Here is the weekly recap for last weeks NCAA football action. Not as many major happenings as in weeks past, but still some interesting and useful nuggets to consider when looking at the upcoming season of college football handicapping.
USC files appeal, says penalties are too harsh
The University of Southern California has filed an appeal to fight the penalties the NCAA decided on in the Reggie Bush case. School officials said the sanctions were too harsh and expect the organization to reduce the punishments.
USC will specifically appeal the two-year postseason ban and the scholarship restrictions the school faces due to NCAA rule violations. The school will ask for the bowl game ban to be reduced to one year and that the scholarship restrictions will be held to five.
USC basically admitted their mistakes by accepting some of the penalties, but tries to appeal the severity of the punishment. The basketball team’s self imposed one-year postseason ban and limited scholarship restrictions were accepted by the NCAA. The team faced restrictions due to rule violations in the case of O.J. Mayo.
The acceptance of the milder punishment against the basketball team makes the football team hope the same could happen with their restrictions. Regardless all of USC’s football and basketball games will still have NCAA football lines posted by the bookmakers.
Big Ten will not expand past 12 teams; will rule on division by August
The Big Ten will reportedly remain at 12 teams and not look for any further expansion. The conference added Nebraska and has now 12 teams, which means it can hold a championship game.
The conference will most likely start to hold a conference championship matchup starting in 2011. Detroit, Chicago and Illinois have already expressed interest in hosting the game.
Conference officials will decide on the division of the Big Ten by August. Sports Illustrated’s Stewart Mandel has proposed an East and a West division with six teams each.
In his proposal, Ohio State, Michigan, Purdue, Michigan State, Northwestern, and Indiana would form the East division. Nebraska, Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota would play in the West division.
This proposal makes sense, and the division could end up looking this way.
Arizona suspends senior receiver Dean indefinitely
The Arizona Wildcats have suspended senior wide receiver Delashaun Dean indefinitely due to a violation of team rules. Dean was arrested Saturday, June 19, and charged with one count of misconduct involving weapons.
Dean is scheduled to appear in court in Tuscon sometime this week. He caught seven touchdown passes last season and recorded 1,407 yards on 132 reception.
Duron Carter leaves Ohio State
Wide receiver Duron Carter has decided to leave Ohio State and enrolled at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. He is the son of former NFL star and eight-time Pro Bowler Cris Carter.
Duron had been battling problems in the classroom and was ineligible to play in the Rose Bowl for academic reasons. He had 176 receiving yards on 13 catches last season and was looking to improve on those numbers.
NCAA might forbid early scholarship offers
The NCAA has announced plans to prohibit scholarship offers to high schoolers before July 1 in the summer between their junior and senior years. This change would apply to all sports. The NCAA also will back a proposal that coaches must receive high school transcripts from recruits that show at least five semesters or seven quarters of academic work.
This means that prep players won’t be able to accept scholarships as early. These proposals are a reaction to recruits and their families complained about feeling pressured to make a decision before they had time to inquire about a school’s academic programs. It comes after coaches have said that they have to make offers to younger players every year to be on top of the recruiting game.
