Even the novice sports fan has heard of the sanctions the NCAA has levied on the USC Trojans athletic program today. These come as a result of a four year investigation which uncovered practices by the athletic program the NCAA called a “lack of institutional control”. Most of the violations surround former Trojan standouts Reggie Bush and OJ Mayo. The NCAA says both players their  family and friends received extra benefits from sports agents including money,hotel stays, cars, and rent free housing  all in hopes of signing these gentleman when they turned pro. USC will have to vacate wins from the time these occurrences took place. They’ll be banned from post season play for the next two years and will lose about 30 scholarships.

So I know what you’re saying to yourself “USC really got their ass handed to them!” WRONG, the students of USC both the athletes and the student body are the ones who will suffer the most. Athletes a majority of which are from the area, and have probably dreamed of going to SC there whole lives will have to sit on the sideline and watch two years of eligibility go by before they can be on the big stage.  The student body whose families are paying exorbitant amounts for tuition in part to experience the Trojan athletic program will have to sit through two lame duck years were the games mean nothing.

Lets be honest the University administration will ride this out they have enough in the stash to live through what for them is a sidestep in decades of profit making of the backs of these athletes. As for Reggie and OJ they could care less them and their families already reaped the benefits they’re pros w/pro contracts and endorsements. Take away Reggie’s Heisman go ahead he just won a Super Bowl ring.  There’s no real punishment for the people who committed the violation. and I know what you’re going to say what about the embaressment and losing wins and trophies…..GIMME A BREAK (Making the Jerk off motion w/my right hand). This is about money and as long as Reggie, OJ, the agents family and friends have their money they could care less.

Then there’s Pete Carroll not only did all of this happen on his watch but he knew that the shit was hitting the fan, and got out of the hot seat all while telling everyone it was nothing to worry about.  Now Carroll is collecting a lucrative NFL paycheck and doesn’t have to deal w/the repercussions of running a corrupt program. Leaving Lane Kiffin to clean up his mess. I have to say though Lane deserves it a bit for leaving Tennessee the way he did. What about the guys Carroll recruited last year who are now stuck in this bad situation… again it comes back to the kids.

I applaud the NCAA for the diligence in the investigation but  you have it all wrong like the football bowl system, or the ridiculous idea of expanding the NCAA tournament to 96 teams. By stripping scholarships and banning the program  from the post season you’re only punishing the students. Lets get this right and go after the people really responsible the agents and boosters who infiltrate these programs throughout the country and corrupt these young impressionable athletes, The head coaches and athletic directors who turn a  blind eye and even participate in these activities and the NCAA for creating a system that feeds off the blood of kids. (Game Blouses!)