USC football: NCAA appeal hearing begins

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USC’s hearing before the NCAA’s Infractions Appeals Committee officially began Saturday morning.

USC President Max Nikias, Athletic Director Pat Haden and the rest of the university’s contingent entered a conference room at a downtown Indianapolis hotel to begin making their case for reducing NCAA penalties.

USC is seeking to get a two-year bowl ban reduced to one year, which has already been served. More important, in regard to the future of the football program, is a request to cut in half a sanction that calls for USC to lose 30 scholarships over the next three seasons. USC wants the penalty reduced to 15 scholarships.

We’ll have more later at latimes.com/sports

-- Gary Klein in Indianapolis