USC loses appeal of football penalties

INDIANAPOLIS, May 26 (UPI) -- The NCAA rejected an appeal Thursday by the University of Southern California of what the school said were excessive penalties to its football program.

The Division One Infractions Appeals Committee for the National Collegiate Athletic Association said in its report there is sufficient evidence of infractions to justify the two-year ban from bowl games, reductions in football scholarships and other penalties. Trojans football was also placed on probation for four years.

The NCAA found violations in three sports programs, football, basketball and women's tennis. In football, the investigation involved allegations that Heisman trophy winner Reggie Bush, now with the New Orleans Saints, was involved in violations of NCAA rules.

The university released a statement saying it still believes the penalties were excessive, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"We respectfully, but vehemently, disagree with the findings of the NCAA's Infractions Appeals Committee," USC said. "Our position was that the Committee on Infractions abused its discretion and imposed penalties last June that were excessive and inconsistent with established case precedent."

The university did not appeal sanctions to the basketball program, the Times said.