Open Mic: NCAA, It's Time to Step Up

Fool you once, shame on me.  Fool you twice, shame on you. 

Maybe this is what the NCAA needs to realize.  For the second time in the past three years, one of the most noted athletes on the USC campus is connected to allegations in which he took money prior to and during his tenure at Southern Cal.

Its time to step up, NCAA.  Really, it is. 

I do not care if USC is the poster-child of college football currently—if they violate the rules, they are no different than anyone else.  In my opinion, the OJ Mayo ordeal could have been avoided had the NCAA done something about Reggie Bush when the allegations of him having things paid for came up.

Unfortunately, they did not. 

Many will argue that college athletes should be paid, but that issue has nothing to do with this.  If the NCAA has anything in the way testicular fortitude, they will open a thorough investigation on the USC Trojans and this OJ Mayo case. 

If anything is discovered then, they will place USC under watch in all sports.

This will not happen, not in a very long while.  I can guarantee that USC does not see a scholarship taken away, nor will they placed under any sort of probation. 

USC will not see any of this happen—they will be let off easily because they are the NCAA's baby. Nor will we see Indiana get any further punishment for their situation with Calvin Sampson. 

Why though should we ever unjustifiably get our hopes up that the NCAA will stand up for themselves?  It hasn't happened for the longest time, nor will we see it again anytime soon.

SMU saw the NCAA's death penalty that put an end to any real hope of competing on the national level, whichh they previously have.  Their program has not been the same since. 

Were these penalties too harsh?  Yes, but a step toward that direction would make a lot colleges think twice about allowing their players anywhere near these type of situations.

I am not saying that the NCAA should impose a death penalty-type sentence on USC.  First things first, the Trojans have to be found guilty of knowing anything like this was going on in both the Reggie Bush and OJ Mayo cases. 

However, if the NCAA were to go after USC, it would set a standard for itself, something it has not seen in a very long while.

No university's athletic department will feel safe if the NCAA is to go after USC.  Not one. If the Trojans are attacked by the NCAA, then anyone will feel they could be next.  Want to set a standard and clean up the so-called amateur athletics?  Here is your chance Miles Brand and Co.  

Go after USC.  If nothing else, invest time, invest money and give them a real investigation.  If it comes up with nothing then so be it, just the fact you are willing to go after the top-dog in college sports would set an example like no other.  

I feel this is a bad incident for college sports, but a great opportunity to make a change.  There are allegations all the time in college sports because so many teams and players feel they can get away with paying athletes or finding houses for their parents. 

Why not try and clean up the place a bit and go after USC and OJ Mayo here?  

The NCAA is a pushover of an organization.  If you are a mediocre college program you may have to be on watch, but the USCs, Notre Dames, and LSUs feel they do not need to worry about any of this, and for good reason. 

Do something for a change here and stand up for yourself, NCAA.