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A once mighty beacon of college athletics success over the last decade, USC has fallen from the pinnacle of college sport’s elite programs and into a self-inflicted morass of mediocrity. In an industry in which success can often be brought, USC’s yearly athletic budget had swelled to over $84 million, putting well into the top 5% of all Division I institutions. The university sunk more than $23,123,733 into football and $4,854,498 into basketball during the most recent fiscal year alone. Yet few programs have gone through the same turmoil as Southern California has in recent years.

USC's Fall From College Sports Elite A Cautionary Tale

Would you like some Kleenex? HP -- haha

I don't feel the least bit sorry for USC. I did enjoy the 60 minutes recently on Alabama and Michigan. They do whatever it takes to be one of only 25 or so that actually make money.

Does SC deserve the fall they took. Yes, but they didn't learn the Alabama rule. When the NCAA had Bama dead to rights and the DP was on the table, Bama rolled over and helped the NCAA with their investigation. The NCAA went out of their way to be lenient. SC fought this and the Mayo investigation every step of the way. That doesn't show the evil empire contrition. The empire took their pound of flesh.

Look at Ohio State. Their crimes were worse than USC. The we're proactive during the investigation and the NCAA was gentle with them.

SC's downfall... To not bend over and take it.

Does SC deserve the fall they took. Yes, but they didn't learn the Alabama rule. When the NCAA had Bama dead to rights and the DP was on the table, Bama rolled over and helped the NCAA with their investigation. The NCAA went out of their way to be lenient. SC fought this and the Mayo investigation every step of the way. That doesn't show the evil empire contrition. The empire took their pound of flesh.

Look at Ohio State. Their crimes were worse than USC. The we're proactive during the investigation and the NCAA was gentle with them.

SC's downfall... To not bend over and take it.

long term effects of multiple year scholarship limitations will take a toll even with the top programs in America. Can't think of one instances when they didn't

stc9 wrote:Does SC deserve the fall they took. Yes, but they didn't learn the Alabama rule. When the NCAA had Bama dead to rights and the DP was on the table, Bama rolled over and helped the NCAA with their investigation. The NCAA went out of their way to be lenient. SC fought this and the Mayo investigation every step of the way. That doesn't show the evil empire contrition. The empire took their pound of flesh.

Look at Ohio State. Their crimes were worse than USC. The we're proactive during the investigation and the NCAA was gentle with them.

SC's downfall... To not bend over and take it.

Ohio State's "crimes" pail in comparison. USC hubris is greater than Tressel's players selling some items for tattoos.

Water Pony wrote:

stc9 wrote:Does SC deserve the fall they took. Yes, but they didn't learn the Alabama rule. When the NCAA had Bama dead to rights and the DP was on the table, Bama rolled over and helped the NCAA with their investigation. The NCAA went out of their way to be lenient. SC fought this and the Mayo investigation every step of the way. That doesn't show the evil empire contrition. The empire took their pound of flesh.

Look at Ohio State. Their crimes were worse than USC. The we're proactive during the investigation and the NCAA was gentle with them.

SC's downfall... To not bend over and take it.

Ohio State's "crimes" pail in comparison. USC hubris is greater than Tressel's players selling some items for tattoos.

Tressel knowingly lied to the NCAA and then continued to cover it up. The players continually received impermissible benefits (lots of players over lots of years). USC was sanctioned for the actions of one player and an assistant coach. USC's hubris was to fight the NCAA. That always magnifies the punishment.

Perspective-the Ohio St violations were relatively minor compared to the benefits received by Reggie Bush plus Ohio St fired-well he forced to resign technically

"The NCAA hit Ohio State with a one-year bowl ban and additional penalties Tuesday for violations that started with eight players taking a total of $14,000 in cash and tattoos in exchange for jerseys, rings and other Buckeyes memorabilia."

The allegations against Bush were that he received over $300,000 in illegal benefits

As I have said before, those were some expensive tattoos: cost Tressell his job, OSU a shot at the BCS title, and the Big Ten some BCS cash. Was it worth it?

Friends suggest Kiffin was hired to keep "lock and key" on the past--one of the boys. He was an assistant at USC when Bush was recruited. I wonder how much he was involved back then in his recruiting? Certainly impressed the NCAA that they were cleaning things up! Didn't he leave Tennessee with some violations also?