USC responds to documents in NCAA court filing
USC issued a statement Wednesday responding to communications in a court filing by the NCAA.
The unsealed documents showed that members of the NCAA infractions committee didn’t speak favorably towards the Trojans during the investigation into the school in 2010. USC was given a lack of institutional control penalty after Reggie Bush and O.J. Mayo were found to have received benefits from agents.
“After an initial review of this first set of documents unsealed by the court in the McNair v. NCAA lawsuit, it is evident that the content confirms bias against McNair and USC by and on behalf of the NCAA and its Committee on Infractions,” the statement said. “We are extremely disappointed and dismayed at the way the NCAA investigated, judged and penalized our university throughout this process. USC hopes that the transparency in this case will ultimately lead to review and changes so that all member institutions receive the fair and impartial treatment they deserve.
“It seems likely that there are additional documents that will come to light. Once USC has had the opportunity to review all of the documents unsealed by the court, we will determine what further action is appropriate.”
The NCAA’s filing was in response to former USC coach Todd McNair’s defamation suit against the governing body. One member of the infractions committee is quoted as saying there is more damning evidence against USC than there was against a man convicted of being an accomplice in the Oklahoma City bombings. Another said he wanted to make an example of USC.
“These recent documents confirm what we’ve believed all along, that we were treated unfairly in this investigation and its penalties,” USC athletic director Pat Haden said. “I think these documents are cause for concern about the NCAA’s own institutional controls.”
“It should be concerning to all schools that the NCAA didn’t appear to follow its own rules.”
The sanctions levied against USC from the investigation ended in 2014.
For more USC news, visit TrojanSports.com.
– – – – – – –
Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
