July 23, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NCAA president Mark Emmert speaks during a press conference at the NCAA Headquarters with NCAA Executive Committee chair Ed Ray standing behind him to announce corrective and punitive measures against Penn State University for the child abuse committed by former Penn State Nittany Lions assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

They just keep reopening the wound.

As a USC fan, I’ve been immersed in the NCAA investigation and sanctions levied against the Trojans in 2009 for nearly a decade. Every time the NCAA slapped other schools on the wrist for infractions at least as egregious as those alleged against USC, it felt like a kick in the gut.

These new developments regarding the NCAA enforcement process and Miami is yet another in a long list of incidents that have rubbed salt in the still very raw wound.

“In light of this incident and other recent events involving the enforcement staff, President Emmert has commissioned an external review of the enforcement program,” the press release reads.

My response: What took you so long?

The Miami situation appears worse than the misconduct that seemed to take place with regards to USC, but both cases point to the same clear, unrelenting effort of NCAA enforcement staff to destroy specific programs by any means necessary.

The NCAA is and has always been in the business of vendettas. Those programs which are determined to have embarrassed the NCAA in any way are targeted for demolition, fodder for the NCAA’s favorite pastime – scape goating.

Miami’s complete disregard for NCAA rules, made all the more embarrassing by the presence of former Miami Athletic Director, Paul Dee, as the head of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions, was very publicly unmasked by a Yahoo! Sports investigation.

The NCAA was determined to make an example of the Hurricanes and went so far as to hire a lawyer involved in the Shapiro case so that he could compel under-oath responses to questions relevant to the NCAA investigation in court.

USC’s crime was uncovered by another very scandalous Yahoo! Sports investigation back in 2006. The best player in all of college football, Reggie Bush, had allegedly received illegal benefits from a would-be sports agent.

Not only did the situation turn discussion towards the ever-debatable issue of amateurism, but USC vehemently denied fault. Unlike Ohio State, who escaped major punishment, despite a head coach who knowingly played ineligible players, because they bowed before the NCAA overlords, USC stood their ground. And for that the Trojans had to be punished.

Recently, a judge declared that former USC running backs coach Todd McNair had enough evidence to prove that NCAA enforcement staff acted maliciously towards him. They decided that McNair did not have the character of a man worthy of coaching at an NCAA institution and they made it their mission to bury him.

That same malice is evident throughout the USC case. NCAA enforcement staff took the word of a convicted felon at face value, misstated facts in interviews and then made no effort to correct them. They allowed a representative of USC rival Notre Dame to sit on the Committee on Infractions, despite a clear question of conflict of interest. They also changed their rules midway to throw out the concept of precedent on appeal, lest the extremely harsh penalties handed to USC be compared to any that came before or came after.

What has come after has proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the NCAA unfairly punished USC with sanctions that in no way matched the crime.

Yet at no point has the NCAA made an attempt to right that wrong.

And that’s why this hurts.

The NCAA has admitted they were wrong regarding UCLA’s Shabazz Muhammad. A member of the enforcement staff lost their job over it.

The NCAA has admitted they were wrong regarding the Miami investigation. That investigation is now on hold until the misconduct can be sorted out.

Meanwhile USC will still approach signing day, navigating the difficult waters of a 15 scholarship recruiting class. USC will continue to take heat over having to pull a scholarship from a walk-on or asking an early enrollee to wait until Fall because there is no more room due to sanctions. And USC will have to face another season with a lack of depth on a limited roster.

All because the NCAA has yet to admit they were wrong regarding USC. Until they do, I’m not sure the wound will ever be allowed to close.

Nov 3, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans tight end Xavier Grimble (86) is defended by Oregon Ducks cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (14) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Stats: 13 games played, 29 receptions for 316 yards, 5 touchdowns.

What Stood Out: Grimble’s 22-yard touchdown catch against Syracuse, when he shed what seemed like half the defense on his way to the end zone, was one of the highlights of the season and showed what a weapon he could be in the passing game. That physicality served him well as he powered past defenders throughout the season. He nearly doubled his on-field production in terms of catches and yards from last year and was the team’s third leading receiver.  Coaches and teammates have praised his improvement in blocking as well.

