Trojans File Appeal Of NCAA Sanctions

USC has appealed the NCAA sanctions imposed in the Reggie Bush-improper benefits affair, asking essentially that the most severe punishments be cut in half. The reduction of ten scholarships a year should be five, the university says, and the two-year bowl ban should only apply to one season.

“We disagree with many of the findings in the report from the NCAA Committee on Infractions and assert that the penalties imposed are too severe for the violations identified and are inconsistent with precedent in similar cases,” said Todd Dickey, USC’s senior vice president for administration.

It’s no surprise that the Trojans appealed; that was expected. But there are plenty of questions about whether the university will have much success (if any) at getting the penalties scaled back now that the rules for appeals have been toughened.