USC football: NCAA President Mark Emmert addresses questions about Trojans

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The Times’ Lance Pugmire did a Q & A with NCAA President Mark Emmert.

Several of the questions pertained to USC and how its case related to situations involving former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor and former Miami athletic director Paul Dee, who served as chairman of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions.

Pugmire: What do you say to USC fans after you allowed Newton to play in the BCS title game, and Pryorto play in the Sugar Bowl when USC was banned from a bowl game because of something that occurred six years ago?

Emmert: Every case is unique. We look at facts as different and from different distances. It’s natural to make comparisons, but I guarantee you usually don’t know all the facts we consider.

Pugmire: In light of what has been revealed about Ohio State, Miami and other schools, did USC’s punishment fit the crime when it basically involved one Trojan player and outsiders operating 100 miles away from Los Angeles?

Emmert: We haven’t yet passed down penalties in those cases, so they can’t draw conclusions. There are still allegations we haven’t resolved.

Pugmire: How can the NCAA maintain credibility when a key member of its infractions committee [former Miami athletic director Paul Dee] was in office when the troubling events at Miami allegedly occurred?

Emmert: The chairman [Dee] was one of nine voices on the committee. He has no more power than anyone else. We look at individual cases on their merits. What happened at Miami has no bearing on USC. I understand it doesn’t feel right. We decide cases based on the facts on the ground, and we will continue to do that.

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--Gary Klein