AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2006 > May > 15 > Entry
Bush case highlights serious BCS rules, enforcement gap
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Pac-10 and NCAA are currently investigating whether the family of USC’s Reggie Bush committed a rules violation. According to published reports, members of Bush’s family lived in the home of a man who wanted to represent the Heisman Trophy winning running back. They did not pay the owner fair market value in rent, about $4,500 per month. They moved out of the house when the arrangement became public.
Worst case scenario: USC will have to forfeit all the games in which Bush played while his parents lived in the house. He could also be stripped of his Heisman Trophy. I don’t believe either will happen.
But here’s some food for thought. Instead of Bush, what if we were talking about Vince Young, the Texas quarterback? What if Young’s family had done the same thing?
Like it might in the USC case, the NCAA could make Texas forfeit games and thus strip the Longhorns of their 2005 Big 12 championship. But what about the BCS national championship, which Texas won in the Rose Bowl thanks to Young’s vintage performance? If it became known after the fact that Young and his family were on the take in violation of NCAA rules, could the BCS championship and the $14 million paycheck that came with it be taken away from Texas?
The short answer is “no” and that fact is a problem for the BCS and something the commissioners will have to discuss at their next meeting in June.
Other than certifying the bowls, the NCAA has no control of the postseason in Division I-A football. The NCAA doesn’t award the Division I-A national championship so, logically, the NCAA cannot take it away.
The BCS is really a business structure with no enforcement powers. The BCS, truth be told, really doesn’t want to get into rules enforcement business.
But the BCS may have no choice. The Bush case has revealed a gap in rules compliance and enforcement. If the BCS doesn’t fill it, the NCAA will. And that’s the last thing the BCS wants.
“It is something that we now have to talk about,” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive, the new coordinator of the BCS.
You better believe they do.
Comments
By ConyersDawg
May 15, 2006 07:14 PM | Link to this
If Pete Carrol had insight to what was going on they better take away scholarships and ban them from the post season for a year.
By BAMA Rules
May 17, 2006 02:26 PM | Link to this
USC is finally caught.
Wonder if they will receive same penalties as Alabama?
Not likely. The NCAA are a bunch of charlatans.