This is just vague hand waving and meaningless rhetoric. What do "sending a message", "token effort", and "coming down really light" even mean? It is a convenient way of giving yourself wiggle room to criticize whatever penalties come down as being too lenient though. I don't give a [expletive] what happens to USC. None of it means anything to me. If anything, USC getting off easy would help ND since USC is the only traditional power that's any good on their schedule the next few years. And there'd be some satisfaction at beating USC while following the rules (assuming we ever beat you guys again). I just think the NCAA needs to do something if it's ever going to be taken seriously again, and not just 'probation' or losing one scholarship. Something like what happened to FSU is probably a good benchmark. For God's sake, ND got probation ten years ago because, similar to FSU, one rogue individual unconnected to anyone paid for a few gifts for players. This stuff is a much bigger deal, if only because there's plenty more than one 'rogue individual' involved.