Fansided

USC AD Pat Haden responds to Penn State’s reduction

By Andrew Melnick

Sep 21, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Lane Kiffin (right) and athletic director Pat Haden before the game against the Utah State Aggies at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Lane Kiffin (right) and athletic director Pat Haden before the game against the Utah State Aggies at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 21, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Lane Kiffin (right) and athletic director Pat Haden before the game against the Utah State Aggies at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Lane Kiffin (right) and athletic director Pat Haden before the game against the Utah State Aggies at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

On Tuesday, the NCAA announced that it was going to return some of the scholarships they took away from Penn State due to the Jerry Sandusky scandal and may even reduce their bowl ban.

The NCAA cited that “Penn State has clearly demonstrated its commitment to restoring integrity in its athletics program” as the reasoning for the decision.

This has to annoy other schools who have gotten into trouble. The Miami Hurricanes have had two consecutive self-imposed bowl bans and still don’t know their fate while the Southern Cal Trojans have had severe sanctions, including a two-year bowl ban and scholarship restrictions that have really hurt their depth.

Still, the Trojans are taking the high road.

USC athletic director Pat Haden gave a statement:

"“Like the rest of country, we have just learned of the NCAA’s actions regarding the restoration of some of Penn State’s scholarships.“As you know, the NCAA is currently engaged in the process of evaluating and potentially reforming its governance structure. We look forward to having a positive impact on that process.“We also are hopeful that the NCAA’s recently-enacted enforcement and penalty reforms will result in a consistent and fair enforcement and penalty process for all its institutions. USC will continue to work cooperatively with the NCAA towards that goal.“We are near the end of the NCAA sanctions imposed on us in 2010 and we look forward to their expiration.”"

The damage has been done at USC already so being bitter now won’t help anything.

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