I suspect the AD didn’t care as long as they were winning and bringing in the money. One reason they were hit as a repeat violator
The assistant coach mentioned in the article as knowing used to be enough for the death penalty for a REPEAT OFFENDER such as USC.
The only one privy would be Asst coach McNair. I’ve read the transcripts, and there is no admissible, credible evidence to support the ncaa’s findings that McNair knew. Even under the ncaa theory, he didn’t know until after the USC/TX game - Bush’s last.
Some of the allegations are silly - the homesick tennis player calling her family in Europe on USC’s dime - obviously not authorized. If rather than stealing phone calls she embezzled from the student store - same result? Robbed a bank?
Then there is the running back who was “caught” driving his girlfriend’s car - a “violation” b/c her car was co-signed by her employer, who is not an agent and has no connection with USC.
The punishment doesn’t fit the crime under any definition of “fit”.