USC Football: Upset at the NCAA? Here's What Trojan Fans Can Do About It

For the last few days, much of the talk in college football has been surrounded by the University of Miami booster scandal and what the NCAA was going to do about it.

Within that conversation was the fact that Paul Dee, the NCAA's "hatchet man" who presided over the USC investigation, was also the Miami athletic director during most of the time that Nevin Shapiro, a Hurricane booster, had given impermissible benefits to players over an eight-year period.

Dee, who self-righteously wagged his finger at the Trojans saying "they should have known better," it turns out, didn't even know what was going on at his own program for six years even though the signs were there.

Since the news of Shapiro's transgressions surfaced, Trojan fans have stood in disbelief, appalled at the hypocrisy of Dee and the NCAA, but not having much of an opportunity to do anything about it.

Until now.

Victor Orly has recently created an online petition that will be submitted to the NCAA's president, Mark Emmert.

The petition, which is signed by USC students, alumni, faculty, staff and fans of the program, calls for a reduction in the penalties imposed on the Trojans in light of the Shapiro allegations.

As of this writing, over 1,000 people have signed the petition, and many more are expected to follow suit before the document is submitted to Emmert.

If you would like to join in the process, the petition can be found here.

Realistically, will this change anything?

Probably not.

Given the NCAA's woeful track record, chances are that Emmert—if he does anything at all—will cast a sideways glance at the petition before he hits the "delete" button and moves on to the next order of business.

But for disappointed Trojan fans, it does provide an cathartic outlet through which to at least do something tangible to vent their frustrations.

So go ahead, Trojan fans, click on the link and make your voices heard.

There is even a place on the petition for you to include a comment (keep it clean though).

It may not change things, but it will make you feel better.

Note: Thanks to mega Trojan fan Rod Wood for advising me of the petition.