No Fun League

Did Pete Carroll kick your dog or something? I don't understand all the posts that come off as petty shots at USC's former coach. I enjoy the actual coverage of the university's athletics, but all these potshots at Carroll come off as a weak attempt to seem original and turn me away as a reader. Please stick to what we care about: USC coverage. Thanks!

It's amazing how badly USC is handling this. They spent four years fighting with the NCAA and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on lawyers. Then it all ends with such horrible sanctions. Was this really what they had in mind?

What's most frustrating is that USC is not publicly apologizing to its fan base nor to its players. As fans we have spent countless hours supporting the team over the years. Lord only knows how much cash we've all spent on USC apparel and tickets to games (including travel expenses). When will they apologize to their current players and fans? When will they hold any type of press conference to address their fan base?

As each day goes by I'm exasperated by the total lack of leadership at SC. I can't believe that anyone on the athletic department gets to keep their jobs after running the program into the ground and besmirching the name of the University of Southern California overall. It's truly an embarrassing time that will take years, if not decades, to overcome. The winning was not worth all of this shame.

Lastly, I'm very disappointed with Reggie Bush. I don't blame him for taking the house and money. But at least be a man and say you did wrong and apologize to your team mates and fans. Come clean. It worked for Andy Pettite with steroid accusations. Now nobody ever mentions it about Pettite.

To clarify my post above, at least Pete Carroll is trying to get in front of this thing and answering questions on it.

Granted, he is trying to sell a book right now. But it's more than what anyone else within USC is doing.

The timing of his book release couldn't have been worse, obviosuly.

Ceasar didn't leave for the money, the hammer was coming down and Petey ran away.

Scott: Pete, Pete, remember you telling me NFL is the No Fun League? heh heh Rememeber?

Pete: Hi @$$hole.

Scott: heh heh Remember? No Fun League? heh heh

Pete: YOGI....get this @$$hole out of here, I'm trying to use the urnial in peace.

Scott: heh heh heh. I sure miss you buddy.

Pete: Miss you to @$$hole. YOGI, YOGI!!

Scott: Need some help? heh heh

as long as the football team keeps winning on the field, that is all that matters. what is there to apologize for? especially to the fans. this is what you wanted. just win, by hook or by crook.

Hi DixieTrojan,

I'm not part of the Administration or anything, but I am sorry that you feel the way you do. The fact is that the NCAA did not sanction USC based on their rules or the crime Reggie committed. Please look up what other schools have done to get sanctions such as Alabama. They had boosters give large amounts of money to many players. Their administration helped to facilitate everything. Many other schools have been found guilty of doing the same over the years. None have been given the extremity of sanctions that USC received even though they were involved and no one at USC was involved. Even though many players benefited whereas at USC only one did - Reggie.

Reggie didn't actually benefit either. The car that they made a big deal of came from his step-father (via money he received from Lake). It was not a deluxe car as the media made it out to be, it was a 1995 Chevy Impala worth about $3,000 in 2005 when Reggie received it, or about a month’s salary at McDonalds.

The NCAA should not hold colleges responsible for what the kids’ parents do with their high school friends. Lake and co. were not SC boosters, worked for SC or even went to SC. They had nothing to do with SC. All of these transgressions occurred over 200 miles away in a living room. There is no way anyone could have or should have known. No red flags as Reggie ate at commons, had no money and drove a cheap car.

Pete and USC have everything to be proud of and have done nothing wrong. It is not fair to hold them accountable and the NCAA had their own agenda. Their team was biased and should not have been allowed to hear the case. One member came from Notre Dame who are under a lot of pressure to win with a new coach. Success will only be if they beat us, which they have only done once in the past nine years. Another was from Miami who wanted Henderson who would only change schools if we were heavily sanctioned. We were and he is now at Miami. He was our top recruit.

There are far too many agendas and very unfair treatment with no close precedence. Several rules that USC “violated” are not rules at all, such as different requirements for high profile players – they seem to have created them just for this case. The NCAA has lost all credibility after this and there are many, including me, who believe USC should sue the NCAA. It is a tough lawsuit as USC voluntarily subjects themselves to the NCAA; however, the NCAA holds a monopoly in reality and as such has certain rights that they must adhere to.

I hope this helps you understand the stance that USC is taking.

Sy,

Thanks for your thoughtful response.

Since our last post it looks like Florida and South Carolina are facing similar situations as well. It will be interesting to see the facts as they unfold, how the athletic departments handle the investigations, and the penalties that result (if any).

Wolfe - man you are obsessed with Carroll. Let it go. You look like a total fool. It is frankly embarassing to read entry after entry on Carroll. It is over, move on.

Sy, I agree with many of your gripes against the NCAA and the sanctions, but I think we're getting into "tin-foil hat" territory if we start saying that Paul Dee crafted these sanctions with the aim of snatching away Seantrel Henderson. That's a bit much.

Hi DixieTrojan,

You're very welcome and my bet is that the issues facing those universities will prove to be involving staff. It is rare to see a case such as SC where staff did not participate and penalties were substantial. It will be interesting to see how those cases turn out.

Hi Cafe 84 Pizza,

I understand your point of view. I feel it is a big coincidence and a clear conflict of interest as it was well known that Henderson would not go to SC if the sanctions were large enough. I'm just trying to point out that these "jurist" sort-of-speak would have to be removed with cause had this been a court of law.

Also, evidence that was used by the committee was frankly absurd (i.e. a clearly doctored photo with no original that still proved absolutely nothing, three one minute calls to an answering machine looking for Reggie, a cheap car that was supposedly paid indirectly via the step-father by Lake, etc., etc., etc.).

This case would have been thrown out in an actual court room unless the judge was from Notre Dame and his wife from UCLA. Clearly biasness played the key determining factor and evidence, rules, precedence, etc. did not play a major factor at all.

Even if the case was air tight and USC aided Lake and co. in every way possible the penalties are larger than any prior case of that kind. It is a shame that the NCAA allows themselves to be politically used this way. Football results should be decided on the field, not behind closed doors and to meet hidden agendas.

Good stuff, Sy

It does make you wonder why the NCAA would have it in for ol' SC when the Trojans are the major cash cow for college football, at least west of the Mississippi, and probably the most popular team of the 2000s. This is a little like declaring the Yankees are not eligible for the World Series or the Patriots are banned from the Super Bowl.

And the infractions as you have pointed out are so minor that it is beyond the pale why the NCAA would have meted out such harsh, draconian penalties-- unless of course there was some built-in bias on the part of the NCAA hearing committee.

But that cannot be. Right?

Right...

You guys notice how Trolls don't get involved in forums when there is actual logic being used... Stick to finger pointing and jumping up and down Trolls.