LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The ruling hand of the NCAA has come down and USC has been smote.
All reports point to the football program having a two-year bowl ban and a reduction of 20 scholarships thanks to the improper benefits to Reggie Bush’s mom, brother and stepfather who lived in a San Diego area home that was owned by a potential marketer who planned on representing Bush when he turned pro.
The Trojans could also face vacated victories during their National Championship years, the AP and BCS could strip the National Championships from 2003 and 2004 and the Heisman committee could strip the Heisman Trophy from Bush.
In January USC self-flagellated their men’s basketball program with a ban on the postseason this past season, a reduction of scholarships and a limiting the amount of contact to potential recruits. It is unknown if the men’s basketball program will be sanctioned further by the NCAA based on their findings of former player OJ Mayo receiving improper benefits from event promoter Rodney Guillory in the 2007-08 season.
USC will likely go through the appeals process which could take months or years to complete. No sanctions will take effect until the appeals process is complete.
As former LAist sports editor and current Huffington Post overnight editor and ESPN “Outside the Lines” USC go-to guy Adam Rose pointed out to me, the NCAA could also allow current juniors and seniors to transfer to another Division I program without having to sit out the required one year which would further deplete the USC roster.
All in all there is nothing good to come out of this for USC. More to come as this story develops during the day.