Yay Rah, NCAA!

"I got out in time!!"

The NCAA for years has refused to give significant punishment to it's big revenue generators. That will all change tomorrow when the official punishment following the NCAA's investigation of the Trojans is released.

Here's what it looks like will happen:
-All the wins from the '04 & possibly the '05 seasons will be expunged from the books
This type of punishment always seems silly to me...the revenue from tickets is still theirs, the fans still think those games count...so no big deal here, to me.

-20 scholarships lost for the USC football team
This is a big penalty. Even with USC's typically-talented roster, depth is still needed and with early defections, it's always good to be able to allow a player a year before he starts. Plus, most 19 year olds, even the highest-touted, aren't as big and strong as the average 22 year old college football player.

-No post-season play for two seasons
Another significant punishment as this hurts exposure and if nothing else will affect the psyche of the fanbase during the holiday season.
-Possible removal of Bush's Heisman
This is a somewhat-large deal simply because it's unprecedented (I believe)...but a few sources don't think this will happen.

I still can't find if there's any ramifications for the basketball team, but I think they should also be punished...as should USC's athletic director be fired and forced to never hold such a post in the NCAA due to his lack of control of the situation...but that probably won't happen.

It might be interesting to see if USC seeks to hold Carroll, Bush, Floyd, Mayo and others accountable after the punishment is official.

The NCAA took way too long to complete the investigation and then hand down the punishment. But, if the above is what comes to fruition, the NCAA got it right...for once.

What I'd still like to see is the coaches being held more-accountable for such violations. For instance- if your team is guilty of multiple-major infractions that leave a program decimated, you not only can't coach for 5 years, but will also be fined if you decide to return to NCAA coaching after the punitive period (as a deterrent). Sure, it won't happen, but one can dream.

This Just in: The Meaning of success has changed.

Matt Barkley has a good chance of being dreamy while at USC

Success used to mean "Favorable or desired outcome" (according to Webster's Dictionary).

But USA Today has decided to ignore that definition.

Today, the sports page of this silly paper had an article about USC's true-frosh starter, Matt Barkley. And clearly, the writer is someone who doesn't have the internet to research his articles and has a depth of college football knowledge similar to my son's (he's three).

The author, David Leon Moore, thinks Barkley has a chance at being a "successful" QB at SC, but can only remember three other true Freshman from major conferences that have been "successful".

Chad Henne- absolutely (25TD, 12 INT, 60.2% comp, 9-3 record).
Matthew Stafford- ehhhhh... (7TD, 13 INT, 52.7% comp, 9-4 record)
Jimmy Clausen- Alright, dude is drunk (7TD, 6INT, 56.3% comp, 3-9 record).

I can't figure out what makes Pickles successful in this stat line- he had more TDs than INTs, but he only had 7 TDs...his completion % is under 60, and unlike Stafford, his record as a starter during his first season was a rock-solid 3-9.

Good research, Mr. Moore.

I get the point- it's difficult to start as a true freshman and succeed- TRUE!! But, you could have said it like the LA Times instead of grasping at straws while making comparisons.

Last year, as a true-Frosh, Terrelle Pryor had more TDs, fewer INTs, a better completion percentage, and the Buckeyes won a lot of games. Adam Weber had a TON more TDs and a better completion percentage in '07. I just thought of those...and I don't get paid to write for a living...but I do have an internet connection to research my theories; I guess I'm one-up on Mr. Moore.

At least Moore got this right-

"This is the Barkley that Carroll and the Trojans have come to know. He has the looks (ruggedly handsome, blond hair and a toothy grin) and stature (barrel-chested, 6-2 and 230 pounds) of a central casting big man on campus."

Nice reporting, sir...Women between the ages of 16 and 20 will love reading your story.

Shocker: Floyd Out at SC

Great coach, role model and all-around leader-of-men, Tim Floyd has resigned at USC...I'm sure, according to the ever-consistant NCAA, this means USC will be exonerated from all wrong-doing...in all sports.

Reggie Bush, O.J. Mayo, SC AD Mike Garrett and others thank you, Coach Floyd, for taking responsibility for all of the cheating that has gone on by the Men of Troy.

Hats off to you Coach for doing things right!

Come on, Tim!!

Yahoo Sports is reporting that USC cheats...that parts not really news.

What is news, is the fact that Tim Floyd literally handed money to an agency to get OJ Mayo to play for him for one season...Nice work, Coach Floyd! You've taken the art of cheating to a low level that would make Coach Cal and Worldwide Wes blush. I mean, who actually directly gives money anymore? Not many...But clearly, Coach Tim Floyd has panache...and he understands you shouldn't leave a job to someone else you can do for yourself! The thing that's astounding to me is that OJ Mayo made over $200,000...for one season of college basketball. While the market of other cheating programs/agents/AAU coaches/corrupt athletic departments must have dictated such a number, it seems completely crazy to me that someone or a group of someones would be willing to pay so much for so little. If this is what it takes to finish fourth in the Pac-10, I guess I just don't want that type of success at Purdue. But well played, Coach Floyd, you were willing to pay for big results...I hope it was worth-while for you.

At least Tim always has the NBA to fall back upon...ooooh, wait, sorry.

How happy is the University of Arizona to have Sean Miller right now?