I'm with Alex on pretty much all points.
Actually, I remember this being brought up while I was still in California, but the conversation just seemed to have ended. I figured it just got blown over or someone paid someone off.
I couldn't get the article you linked to load with anything more than pictures, but here's another:
With harsh USC penalties, NCAA sends warning to all elite programs
Quote:
Consider: USC received almost the same exact penalties that Alabama did in 2002 (two-year bowl ban, 21 scholarships) for a case in which the school's own boosters made payments to recruits. The committee even said it "seriously considered the imposition of a television ban" against the Trojans, a penalty it hasn't doled out in more than 15 years.
In other words, in the committee's eyes, USC's failure to monitor a player's relationship with those seeking to cash in on his future earnings is every bit as serious as Alabama's failure to monitor supporters trying to help secure future wins for their favorite team.
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I would just consider this a warning shot. I'm surprised that the Alabama situation wasn't enough warning for USC to stop or at least monitor what happened two years later... while the Tide were still being punished.
It's about going one way or the other, and since it's currently not allowed, then it's probably the thing to do for the NCAA.