LSU is self imposing penalties for football violations connected to booster payments, including a reduction in 8 scholarships.

The school is docking itself eight football scholarships over a two-year period and reducing recruiting visits, evaluations and communication after a nearly two-year investigation uncovered $180,000 in booster payments to the father of a football player.

Separately, the school is also banning Odell Beckham Jr. from its facilities for 2 years for handing out cash.


https://www.si.com/college/2020/10/21/ls...tions-ncaa

$180,000 from a booster to one player's family? That's Reggie Bush-level stuff. NCAA shouldn't let LSU get away with just those self-imposed penalties, they should hit LSU as hard as USC was hit for the Bush violations.

I thought the cash Beckham distributed to LSU players was "fake"? At least that was what LSU proclaimed the day after it happened.

This all hinges on the separation of the violations in football and basketball. If they're linked -- LSU is screwed. If they're kept separate ... they have a shot.

It was real, but that wasn't the worst violation.

I don't think that the NCAA is going to just accept these self imposed penalties.

(10-21-2020 05:28 PM)Pervis_Griffith Wrote:  This all hinges on the separation of the violations in football and basketball. If they're linked -- LSU is screwed. If they're kept separate ... they have a shot.

These are both football violations.

Why would LSU get lenient treatment because they cheated in both sports?

University of New Orleans is about to get rocked by the NCAA.

LSU will walk with a slap on the wrist for both sports. Just the way it is now.

(10-21-2020 03:49 PM)Wedge Wrote:  $180,000 from a booster to one player's family? That's Reggie Bush-level stuff. NCAA shouldn't let LSU get away with just those self-imposed penalties, they should hit LSU as hard as USC was hit for the Bush violations.

I suspect LSU will lose more scholarships, and maybe get hit with a bowl ban for a year or two.

The punishments won't seem as bad as USC because Bush played on extremely successful teams, such that USC lost very high-profile things like Bush's Heisman and the 2005 BCS national title.

But LSU's violations (football) were between 2012 and 2015, a time when they didn't win anything, so there's nothing really memorable that will be vacated.

(10-21-2020 03:49 PM)Wedge Wrote:  $180,000 from a booster to one player's family? That's Reggie Bush-level stuff. NCAA shouldn't let LSU get away with just those self-imposed penalties, they should hit LSU as hard as USC was hit for the Bush violations.

Didn't Bush get stuff when he was already on his way out the door? USC didn't gain any advantage.

(10-21-2020 06:22 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(10-21-2020 03:49 PM)Wedge Wrote:  $180,000 from a booster to one player's family? That's Reggie Bush-level stuff. NCAA shouldn't let LSU get away with just those self-imposed penalties, they should hit LSU as hard as USC was hit for the Bush violations.

I suspect LSU will lose more scholarships, and maybe get hit with a bowl ban for a year or two.

The punishments won't seem as bad as USC because Bush played on extremely successful teams, such that USC lost very high-profile things like Bush's Heisman and the 2005 BCS national title.

But LSU's violations (football) were between 2012 and 2015, a time when they didn't win anything, so there's nothing really memorable that will be vacated.

And “I suspect” that the NCAA will prove once again that the risk/reward for those associated with Power 5 programs is heavily slanted toward the rewards of cheating over the risks of appreciable punishment even if the cheating comes to light.

Sounds like LSU shouldn't have been eligible to play in the postseason last year. Strip the natty, take away a dozen scholarships, and put them on 3 year postseason probation.

(10-21-2020 05:29 PM)TerryD Wrote:  It was real, but that wasn't the worst violation.

I don't think that the NCAA is going to just accept these self imposed penalties.

My initial reaction was the same - this is not enough. LSU essentially bought a national championship (at the bargain price of just $180,000 too!) They would've been very good without cheating - guess they were just tired of losing to Alabama?

(10-21-2020 04:17 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  I thought the cash Beckham distributed to LSU players was "fake"? At least that was what LSU proclaimed the day after it happened.

The video of OBJ giving cash and congratulations to players during the championship game celebration is a horrible look for LSU.

(10-22-2020 05:20 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(10-21-2020 05:29 PM)TerryD Wrote:  It was real, but that wasn't the worst violation.

I don't think that the NCAA is going to just accept these self imposed penalties.

My initial reaction was the same - this is not enough. LSU essentially bought a national championship (at the bargain price of just $180,000 too!) They would've been very good without cheating - guess they were just tired of losing to Alabama?

Curious: How did paying the dad of an OL between 2012 - 2016 buy a national title in 2019?

(10-22-2020 05:36 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(10-21-2020 04:17 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  I thought the cash Beckham distributed to LSU players was "fake"? At least that was what LSU proclaimed the day after it happened.

The video of OBJ giving cash and congratulations to players during the championship game celebration is a horrible look for LSU.

I thought it was hilarious, and fun. What was not to like about an NFL star in the locker room of his school celebrating by passing out cash?

I just think that a school getting a booster busted ripping off a children's hospital and paying $180,000 to a parent of a recruit should draw very severe penalties from the NCAA.

But, that is just me.

(10-22-2020 07:28 PM)TerryD Wrote:  I just think that a school getting a booster busted ripping off a children's hospital and paying $180,000 to a parent of a recruit should draw very severe penalties from the NCAA.

But, that is just me.

I think the penalties will certainly be more than what LSU imposed. Probably more scholarships and a bowl ban for at least a year.