Time to answer some more reader questions.
Q: Yoda’s Attorney said:
Wolf, with (the Late) Paul Dee in the news (the comments about him on here were dispicable, by the way–I know, its the gutter) I felt this was an opportunity to re-assess the Bush scandal with a more historical perspective. Althogh I feel your stongest attribute has always been your objectivity, I have to say in this case I suspect your inner Trojan has been doing the talking (and that’s fine).
However, it is hard for a non-Trojan to accept the notion that the sanctions were too harsh. Face it, (or don’t) Bush received so much housing, cash, cars, travel etc and flounted it (magazine cover, 10 carat ear ring etc) recklessly. There is little doubt McNair was aware of it, and by extension, Caesar is implicated. And the sheer scope of the graft dwarfs anything one player has been caught hauling in.
And the “it was 100 miles away in San Deigo” excuse rings hollow. So if the parent lives farther away in Seattle, they get free housing and the player gets the cash, car and travel?? after all, how could the school ever know??
No, I think a reasonable person might agree the sanctions actually helped the game. Now individuals and schools know the Bowl Banhammer will come out if they are caught, and they will be more wary of trying anything. Notice how fast OSU ditched the Vest?
A: My opinion is the sanctions were too harsh because it was a single player involved. It also seems the NCAA has made a point not to come close to the USC penalties for other schools the past few years.
Q: The Prince said:
With the opening of the McKay Center imminent, I haven’t seen any announcements about whether the public will be able to tour the facilities before it opens for business. Have you heard anything? Will athletic group donors get the only access?
A: The building is scheduled to open in late June. I don’t think there will be public tours before it opens. However, once it opens, the athletic dept. might offer some public tours. The building will be open to the public, I’m not sure yet how much access will be given though.
Q: CryWolf said:
What are your thoughts about Notre Dame not allowing Tee Shepard to transfer to a rival school while USC allowed Amir Carlisle to transfer to ND?
A: My guess is Notre Dame would cite the “special circumstances” of Carlise’s family being in Indiana. However, this is why I questioned the release of Carlisle to Notre Dame to begin with. Especially if Notre Dame does not show similar goodwill in the Shepard case. I guess Brian Kelly does not want to take the high road.