The University of Southern California has imposed sanctions on the Trojan basketball team – including a postseason ban for this season and a loss of scholarships for this season and next – for violations of NCAA regulations.
Which is a nice way of saying, “We’re caught pretty much red-handed, here… so we’re going to give ourselves a big ol’ time out this offseason and hoping the NCAA won’t slam us with even harsher penalties.”
According to various reports, then-coach Tim Floyd made direct cash payments to “street agents” while recruiting star guard O.J. Mayo. Mayo then received a host of improper benefits from those agents while playing for the Trojans. Floyd resigned in June, shortly after the story about his pay-offs became public. He’s now employed as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Hornets.
A skeptical person might wonder why the administration is moving to penalize the basketball program, while letting the scandal-ridden football program skate.
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USC Self-Sanctions for Mayo Abuses originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Monday, January 4th, 2010 at 12:34:56.
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