2017 College Balloon Ball Scandal

The **2017 College Balloon Ball Scandal** is an ongoing corruption scandal involving several schools in NCAA Division 1 and 2 Men's Balloon Ball competition, uncovered during the 2017-2018 investigation into Division 1 Men's Basketball.

The scandal began in 2017, when investigators from the FBI and NCAA uncovered evidence proving that several coaches at the University of Southern California and the University of South Carolina had been involved in an illegal bribery and fraud scheme. Since then, the scandal has expanded to numerous schools throughout Division 1 and Division 2, and past the initial fraud and bribery claims.

Programs Effected
 USC

## Programs Affected

### Death Penalty Programs

#### South Carolina

Several assistants on the staff of the South Carolina Men's Balloon Ball team were found to have paid several players to come and play at the school dating as far back to 2005, and to the sports management agency owned by Dawkins' Sports Management Company (Which they accepted bribes as high as $5,000 to do) including 2010 SEC Player of the year and first team All-American Joaquin White.

During the investigation, several assistants, and South Carolina's then head coach Marcus Cordavsky purposefully tried to hide evidence that the program had offered money to the players, and repeatedly denied any such action when interviewed. Despite this, evidence was still uncovered that said otherwise, and had shown that they had been bribing players to attend their program since 2005, which in turn resulted in modest success for the program in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Several assistants were fired after the results of the investigation were made public. Marcus Cordavsky was soon fired as well.

Further investigations found that students on the team had committed sexual crimes against female students. Some coaches were aware of this, including head coach Marcus Cordavsky, who repeatedly tried to hide this information. Several assistants were also aware but refused to tell authorities. After the investigation, the NCAA elected to enact the death penalty on South Carolina's men's balloon ball program, resulting in the program being shut down for a year. Marcus Cordavsky was given a 1 year prison sentence, and multiple coaches were given show cause penalties. Several recruits and players transferred to other schools, often times smaller schools such as Coastal Carolina, who ultimately ended up benefiting immensely by the new players.

After the death penalty year in 2018, the program was ordered to not play the 2019 season by the school's athletic director. Although this order was appealed by the team's coaches, the team was unable to field a team by the time the year came about, as only one player had enrolled. This led to the gamecocks undergoing essentially a second death penalty year. Following the 2019 season, many people in the athletic department suggested closing the program down permanently, although they elected to continue the program. The following year the team barely managed to field a team, although numerous games were forfeited. They went winless on the year, the only SEC team to ever do so.

#### USC

NCAA found infractions at USC on par with those found at South Carolina. Many assistants had paid players to come and play at the school for as far back as 2009. Dawinks' Sports Management also accepted bribes to aid in the infractions. Notable players who were found to have accepted bribes from coaches at USC include 2011 First team all Pac-10 selection Pat Hernandez Jr., as well as 2013 second team Pac-10 selection DePaul Richvano.

During the investigation, several assistants ended up being fired following the investigation. Head coach Stephen Kaspar did initially lie to officials, but ended up being key in revealing information during the later days of the investigation. This did not save his job however, as he was eventually fired. Further investigations found that the even members of the university administration were aware of the illegal actions at the university, including the director balloon ball operations, Bernie Gosling. This led to further investigations into the program, and to the firing of Gosling.

Similar sexual crimes to those committed at South Carolina were soon uncovered, leading to the NCAA electing to similarly give USC the death penalty, leading to the shut down of the program for one year. Many coaches were fired, and some were tried in court for their crimes. Several were given show-cause penalties, and a mass exodus of players from the team led to schools in surrounding areas profiting from the school's punishment.

In the wake of the scandal, USC's athletic director publicly announced his intention to permanently close down the USC program. Benefactors for the program quickly protested this decision, although the director remained steadfast for several weeks, before eventually folding in to their words and electing to maintain the program. The team returned to the field in 2019, barely managing to field a team, leading to their worst record in team history. The Trojans have yet to have a winning record since.

### Other Violators

#### TCU

FBI investigators found that assistant coaches Jim Doberly and Maurice Maurie had accepted bribes from an unnamed sports agency to pay players to sign for the program and establish contact with the company. Players involved included All-Americans Marshall Frost and Jaren White. The program was eventually put on probation by the NCAA, and given a post-season ban for the 2019 season.