It's official: USC loses 2004 BCS title

Times wires
Monday, June 6, 2011

LOS ANGELES — The Bowl Championship Series on Monday officially stripped USC of its 2004 championship as a result of major infractions involving running back Reggie Bush.

The BCS title will be vacated for that season. The Associated Press previously said USC will remain its 2004 champion.

"The BCS alerted us today that their presidents have voted to vacate USC's 2005 BCS Championship Game victory," USC athletic director Pat Haden said in a statement. "This was not an unexpected outcome. We will comply with all requirements mandated by the result of this BCS vote."

The ruling came less than two weeks after the NCAA denied USC's appeal to have some of the sanctions reduced. The Trojans were slapped with a two-year ban on postseason play and the loss of 30 scholarships.

USC effectively forfeited its 2004 title last year when it admitted Bush was an ineligible player during the run to the title. USC claimed the championship with a 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

The BCS was only waiting for the appeal process to be completed. USC would have lost its title even if the NCAA had ruled in its favor because the Trojans' appeal was asking only for the sanctions to be reduced.

The official ruling came after a meeting of the NCAA's Presidential Oversight Committee.

"The BCS arrangement crowns a national champion, and the BCS games are showcase events for postseason football," BCS executive director Bill Hancock said in a statement. "One of the best ways of ensuring that they remain so is for us to foster full compliance with NCAA rules. Accordingly, in keeping with the NCAA's recent action, USC's appearances are being vacated."

Knight criticizes ncaa: Bob Knight criticized the NCAA rule Ohio State football players broke when they sold and traded their personal memorabilia. The former Indiana and Texas Tech basketball coach said he understands a rule was violated, "but it was an idiotic rule." Five Buckeyes were suspended for the first five games of the upcoming season after it was revealed they traded jerseys, rings, trophies and other items for tattoos. Knight also said the NCAA "is so far out of touch with the integrity of the sport that it's just amazing."

notre dame: Suspended receiver Michael Floyd can participate in voluntary workouts this summer with the team, and though the senior has not been reinstated, it appears he will be available for the Sept. 3 opener against USF. Floyd was suspended after he was charged in March with misdemeanor drunken driving. A plea deal seems likely.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/its-official-usc-loses-2004-bcs-title/1173953

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