They’re just delaying the penalty for a year while they appeal, loading up on as many recruits as they can now to try to weather the storm.

If they lose their appeal, their strategy may backfire, as they will only be able to give out 75 total scholarships next year. So loading up on prospects now, filling out the normal 85 total while the appeal is in force — delaying the sanctions — means that they’ll have to get under 75 next year. They have a small senior class, so if the attrition at the end of the year is something like 15, they’d only have 5 available scholarships to give out before hitting the 75 sanctioned-limit for total scholarships.

I’m in line here with tedfordfan. Nothing about this is cheating or even bending the rules. It’s simply a matter of them using the existing structure to their benefit. If the sanctions are upheld (and I think they should be), then it’s merely a matter of the hit coming later, rather than sooner.

Conversely, it may actually backfire a bit on the Trojies. Consider that their bowl ban expires after this coming season. Assuming the sanctions aren’t changed, that means their teams two- to four-years down the line will be weaker because of fewer schollies.

In any case, I’m not worried about their recruiting. SC will continue to get their pick of players regardless. I think we ought to focus more on the guys we can get.