Monday Musing: Cruel and unusual punishment?

A four-year investigation concluded with four dreaded words—”Lack of institutional control”.
Like a weighted hammer, the NCAA struck the heart of the Southern California football program and thundered a warning to any onlookers walking the same path. Yesterday’s outlandish rumors surfaced as today’s truth, as a program fell victim to greed, neglect, and arrogance.
The next process will be an appeal, as the University will attempt to lift sanctions that have gathered opinions ranging from fair to not enough, and even moving to the extreme measure of “cruel and unusual”.
The Usual Suspects
Reggie Bush and O.J. Mayo were at the center of the investigation, and each program was penalized accordingly, depending on how you look at it. USC’s self imposed sanctions against the basketball program were accepted, including a one-year postseason ban. The football program received the more severe penalties, though the crimes were basically equal, and Mayo’s more blatant.





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