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USC Imposes Sanctions on Men's Basketball
USC Trojans athletic director Mike Garrett announced self-sanctions on the the men's basketball program due to the OJ Mayo investigation today. Mayo with his affiliation with Rodney Guillory, who was deemed to be a booster under NCAA rules, was found to be ineligible for the 2007-2008 season, the only season he played for the Trojans.
Based on this the Trojans will:
- Vacate all wins from the 2007-2008 season.
- Return all money from the Pac-10 and NCAA Tournaments from the 2007-2008 season.
- Not participate in any postseason tournaments this season including the Pac-10 Tournament.
- Reducing one scholarship this season and next season.
- Reducing one coach allowed for off-season recruiting this summer.
- Reducing the number of recruiting days from 130 to 110 for the 2010-2011 season.
In the press release head basketball coach Kevin O'Neill said, "I think the University did the right thing in self-imposing sanctions. I respect and understand the action that was taken."
While this self-sanction is all well and good, the NCAA could still impose more sanctions when they conclude their own investigation of Mayo which has been lumped in with the Reggie Bush investigation. Because these investigations have been lumped together, the dreaded "LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL CONTROL" sanctions could come into play which can be far worse than what USC imposed on themselves. Ask the Alabama Crimson Tide how that worked out for them.
Also Garrett has been silent and incommunicado regarding all the NCAA investigations that have been piled up during his watch. Note in the press release link above Garrett releases a video rather than call a press conference to answer some of the pressing questions about his institution.
After last night's ugly 47-37 win over Arizona State, the Trojans started out 2-0 in the Pac-10 for the first time since 2002. At 10-4 overall, the Trojans were the best hope for a Southern California team to represent the Pac-10 in the NCAA Tournament.
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