Mississippi State's Slap on the Wrist

The NCAA recently announced that Mississippi State University will lose two scholarships and be placed on a meaningless two-year probation as punishment for payments made to recruits in violation of the NCAA rules. Other recent examples of minor NCAA hand-slaps for significant rules violations include:

• 2006: After several Oklahoma players are found to have received improper benefits tied to fabricated jobs at car dealer Big Red Auto, OU temporarily forfeits its two John Blake-era victories.
• 2013: As punishment for paying improper subscription fees to notorious street agent Will Lyles, the University of Oregon football team must give up seventeen (17) of its uniform color combinations for the 2013-14 season.
• 2011: Following former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky's conviction for sexual assault, Penn State University self-imposes a policy strongly discouraging buggery on Penn State property during business hours.
• 2007: Investigative reports published by Yahoo! Sports reveal a pattern of improper payments to University of Southern California star running back Reggie Bush and his family, prompting the NCAA to impose harsh scholarship restrictions on Boise State.
• 2013: West Virginia head coach Dana Holgerson admits to being a "very naughty boy" and volunteers to accept a strict regimen of punishments from specially-appointed NCAA dominatrix Mistress Jazmyn Deluxxxe.
• 2012: In a move Aggie fans characterize as "blatant persecution," Texas A&M is pressured to forfeit the 1919 and 1927 national championships it won in September, 2012.