Part of the sham of college athletics is that vacating games somehow constitutes a penalty.

Memphis' appearance in the national title game in basketball in 2008? Didn't happen. This run by Reggie Bush? Don't know what game that clip came from.

Declaring appearances as vacant is window-dressing. If you don't want to penalize the players on the current team, then schedule the scholarship reductions and bowl bans for two years from now. That way, innocent players have time to transfer before the sanctions take effect. It also gives incoming recruits a chance to stay away.

- Howard Primer