Field Notes Inside an Integrated Communications Agency

At this point, OJ Mayo cannot be held responsible for what happened in his nine months at USC. Everyone involved made terrible decisions but no involved parties can be blamed. BDA Sports crossed the line doing what people in business development do every day: putting their best foot forward, loading the pipeline. It's bad business not to chase a 9th grade kid with talent like Mayo's.

USC has got itself into a world of trouble but is also not to blame completely. They let the same thing happen with Reggie Bush. Mike Garrett should be fired, but for the simple fact that he had Mayo on the team but still got beat by Kansas State in the first round of the Tourney. Garrett knew exactly what was happening with Mayo and Guillory, but had no reason to do anything but let Mr. Mayo play the way he wanted.

So, who holds the bag for Rodney Guillory showering Mayo with expensive gifts, money, clothes and food? Who else but the NCAA themselves? They made rules that were supposed to help college sports but did not enforce them. Now they scratch their heads wondering why players and coaches broke the rules.

The NCAA is about to launch a multi-million dollar investigation into what exactly happened between Guillory, Mayo, BDA Sports and USC. Let me save them some money: Do away the rules or enforce them.