When the NCAA reduced the scholarship limitations on Penn State earlier this week, USC athletic director Pat Haden decided his scheduled trip later in the week to Indianapolis to meet with NCAA officials was as good as an opportunity as any to get the NCAA to reconsider the 2010 penalties it deal the Trojans.
He and USC vice president for compliance Dave Roberts walked away with at least some hope the Trojans' penalties could be lessened.
"During our meetings with the NCAA's leaders over the last two days, we discussed enforcement and sanction issues impacting both the NCAA membership at large and USC specifically," Haden said in a statement. "We proposed creative 'outside the box' solutions to the scholarship issues resulting from the injuries and transfers experienced by our football team over the past three seasons.
MORE: Week 5 picks | Week 4 photos | Heisman watch
After candid discussions, the NCAA asked us to provide additional information and indicated it would study our suggestions. Because time is of the essence regarding these issues, we have asked for the NCAA's response as soon as practical."
Haden noted that the trip to Indianapolis was planned prior to the Penn State decision. He said a variety of topics, including 'pay for play', were going to be discussed with NCAA president Mark Emmert and other NCAA officials.
He also mentioned that USC's scholarships are reduced from 85 to 75 and down to as low as 60 with attrition.
"In reducing Penn State's scholarship penalties, the NCAA specifically noted the 'progress' it had made regarding athletics integrity," Haden said in a statement. "Since the Committee on Infractions (COI) issued its sanctions in 2010, USC has been held up as a model and praised for its integrity and commitment to compliance, a fact often mentioned by the NCAA itself."