USC appears to be getting deeper and deeper with the NCAA, and may I just say “It’s about time.” It’s about time that Bush’s Push is called into question. It’s about time that a program so buried in shady-ness is brought into the light.
There is so much evidence that Bush took cash, money and records from everyone that would offer it up, it’s ridiculous. Dude brought armed thugs to meetings to testify.
The Mayo thing, eh, I don’t care about much because I follow College Basketball about 1/10000th as much as I follow CFB. But, I’m glad that’s coming out too because it’s bringing momentum on the football side.
In a way, I’m bummed that this is what Pete Carroll and the d-bag admins at USC have let happen to our rival. In another big way, I love to see them get taken down. Giving money and other illegal benefits to lure talent, guess what? Lures talent. And everyone wonders why the next great 5-star RB chooses USC when there are 2 5-stars and 3 4-stars already on the roster? It’s because they know they’ll get PAID. They’ll get free stuff, lots of cash, and they’ll likely win. At ND, you know what they get? Classes and homework and a good education. Some kids want that, and that’s great, but a lot of kids want MONEY. Hence, USC’s great recruiting run, and the resultant great success on the field.
I’m not saying it’s all about the benjamins, but I’m saying it plays a role. I’m not saying every player took cash, or everyone cheated, but if the NCAA finds a lack of institutional control (and at this point I don’t know how they could avoid doing so) it proves that this is going on at the “USC” level, and that the school is using illegal means to bring in and keep players, in order to win.
That’s cheating folks. The dollar sign in U$C is no longer a joke for depressed Domers sick of the losing streak. It’s fact.
And, the article highlights:
NCAA investigators appear to be building a case to show the University of Southern California has demonstrated a lack of institutional control and failure to monitor some aspects of its football and men’s basketball programs, multiple sources interviewed in the probe told Yahoo! Sports.
“I think [lack of institutional control] would be a very accurate interpretation of the angle the NCAA took in questioning,†said attorney David Murphy, who represents former Mayo confidant Louis Johnson.
Asked if there was any way that USC could not have known of the financial relationship between Mayo and Guillory, Murphy said: “It is humanly impossible for them to not have known.â€
That sentiment mirrors statements by Lloyd Lake, who has alleged he helped give Bush and Bush’s family nearly $300,000 in benefits when Bush still was at USC. Lake has filed a civil suit against Bush over the alleged benefits. Lake told Yahoo! Sports in 2008: “People at USC knew. How could they not? We were in the locker room. Some of their [coaches] were there when we partied with him. They saw the things we had [given] him.â€
If the NCAA finds USC lacked institutional control and/or failed to monitor in the cases of Mayo and Bush, the school could face stiff penalties including probation, revocation of victories and possible loss of scholarships in both the basketball and football programs.
If you read through the entire thing, you’ll see a ton of references to multiple interviews, multiple witnesses, multiple claims of wrongdoing by Bush and Mayo. Multiple everything. This thing is snow-balling, and U$C is at the bottom of the hill, stuck in some ice. I think they’re screwed. And rightfully so.
USC Fans will come at this from a few non-defensible positions, I am sure:
- “We beat you last year by a lot, you suck, hahahah.” Response: This does not make your school/program innocent, and in fact your talent is only there because of the cheating. Also: the Bush Push shouldnt have happened, which gives ND a win there. Also, also: See the period just prior to this period of dominance by U$C, and notice how much ND dominated the series.  Things change. They will change again.
- “Everyone else does this so it’s not a big deal.” Response: No, not everyone else does it. Also: doesn’t make it right.
- “None of this happened, it’s all fabricated, these guys are just trying to bring USC down!” Response: keep dreaming, this is real and we all know it (and you know it, it just sucks to be a supporter of an institution that regularly cheats to win)
USC fans, this is real. Prepare to vacate wins, schollies and some money. Prepare to lose a NC and a Heisman. Some, if not all, of these sanctions will happen. Prepare for it. It’s coming home to roost.
- (Re)Introducing: DANCING LEPRECHAUNS - August 29, 2019
- Ticket Auction: ND vs USC - August 22, 2019
- No Respect! - December 14, 2018
Also, USC fans will say only 1 player out of hundreds (Bush) got paid. Even if that is true, and I doubt it is, think what a difference 1 elite player can make. Does anyone think SC wins all those games without Bush? They certainly wouldn’t have beat ND in 05.
As much as I hate to say it, if I had to bet money I think nothing major happens to USC football as a result. The b-ball team will get one year probation with no tourney appearance.
DTK,
The only reason I think that may not happen is because the NCAA is apparently using the “lack of institutional control” phrase with their newly all-rolled-into-one investigation. That language, if they have any appreciation of their past, is a pretty big deal.
See, the Heisman, and the NC are not issued by the NCAA, so despite vacating wins, they would not necessarily have those vacated or revoked. That would have to be done by the governing bodies.
That’s a good point, Wertzy. I think Biscuit knows that, but I think he got a bit over-excited.
There is no such thing as over-excited from Biscut. Especially for a college football fan, in May. Soooooo long til kickoff
Wertzy’s point is technically correct, but so is the Biscuit. It is true that the NCAA does not control the Heisman, but they are interrelated. For example, if the NCAA determines that Bush accepted improper benefits and was thus, inelligible to play – the Heisman committee may have no choice but to revoke it and award to the elligible player with the next most votes.
The best possible scenario: Irish beat U$C on October 17th, and the NCAA sanctions are issued on October 18th. I really want to beat these guys once while they’re still on top. After that, let them sink into years of the scholarship-less abyss!
1 year of bowl ineligibility, loss of 2-3 schollies, vacate about 12 wins and one of those is officially the “Bush Push” game. That will make me ecstatic.