USC football: Larry Scott looks forward to Trojans' emergence from sanctions

USC fans, players and administrators aren't the only people happy that USC will be eligible to play in a bowl game next season.

So is Pac-12 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott.

"I’m very much looking forward to them having served their time and the ban being lifted," Scott said Friday before the Pac-12 Championship game at Autzen Stadium.

Scott said USC’s games this season against Oregon and Stanford were among the six highest-rated college football broadcasts on ESPN.

The Trojans finished 10-2 overall and 7-2 in conference play, but were prohibited from playing in the inaugural conference title game because of NCAA sanctions that forbid participation in any postseason game.

"Of course it’s disappointing when such a strong team as USC is not allowed to participate," Scott said.
USC, however, will be eligible in 2012.

 "There’s no denying USC is a hero brand to this conference, especially when it comes to football," Scott said. "You can tell by the ratings on TV. USC’s success is so important to this conference … like UCLA in basketball … it’s a bellwether, a brand built over many, many years."

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--Gary Klein, reporting from Eugene, Ore.

Photo: Pac-12 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott holds a news conference on Friday before the football championship game in Eugene. Credit: Kirby Lee / US Presswire