Time for “This Week In Sports History,” where LZ and Will break down an event from the past through the lens of the present day. In 1987, the NCAA delivered what became known as the “death penalty” to Southern Methodist University, canceling its entire 1987 football season because of repeated recruiting violations. The NCAA had already put SMU on probation for paying players under the table for years. The school promised to discontinue the illegal practice, but continued paying 13 players a total of $61,000 from a slush fund. The consequences went beyond a lost season. The school’s president, athletic director, and coach were all forced to resign, most of their players transferred to other schools, and the 1988 season was canceled as well simply because they had no one left on their team. Will and LZ compare the college sports environment of the time to that of the present day, where the money factor has only grown.
