Latest on Reggie Bush Scandal: Sounds like he's going down.

To elaborate on my point earlier about the NCAA's investigative procedures, here is a quote from an article by the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicler, written back in 1998 regarding the Lester Earl situation:


David Berst, the NCAA's assistant executive director for enforcement, said violations involving a player normally affect only the school where the violations occurred. "The more difficult issue for us typically is how to prove whether there are such violations or not,'' Berst said. "More often, when we are investigating particular institutions, we seek information from student-athletes and transfers without jeopardizing their eligibility.''

Though one can argue that situations involving former players are different from those involving current players, for Barker to imply in the SI article that the NCAA should be hesitant about going after the school is ridiculous, since the NCAA's entire investigative MO is to go after the school first and the player second, if ever.

 

Setting school affiliations, emotions, and this case aside for a moment, do you really believe that a school should/could keep tabs on the financial stability of a student athlete's parents? A large percent of the American population live beyond their means. How would a school even begin to collect this information, take geographic data into consideration, and still allow people to maintain their privacy?

How deep into the family's business should the school go? Should parents, step-parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, wives, in-laws be required to provide their financial information? Would the school be making a physical visit to each home to see if it was too big or their mortgage rates too high? Should an automatic notification go to the school if a parent defaults on their mortgage? Remember, we're not talking about just football here. A school would have to keep up with the families of ALL students, regardless of gender or sport. Title IX you know. :yelwink2:

I don't have the data but I'm willing to guess that compliance officers spend more time trying to keep up with athlete's grades, social habits, substance abuse, and academic progress. And since boosters have long been the bain of pay for play in college sports, they probably receive a bit of attention as well.

I completely agree with you that schools have some serious responsibility on this topic but expecting them to know what every player's family's financial status is doesn't seem reasonable.

 

I sounded reasonable to the NCAA when they damn near gave LSU basketball the death penalty for five thousand dollars that a player supposedly got from a booster. The only person they had say it happened was the players crack head girlfriend, and yes she was a crackhead I'm not just calling her that. Dale Brown was a big NCAA critic and it was payback time. Punishment by the NCAA usually is based little on proof of guilt or innocence. Don't worry with all the evidence out there it's easy to see the NCAA will turn a blind eye and look for someone else to burn.

 

When it comes to one of the NCAA's marquee athletes whose performance is vital to the success of one of the best programs in college football, absolutely. Compliance officers are well aware that there are many types of improper benefits that extend far beyond boosters handing out a big bag full of cash. Is it feasible to extend such a thorough background check to ALL players' families? Of course not, but star players and Heisman Trophy winners should be held to a higher standard. If some amateur writers from Yahoo Sports could uncover this, so could USC, ESPN, FOX, SI, or any of the other big names. It simply isn't credible that a star athlete's immediate family suddenly moves into a home they can't afford, and NO ONE could make the connection.

Personally, I don't think this case is particularly surprising, and I suspect it occurs at most big-program schools. My problem is the the inconsistency and hypocrisy with which the NCAA wields the big stick. And I think there is more than sufficient historical evidence to show that the big fish generating the big money get a slap on the wrist, while the little guys get mowed down.

 

Years from now, Bush will finally admit what he did, albeit only hypothetically when he releases his book, "If I Did It, Here's How It happened".

 

:rofl:

 

That is funny bitter, made my azz laugh!

 

So then tell me, where and how do you draw the line for which players to investigate? Emily Turner is a big time NCAA softball star from California. When was the last time LSU's compliance office checked on the housing situation of her parents? It's a stretch but you see the obvious difficulty in selectively applying such a standard and putting in writing who is worth investigation and who gets a pass.

Mortgage defaults and credit card debt are at an all time high in this country and for sure in California. Don't get me wrong here, I think the Griffins screwed up big time, but they were no more special or different than any other would-be home owners. How or why would USC be aware that the Griffins had moved? I doubt compliance officers were invited to the house warming party. After all is said and done, I don't think they give a rat's behind about USC, the football program, or the fans and alumni.

The Yayhoo reporters are like most media folks........interested in furthering their careers. They were looking to find something and after all their blathering, what really did they find? Their link on the story is still up and generating revenue for their website via pop up ads and such. And remember, these are some of the same media people that SEC fans excoriate for not giving LSU their props. It gets tough to apply truth only in certain situations.

 

How has a school like USC managed to have top recruiting classes each year? Do the top players just appear on campus and enroll as students? Do average players automatically become stars due to the coaching or by drinking the water?

I'm only guessing here but I would think that it requires countless hours visiting recruits, watching film, meeting their family, talking with their coaches, friends, teachers, etc. Knowing that you have a scholarship limit, you're cautious to avoid wasting one on someone who has academic or social issues.

What I find hard to believe is that you could spend thosuands of hours recruiting a kid and thousands more promoting him...but NO time monitoring his conduct or family situation once he becomes your most high-profile student. Any reasonable person would realize that "if" these things did occur, then USC would have known enough to take action.

I don't believe the issue is whether schools commit violations or not. It's pretty obviously that many schools and/or boosters violate rules. The big issue is how much emphasis and ultimately what penalties are imposed on the schools. Schools that generate millions or are in major television markets shouldn't receive a pardon.

Until the NCAA issues decisions in an equitable manner, teams will continue to cheat without fear of being penalized. Of course that would require the NCAA to fire half their staff, since they routinely violate their own rules.

 

I believe whole heartedly that Reggie's parents got anxious and greedy. They allowed a previously incarcerated criminal and huckster to talk them into God knows what kind of deal that was never going to happen. The "company" they set up was bogus, had never and still has never represented even one client. I just don't believe that USC could or should have known about it. I also realize we may be penalized regardless. As for Reggie, I treat him like I would any member of my family that had been accused and who maintained their innocence. If the Pac10 investigator really does have proof, it will come out soon enough and USC and it's fans will suffer the consequences.

As a long time Trojan fan I know what penalties can do to a program. In the early 80's the Pac10 and the NCAA found USC guilty of infractions stemming from the sale of player's complimentary game tickets by Assistant Coach Marv Goux. The money went back to the players for meals, etc. We had just won the NC in 1978 (shared with bama despite beating them head to head) and in 1980, the Pac10 banned us from post season bowls. In 1982 the NCAA summarily enacted a 3 year probation including a ban on televised games and bowl games. Guys like Ronnie Lott, Keith Van Horne, Marcus Allen, Joey Browner, and Bruce Matthews were playing on those teams. The Ted Tolner era began and so did the death of Trojan football for over a decade. Rebuilding to national prominence takes a hell of a long time and I don't know if I can take another decade like the 90's.

Interesting factoid-in '79, USC traveled out to Baton Rouge and came home with a win. Just 5 years later, ya'll traveled out to the Coliseum and beat us.