Mayo denies claims he took gifts at USC

**ISUFan22** · 05-12-2008, 08:18 AM

ESPN - Mayo denies ex-confidant's claims of gifts, including TV, cash

Lots of fishy stuff going on...I mean rumors...at USC.

**brianhos** · 05-12-2008, 08:27 AM

Nothing will happen, it is USC, the NCAA cannot tarnish such a high class school.

**BryceC** · 05-12-2008, 09:12 AM

ESPN - USC, Tim Floyd have no excuse for turning a blind eye - Columnist

Great Pat Forde article about it as well.

**jbhtexas** · 05-12-2008, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by brianhos

Nothing will happen, it is USC, the NCAA cannot tarnish such a high class school.

Well then, I'm going to run as an independent for president against Hillarama/Obillary/McCain, and the only plank in my platform will be carrying out justice against USC, Mayo, and Reggie Bush. Also, if I have time, I'll try to get Lucca another year of eligibility...

**ketchupnmustard** · 05-12-2008, 10:09 AM

Maybe USC & Michigan can get together and form a support group.

**mj4cy** · 05-12-2008, 10:18 AM

Does it frustrate anyone else that we have countless issues with gifts for players, parents ect. from 3rd party gifts with tons of loopholes. The NCAA sure takes their sweet time looking into things.....EXCEPT for the Lucca Staiger case. They of course had their mind set on his case before all the facts came in. They sure took care of him...

**mwitt** · 05-12-2008, 10:19 AM

If anyone here saw the report that Outside the Lines put together, they really did their homework and they pretty much have this nailed, it seems. The sad part about the way the system is structured is that nothing is going to happen to Mayo.

They mentioned that it was a misdemeanor in California for this, but I'm assuming it is a crime against giving the gifts. I don't know about accepting.

**Clonefan94** · 05-12-2008, 10:26 AM

To show they are cracking down, they will probably find a less prominent school and punish a European kid who's done everything he could to follow the rules.

Oh wait, they already did that.

I know these are just allegations, I'm partial because I'm an ISU fan, but, I can't get over what kind of example is being set by the NCAA. Do everything in your power to conform to the rules and get a 1 year suspension. Take money, gifts, and promotion your entire "amateur" career and get rewarded by getting a nice NBA contract.

This is real similar to Indiana imo. Yeah, it wasn't directly USC's fault, but, you can't tell me no one knew this was going on. Just like Indiana and Sampson. "You hired him, you knew his past, your as guilty as he is." USC knew who Mayo was involved with. They are as guilty as anyone handing out the cash.

**CyGuy33** · 05-12-2008, 11:25 AM

TF was between a rock and a hard place. The school can't get punished for this because they really didn't break any rules. The Kid did. Mayo has then put his teammates in a tough spot because of his actions. If the team gets sanctioned because he took money from an agent, not the school, as a teammate I would be upset.

As the coach there is only so much you can do. If some guy drops $200 in a friend of a players bank accout and then that money gets to your player, how do you track that? You can ask the kid about it and be very suspicious but a coach has a lot of things on his plate, the new pair of Air Force One's every week might not catch his attention.

I'm not saying what went down was ok by any stretch but the blame should be put on OJ, his handlers, and the agents.

**mwitt** · 05-12-2008, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by CyGuy33

If some guy drops $200 in a friend of a players bank accout and then that money gets to your player, how do you track that?

If we were talking about $200 then you are right, that would be very difficult. But the scenario you just described begs this question: If your star player receives about $30,000 in gifts and benefits, how do you not notice that?

**CycloneWanderer** · 05-12-2008, 11:36 AM

Mayo sure isn't even close to wearing clothes that say he is "just getting by." But, I seriously doubt that the NCAA does anything about it because they don't do a thing about people leaving for the draft. He should be forced to give back this scholarship and then pay for the additional scholarship that some other non-paid player who really is just getting by should have had which he used. basically, I think he should pay back twice his scholarship. If the NCAA had any balls they would talk to the NBA about making him ineligible for the draft. That would discourage anyone else from doing the same thing.

**SeattleClone** · 05-12-2008, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by mwitt

If we were talking about $200 then you are right, that would be very difficult. But the scenario you just described begs this question: If your star player receives about $30,000 in gifts and benefits, how do you not notice that?

He must've had time to put in a few hours a week at food service so he could pay for his flat panel tv. Or maybe he worked at a car dealership...

**CyGuy33** · 05-12-2008, 12:16 PM

I realize it's around $30,000 that is being claimed. However, it was mentioned most of that occurred before he went to USC. The agency didn't give his handler any money after last summer. If money is moved around in small amounts all you can do is wonder where he got his nice jacket or new shoes. Did a girl buy it for him? Did his handler give it to him? His mom?

I would almost guarantee that Tim Floyd never set food on Mayo's dorm room to see his wardrobe and flat screen TV. Most coaches don't make it an everyday practice to stop by their players dorms. That may because of what they might find out, it may be because they are a little busy with other things.

All I'm saying is it would be very difficult to pin this on USC for not investigating every piece of clothing Mayo wore and where he got the money to buy his girl dinner at Red Lobster.