Answer Thursday! (Part 2)

Q: Michael Protos said:
Scott,

First some context - Whatever happens this season is nowhere near as important to the football program as the results of NCAA sanctions appeal. If we don't get a year shaved off the bowl ban and at least a dozen scholarships back, USC football is likely toast. If Bush had instead went to Ohio State or Texas and the whole exact episode transpired (down to the NCAA investigation, 2 year bowl ban, 30 scholarships lost) the beat writers for those schools would be screaming bloody murder and probably would have Paul Dee's head by now, especially after the UNC and SI stories. In contrast, USC is getting killed in the PR arena because the LA Times condemned USC (siding with their SEC/ESPN agenda due to economic conflicts of interest) and the likes of you have remained inexplicably silent. I don't expect you to be a shill for USC, but my question is, why aren't you providing actual coverage to this important story and highlighting the excessive unjust nature of the NCAA penalties against USC?

A: I've said many times I thought the penalties were excessive: on this blog, on the radio, etc. I'm not sure what else you want. But what makes you think the NCAA really cares what the media thinks? I've asked them repeatedly to explain certain decisions and they always refer me back to USC despite the fact they made the decision regarding the penalties.
So I guess, in a sense, I am applying pressure with my questions.

Q: Trojan in Redondo said:
Which schools and/or tournaments have the best food spreads for reporters? And which have the worst?

A: The worst, inexplicably, are UCLA and USC, in that order. The best are Washington State and Oregon. Maybe you think the Cougars do a better job because they are the least desireable school in the conference. But Oregon's got the best facilities and might spend the most money, so there's not exactly a pattern. It's a shame that two schools in the biggest media market in the conference provide the worst food, moreso for the image it creates with the national media than people like me, who have other options.

Q: gilligan said:
Mr. Wolf, what will USC do "if" it loses its NCAA appeal considering the actions that transpired at UNC and other Southern schools (e.g. Georgia, South Carolina)? Thank you in advance.

A: I think USC is trying to be concilliatory toward the NCAA right now. If it loses the appeal, maybe it will seek a legal remedy but right now, Pat Haden's stressed many times the NCAA is in charge and makes the rules, etc. So I don't see a legal challenge . . . yet.