What Needed Work: For all his physical talent, Grimble was not involved enough in the passing game. Despite greater expectations, his five touchdown season was just one more than last year’s haul. Part of that was a result of greater emphasis on the wide receivers in the passing game, but with fellow TE Randall Telfer hobbled by an ankle injury for much of the season USC needed Grimble pick up the slack more than he did.

Final Word: Unfortunately, this year Grimble got lost  in the shadow of Marqise Lee, Robert Woods and up-and-coming wide out Nelson Agholor. However, the sophomore TE has a ton of potential and the flashes he showed this season when he did see the ball should make USC fans optimistic about his future. Ultimately, he needs to show the coaching staff enough to force them to get him more involved in the passing game.

Nov 24, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Lane Kiffin reacts during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Notre Dame defeated USC 22-13. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

The 2012 season was full of disappointment for the Trojans and with those disappointments came a bevy of Epic Fails. Off the field and on the field, there was no shortage of moments for Trojan fans to shake their heads, face palm, or even attempt to rip out their hair in disgust. Here’s the Not-So-Top Ten Moments of the year:

10. Prep Not Hype

The team motto may have been painted on the practice field, but it failed to make a difference with a Trojan team that seemed to buy into the hype and consistently fell short in the prep.

9. Banning the Media

While it was plain to see what Coach Lane Kiffin was trying to do by no longer disclosing injury reports, the way he went about it created so much drama that any benefits got lost in a flurry of negative press and distractions. Worse, for Trojan fans it was the final nail in the coffin for the open practice era of USC football under Pete Carroll.

8. Deflate-gate

The Pac-12 fined and reprimanded the Trojans after it was determined that several game balls were not inflated to the right specifications during the first half of the Oregon game. A student manager was fired, but the whole controversy was just another unnecessary and embarrassing distraction during an already trying season.

7. Marqise Lee’s Fumble At the Half vs Oregon

With just under 30 seconds left in the half at the Oregon 15, USC had a chance to at least close within a touchdown or a field goal of the Ducks. Instead Lee coughed up the ball and Oregon went into the half up ten. Had the Trojans maintained possession and kicked for three points, the opening drive of the third quarter would have tied the game.

6. Missed Block Leads to Matt Barkley Injury vs UCLA

Aundrey Walker stood there looking around with no one in front of him to block.  Unfortunately that’s because UCLA’s Anthony Barr was already barreling down on Matt Barkely’s blindside, untouched. The hit was brutal and the shoulder injury Barkley sustained as a result could keep him out of the Trojans’ first bowl since 2009.

5. Third Quarter Ineptitude 

USC averaged just 5.2 points in the third quarter this season compared with 9.6 in the other quarters.  The Trojans were outscored in the third in eight of 12 games. Where Pete Carroll’s USC was known for second half adjustments, the 2012 Trojans rarely came out of the half better than they started.

4. 14 Point Hole vs Utah

It was a trap game on the road and the opening script of the Utah game screamed upset. First, senior captain Khaled Holmes’ bad snap was returned for a Ute touchdown on USC’s opening possession then Star Lotulelei blew up Holmes on the second play of USC’s second drive resulting in a fumble and an eventual touchdown. Luckily the Trojans were able to overcome the 14 point hole with a 38-28 victory.

3. 62 Points Given Up vs Oregon

It was the worst defensive performance in USC history, giving up 62 points, 730 yards and nine touchdowns. End of story.

2. First Play Interception vs UCLA

Matt Barkley’s 14th interception of the year set up UCLA’s first score against USC since 2010 before the Bruins jumped to an early 24-0 lead at the Rose Bowl. What makes this fail even better (or worse), it was the second week in a row USC turned the ball over on the first play of the game (Marqise Lee fumbled on the first play against Arizona State).

1. The Worst Goal Line Sequence Ever Called vs Notre Dame

When Marqise Lee put USC at the two-yard line with 5:40 left in the game down just nine points, it looked like the Trojans might be on their way to mounting a comeback against the top team in the country. Instead, USC fans were treated to eight plays of mind-blowing, hair-pulling, atrociously awful play calling, featuring four attempts to run straight at the heart of a Notre Dame defensive front that stopped even Stanford’s vaunted rushing attack (without a lead blocker) and a fourth down pass aimed at a freshman fullback instead of two of the greatest receivers to ever wear Cardinal and Gold.  The Trojans came away with no points, lost the game, and delivered the biggest Epic Fail of 2012.