Answers, Part 3

Q: What are the potential penalties for a school where the NCAA finds that the school did not know, nor should have known, that the student-athlete received extra benefits before or during the season?
Is the school automatically required to forfeit any games in which the ineligible student-athlete played, even if the NCAA finds no culpability by the school? Or is forfeiting games only imposed where the school had culpability? I am trying to determine what would happen to USC's 2004 football season if the NCAA found that Bush was funneled cash from Lake/Michaels during the latter part of the 2004 season (when the New Era arrangement was allegedly made), but USC had no way of knowing it. Any info you can provide is greatly appreciated. As always, thanks for the forum.

A: The NCAA can make a school forfeit games if it determines an athlete received money or other benefits, whether the school knew or not. If the school knew, that's when you're talking more serious penalties like probation and no bowl games, etc.

Q: So I saw that one of your answer sessions this week was titled "Answer Monday, the sequel." In the spirit of this blog, should that not have been titled "Answer Monday, Electric Boogaloo"?????

A: Good idea.

Q: It was reported that Demar DeRozan's high school coach stated that two of the teams that made this year's Final Four contacted him showing interest in taking him. Have you heard speculation of who the teams may be and could/would USC block him from enrolling in those schools (or any others for that matter).

A: North Carolina was DeRozan's second choice and there were a lot of rumors he might decommit and go there last summer. But he signed with USC. He could not leave USC without a release. It's becoming harder and harder for schools to refuse to release players but we're a long way from that point at the moment.

Q: In a bid to avoid all controversy will USC and the NCAA insist that student athletes dress according to their socio-economic status and not own any TV's larger than 15"?

A: Actually, 20-inch TVs will be allowed.