USC Stripped of 2004 National Championship by the BCS, Is Ohio State Next?
The University of Southern California has made college football history, but not in a good way.
ESPN reported that the BCS has stripped USC of the 2004 National Championship.
This is the first time in college football history that a university has been stripped of a BCS Championship.The punishment sets a precedent in the world of college football and will set a standard for other teams to follow.
The Punishment
The punishment came about because of the investigation surrounding improper benefits received by running back Reggie Bush.
According to the report, USC will also forfeit ten scholarships annually from 2011-2013, vacate 14 victories to include the championship game, and be placed on four years of probation, which comes with a two year post-season ban.
This is bad news for a USC team that is trying to rebuild, but it could also be bad news for another successful football program. This ruling could pave the way for punishment against the Ohio State football program.
Tressel Jumping Ship
At the end of May, Jim Tressel announced that he would resign from his post as head coach at Ohio State.
Tressel stepped down amid allegations and investigations stemming from improper benefits given to many of his players.
Several players sold some Ohio State awards, rings, or other memorabilia in exchange for discounts for services. It was made public that Tressel was made aware of these violations but did not report them and eventually it led to his downfall.
This could be just the beginning of bad news for Buckeye fans.
Pryor Worse Than Bush?
In the center of this storm of controversy is Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
Pryor is under investigation for receiving improper benefits to include vehicles during his time at Ohio State.
The NCAA is probing several vehicles, tied to several players and the result could be bad news for Buckeye fans. These allegations could be worse than the ones that Reggie Bush committed at USC.
What Next?
When the investigation is complete it could lead to a big-time punishment by the NCAA and the BCS.
If the allegations are true the Buckeyes could lose at least three years of victories to include last year’s Sugar Bowl victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Today is a sad day for the University of Southern California and their fans, but it could be a a sign of things to come for the Ohio State football program.
James Brown is a B/R Featured Columnist. Feel free to contact James at jtsneaks@gmail.com.