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It’s a weird question, but I sometimes get these weird thoughts. Anyway, here it is:

If you were the NCAA Committee on Infractions, do you root for a newly sanctioned program to succeed or fail during penalized years?

This is the reason I ask, and it mostly pertains to a postseason ban. A postseason ban was imposed on USC for the years 2010 and ’11. It doesn’t say you are banned 2 years from the postseason if/when eligible. If the Trojans finish 2011 with a record of 5-7, were they really penalized for two years? They wouldn’t make the postseason anyway, the penalty ran its course, and in the end it was a “one-year” ban. Had USC finished with fewer than 6 wins in 2010, then it wouldn’t have suffered much of a penalty at all (with the exception of players allowed to transfer).

It isn’t far-fetched to see a program go from king of the mountain to sub .500 in one year’s time. Look no further than Texas for an example. The Horns went from the BCS championship game to a 5-7 season. Let’s say it was a sanctioned Horns team facing a two year ban. Year one would have completed with zero effect. But of course, people would say the record was a reflection of the penalties and lack of motivation, as if a team can’t possibly go from one extreme to the other that quickly without NCAA assistance.

So my guess is, during a banned period, the COI is rooting for a program to be exceptionally good to fully feel the effect of the punishment. But at the same time, what you don’t want is a program to be perfect. Perfection creates a problem, because though it may be difficult with a final game scratched from the slate, a sanctioned team that finishes undefeated is still eligible for the AP title. They wouldn’t get it in a year where the BCS champ is unbeaten or one-loss, but it is very possible in fluke years, where you get a 2-loss BCS champ.

So what do you think? If you were on the committee and laid down a postseason ban, would you rather see that team have success or fall flat on its face in those penalized years?

Post your thoughts HERE…

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http://forums.sportsjabber.net/sjforums/showthread.php?t=93943