It is well known that former USC coach Tim Floyd gave money (indirectly) to O.J. Mayo. It is believed that Mayo received up to $30,000 in improper benefits before he came to USC.

These actions led to a NCAA investigation of the program, which is still ongoing. On Sunday, USC, despite having an eight-game winning streak, a 10-4 record, and being tied for first in the Pac-10.

Here are the sanctions USC has placed on itself:

• Banned from competing in the Pac-10 and NCAA tournament
• Loss of one scholarship for the next two seasons
• Fewer recruiting days for coaches
• Forfeiting all wins from the '07-'08 season
• Returning all the money that the school received from the Pac-10 for its participation in the NCAA tournament

Basically, USC is hoping that, by imposing enough punishment on its own program, the NCAA won't look to inflict any more damage.

It was a strange time for USC to announce this though. They where tied for first in the Pac-10, and, aside from bringing in coveted Fordham transfer Jio Fontan next season, the class of newcomers is very, very weak.

It seams unfair to the seniors who have stuck around through a scandal that they had nothing to do with. Floyd is with the Hornets as an assistant, and Mayo is playing for the Grizzlies, yet these seniors are the one that suffer.

Another question that comes up is, "Does USC have the right to dictate its own punishment?" The simple answer is no, but, for reasons discussed before, if USC punishes itself first there is a chance the NCAA will won't come down hard on the program.

This all brings me back to Mayo's supposed self-recruitment to USC. How he called Floyd and said that he wanted to play for USC. How Floyd hadn't pursued Mayo, because he was "out of their league."

It's important to protect the integrity of the game, but it's not always the right people who get punished.