I know we had the USC thread earlier in the day, but it started to run on forever and with the Colorado to the Pac-10 news breaking, I figured it would be best just to have a separate thread for the official release of the Committee on Infractions report on the USC investigation.
The report is expected to be released to the media at approximately 1:00 pm CST, and this thread will be updated throughout the afternoon as more official news becomes available.
Bush Speaks: Reggie Bush went on ESPN and read a totally generic, meaningless statement obviously written by his lawyer(s) had the following to say regarding the NCAA findings:
"I have a great love for the University of Southern California and I very much regret the turn that this matter has taken, not only for USC, but for the fans and players. I am disappointed by today's decision and disagree with the NCAA's findings. If the University decides to appeal, I will continue to cooperate with the NCAA and USC, as I did during the investigation. In the meantime, I will continue to focus on making a positive impact for the University and for the community where I live."
The report itself is still not up on the NCAA website. Apparently it is coming at 2:00 CST and we'll know then.
Ten Minutes to Go: According to Pat Forde, the NCAA report is in, it is 67 pages long (a good 30 pages less than previously reported), but there is an embargo on its release until 3:00 EST (2:00 CST). Ten minutes from now it should be available.
Report is Released: You can download a copy of the PDF report here (hat tip to stuck in the plains)
Official Sanctions Released: The NCAA has released the report and with it the official sanctions, and they are as follows:
- 30 (Thirty) scholarships lost over three years
- Total scholarships limited to 75 over that same three year period
- Two year bowl ban
- Vacated wins beginning December of 2004 (including BCS National Championship victory)
- Four years of probation
- USC must disassociate itself from Reggie Bush, OJ Mayo and Rodney Gilloury.
- Running backs coach Todd McNair (see below) shall not engage in any recruiting activities for one year
- One year show-cause order for Todd McNair
- Vacation of several years of women's tennis wins
Report Findings: a few highlights from the 67-page report are as follows:
- From December of 2004 through March of 2009, USC exhibited a lack of institutional control
- USC "failed to heed clear warning signs" and had "relatively little effective monitoring"
- Reggie Bush and O.J. Mayo will have all stats wiped clean from games in which they were ineligible (which includes all of Bush's Heisman Trophy run).
- USC running backs coach Todd McNair tried to deceive and mislead the NCAA regarding his knowledge of the Bush scandal
- The size of the USC compliance staff was too small relative to the size of the institution
- Reggie Bush' extra benefits included a vehicle, rent free home for parents, airline tickets, hotel room, cash, a limo, furniture, and appliances.
- Opening line of the case synopsis... "This case is a window onto a landscape of elite college athletes and certain individuals close to them who, in the course of their relationships, disregard NCAA rules and regulations."
- Reggie Bush's ride... picked out the one he wanted, got cash, got the vehicle, and then got the rims, stereo, and car alarm upgraded. He originally drove a 1996 Ford Ranger, but got a burgundy 1996 SS Chevrolet Impala and then added $5,000 in rims and another $3,500 in stereo and alarm. He was also later paid again for the car, this time to get it repaired after an accident.
- Bush parents got 10,000 to buy furniture.
- Limo ride involved and hotel room involved attending a birthday party for an NFL player. It was roughly $1,500 for two nights in a San Diego hotel... he wasn't exactly bunking with Tom Bodett.
- The Bush family received approximately $7,500 to travel to Hawai'i.
- "Another reason to question the assistant football coach's credibility in denying that he knew agency partner A is the fact that the two shared a close relationship with a mutual friend ("mutual friend"), a comedian and actor who has appeared in various roles in television and motion pictures." Surely that is referring to Will Ferrell, I'd bet on it. That whole promo he filmed for the USC v. Texas pre-game with those Heisman Trophies sure has a different ring now doesn't it?
- Tennis violations involve $7,000 worth of international phone calls that went unreported.
- O.J. Mayo received cash, electronic devices (T-Mobile Sidekick), services, meals, transportation and a television.
- For a stretch of a couple of months, USC literally had only one person working in compliance.
- The COI considered a television ban, but ultimately considered against it in what they considered a close call.