The NCAA ruled that the UH-USC season opener can be played

HSA Note: "In sanctioning USC, the NCAA had initially prohibited the Trojans from playing any exempted contests such as the UH game, in 2010 and '11. But yesterday it announced "the Committee on Infractions has delayed the penalty that precludes the University of Southern California from playing a 13th game" with a "one-year deferral." Instead, USC will be prohibited from playing any exempted games in 2011 and '12.

About why they did not want to force the cancellation of the UH-USC game, Stacy Osburn, NCAA associate director for public and media relations, said:
"In making this decision, the committee noted a number of factors, including that the game has been scheduled for at least five years, will be televised, and many fans have already purchased travel packages to the game." (HSA)

Happy that the NCAA ruled this way and avoided causing a huge loss to UH, JD said:
"There was definitely some anxiety over how cancellation would have impacted our season, our ticket sales, our budget and even the state's economy. I'm pleased the NCAA took a look at the whole situation and decided to change their minds." (HSA)

About allowing the game to take place, USC senior VP Todd Dickey said that:
"we want to thank the committee for granting this relief; it recognizes the serious financial impacts game cancellation would have had to the university and state of Hawaii as well as the fans and supporters of USC who have already made travel arrangements." (HSA)

About how the Hawaii Exemption was created to encourage schools to play in Hawaii (and Alaska) to help defray the costs, JD said:
"That's why, to me, it's unprecedented to take away the game." (HSA)

HSA Note: "The schools do not meet in '11 and their '12 game is at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which, for USC, is not an exempted game. USC is scheduled to return to Aloha Stadium in 2013, after the NCAA ban expires."

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