement” with U$C.

This is great evidence against U$C.

The problem, as most everyone knows, is that third parties with knowledge of this will keep quiet, not wanting to be blackballed in the future. Without subpoena power to question these folks under oath (like the USD coach), the NCAA cannot get additional evidence it needs to screw, glue, and tattoo these schmucks.

The “consultant” will likely back off his comments, claim that they were “taken out of context,” and “clarify” them so there appears to be no violation. This is how U$C “looks into this matter.” Just wait, it will be just like the clarifications that happened with Cheatey Petey’s recruitment of the kid with Bu$h on the phone.

Name the last time SUC reported a potential NCAA violation before the media did?

I have yet to get an answer…

USC’s football program is not going to suffer any sanctions. I repeat USC’s football program is not going to suffer any sanctions.

Why not, you ask?

The NCAA has no subpoena power, no ability to obtain testimony under penalty of perjury. Without that ability, King Petey and his subjects can say whatever they want to the NCAA without any repercussions. The only ways for the NCAA to find a violation are:

(1) a credible whistle blower delivers the goods. But this only happens when someone with knowledge is disgruntled. Like in the Bush case, the guy came forward because Reggie didn’t honor the illegal deal they had struck to represent Bush in exchange for the house and other goodies provided to Bush. Or in the SMU case in the mid 80s, a former player named David Stanley was released from the team and blew the whistle on his $25,000 one-time payment and $750 per month to attend the university. “Trojan for life”, blah blah blah—this is never going to happen.

(2) The university can self-report a violation. Football is a sacred cash cow for USC. They have thus far, not surprisingly, shown an unwillingness to self-report anything with the football program. Instead, they will deny everything until the end of time. Witnesses will go to prison for perjury before USC self-reports anything that will affect Trojan football.

In addition to these factors, USC’s appearance of cooperation with the basketball investigation (by forcing the coach to resign among other things) creates an inference that their failure to provide a smoking gun in the football investigation is because there is not one, because they did nothing wrong.

In the end, the USC basketball team will suffer sanctions, but the football team will continue to fight on, cheat on, and crime on.

The NCAA needs a backbone.

Whatever charter the association schools sign provides the NCAA with all the authority it needs. They do not need to conduct an investigation where the burden of proof is high like in a criminal trial (beyond a reasonable doubt).

So whatever decision they come up with, u$c* is obligated to abide by it. There has been a recent trend of taking the NCAA to court because the school thinks the punishment is too tough. Like in the case of Florida St.—10 sports had scholarships and victories stripped for a self-reported violation. It is too tough, especially when u$c* continues to get away with murder.

Punishment is coming. How I know that is more a question of gut feeling. I think that almost everyone in the country—other than your dyed in the wool TrOJay fanatic—thinks that there is a double standard being applied. When that happens, the NCAA looks foolish. Believe me, the u$c* football program doesn’t make that much money. Look at the recent money tables, they are not number 1. The NCAA will not want to look foolish for very long. They will act. It will be short of the death penalty but it will hopefully be substantial (for the football team too).

I believe this punishment is coming, Why? Because why have an investigation going for 3 years? Isn’t 1 year enough? How about 2? The fact that they are keeping this open while new SCandals break means that they are going to nail these a—holes finally. Otherwise, they would have closed the investigation, meted out a lame punishment and let it all die down.

The only people fooling themselves here are the TrOJays. Their blind loyalty is something funny to watch. Everything that comes up is someone else’s fault. Read their forums and have a laugh on them. After the Nth SCandal I would have felt ashamed but that’s a TrOJay for you.