In this segment, questions on scholarship reductions and some perceived ESPN-bashing of USC.

Q: Sy said:
Hi Scott,

As I understand it we have a limit of 75 players on scholarship starting next year. We can only recruit 15 next fall and then 15 a year for 2012 and 2013; however, we can go to a max. of 25 for next year counting up to 10 in Jan. as long as we do not exceed 75. Please correct me if I’ve got anything wrong so far. My questions are as follows:

1) Do walk-ons count towards our 15 limit? (A side note is that we have had some great walk-ons such as Clay Mathews who went in the first round.)

2) After this year it is my understanding that we cannot add to the 15 limit by mid-year enrollees, is this correct?

3) How long do players have to decide to leave?

4) Next year will the juniors and seniors (now sophomores and juniors) be given the same opportunity to leave?

5) Has the NCAA made this “no penalty” offer to upper-class players in the past or are we the first for which they made this rule exception?

6) As we all know one of the key decision makers is from our arch-rival Notre Dame. Since Brian Kelley is starting his coaching tenure there and the Notre Dame Athletic Department desperately needs for him to succeed and in no small part that will have to include beating USC, do you think that the sanctions against USC were influenced by the current politics of Notre Dame and the tremendous success SC has had against them?
Thank you and I’m looking foward to your responses.

A: As I understand the ruling, USC can sign 25 players this year (plus mid-year transfers) and can have 85 players on scholarship.The mid-year transfers end after this January and the scholarship reduction goes into effect for the 2011-2012 academic year.
Walk-ons do not count against the scholarships totals. I believe players have until the beginning of this season to transfer.
In the past, other schools’ players were allowed to leave under a similar arrangement with no penalty. The inclusion of Notre Dame’s Missy Conboy on the committee on infractions was a problem because at the very least because of appearance of having an axe to grind.

Q: SCFTBL1 said:
Do you ever watch “College Football Live” on ESPN? Andre Ware and Ed Cunningham seem to make it a point to trash the Trojans every show. After listening to Ware rant on about the sanctions and how USC got off easy. His “analysis” seems to include the view that USC is an outlaw football organization and deserves punishment for all sins proven and speculated. Granny Lou’s partner Mark May feels the same way. After listening to these talking heads I believe they haven’t read either the Staff Report or USC’s reply.

During the last two weeks they have reported with glee about the bench warmers leaving the team, speculation on Garrett’s upcoming firing, and Henderson’s LOI. Does this get ratings or are these “commentators” just USC haters. There has always been the claim of East Coast bias but this show trashes USC like msnbc trashes the tea-party people.

A: No, I do not really watch this show. But there is little going on this time of year and USC’s made a lot of news. I can’t I wake up in the morning wondering what Andre Ware or Ed Cunningham think. But they’ve got you thinking about their comments, which is probably what they want.

Q: sam said:
I hear that UW President Emmert(UW alumnus & Seattle native) is an avid fan of Husky football and the Seahawks. He is the incoming NCAA President. It’s a weird situation, isn’t it?

A: Cedric Dempsey was the athletic director at Arizona when he was named NCAA president. I don’t see it as a weird hire unless he decides to put the Seahawks on probation when Pete Carroll starts losing.