It was starting to look like an NCAA investigation coming up on a spritely five years of age was dragging to close, but a few new wrinkles complicate things.
Following the discouraging announcement in February of eight new allegations and a self-imposed bowl ban, the university released a response that indicated that it intended to fight the new charges. Regardless of whether they had a strong case, this meant the entire debacle was back to following actual deadlines, rather than the maddening process of allowing investigators to dig until they find something of substance.
After a series of eyebrow-raising lawsuits in which everybody sues everybody, it’s not only become clear that parties outside of the football program and the NCAA have something at stake in the probe, but this thing may go on even further than any recently adjusted timetable would suggest.