Congratulations to the NCAA for severely punishing the Trojans. Now the multimillion-dollar industry of college athletics can once again become pure, contested by all those big-time BCS and Sweet 16 programs whose players receive no improper inducements, benefits, preferential treatment, grading favors, pocket change or any consideration whatsoever besides a "free" education from the universities for whom they earn hundreds of millions of dollars.
Yeah, right. The real corruption in the system is not Reggie and O.J. working the free market to their advantage (like any good student at SC's business school learns), but the NCAA trying to uphold unrealistic ideals that will inevitably get abused by the inexorable influence of economic incentives on amateur sport.
Brad Kearns
Auburn, Calif.
::
At first glance I thought the sanctions against USC were too severe, but after reading the response from Mike Garrett (Mr. Personality), Coach Carroll ("I know nothing") and Reggie Bush ("I will continue to cooperate"), I do not think the penalties were excessive at all.
John O. Atkinson Sr.
Long Beach
::
I find it troubling that the NCAA, which professes to support student-athletes, is so quick to penalize student-athletes and potential recruits who had nothing to do with any of the infractions USC is accused of committing.
Instead of banning a school and these athletes from a bowl game, why doesn't the NCAA allow the school to participate in the game and have them forfeit any and all revenue they would have earned?
Frank Tierheimer
Cerritos
::
It didn't take a brain surgeon (apologies to the late Jim Healy) to see that something illegal was going on during the Pete Carroll years at USC.
Carroll was an NFL reject when he came to USC. He turned his practices and the sidelines into sideshows where everyone and his brother could schmooze with the athletes. Now the powers that be are saying that they had no control over who was wooing the athletes with money and perks? Give me a break. Agents and power brokers were welcome to attend any and all practices. Did Uncle Petey think they were there just to have a good time?
USC fans will now complain about the haters and how other schools are just as bad. I think this is called sour grapes. Mike Garrett needs to come out of his self-imposed exile and admit the facts. Take the punishment as a man and own up.
Chris Pisano
Rancho Palos Verdes
::
The NCAA, the brain trust that is busy creating conferences involving 20 states, is harnessing this same mentality to penalize USC.
The NCAA is using reported misdeeds by a couple of players to determine whether 30 new student-athletes can attend USC. Further, current juniors and seniors have no chance to play in a bowl game.
Maybe it will all seem more equitable while I'm watching USC compete in the Pac-25 schedule.
John Fraser
Camarillo
::
The NCAA has now spoken, and has severely sanctioned USC's athletic program. Two of the men primarily responsible for this debacle have gone on to greener pastures (just ahead of the posse, it must be noted), and now it's time for Athletic Director Mike Garrett to assume full responsibility. Mike, if you are the stand-up guy you've always said you are, you will be a man and resign. Only then can USC move on, and work its way back to the ranks of respectable college institutions.
Jack Wolf
Westwood
::
So Uncle Pete's No. 1 rule was always protect the team; we just didn't know he was referring to Team Pete.
Here's hoping Pete Carroll remembers to (Rule No. 2) be early and (No. 3) not whine ... after he goes 0-16 in Seattle. Hey, I can dream.
Jack Von Bulow
Temple City
::
The NCAA acronym must be the Latin word for hypocrisy. While meting out Draconian punishment to USC, the NCAA undoubtedly will continue to cash checks from the networks for the television rights to USC games. If I were Lane Kiffin, I would insist that all television cameras be banned from the Coliseum until the bowl ban has lapsed.
Mark S. Roth
Los Angeles
::
Is the new USC president going to have to exact his own "Bush Push" to really clean house in an otherwise tainted athletic department ?
Johnathan Colin
Redondo Beach
::
Former USC quarterback Aaron Corp has the last laugh now. He has two seasons to compete for a national championship at Richmond — an opportunity not available to his former Trojans teammates.
Barry P. Resnick
Orange
::
Thanks, Reggie Bush. You were deceptive on the field but most of us knew when you started dishing out the hush money that our program was doomed due to your off-the-field deceptions.
Reggie, you shamed your university, your fans and most of all yourself. We will fight on. You, of course, will move on.
Ron Roberts
Encino
::
As a longtime UCLA supporter, I find myself conflicted over the ruling against USC. I don't know if I should pop the champagne or dance a jig.
Jayson Romero
Highland
::
Bill Plaschke, please stop telling USC fans how we should feel.
Torrie Rosenzweig
Los Angeles
The Wizard
