We mentioned it here early yesterday as part of the talking points and, frankly, that’s all I thought it deserved here. It’s getting enough attention — and quality attention, at that — everywhere else on the Internet. A lot of people seem ready and willing to hammer Southern California for deficient institutional control and, of course, Mayo and his handlers for immorality. Hard to argue with that, though it’s hard to imagine a more firm limb on which people can take a stand.

Taking money from a sports agent is bad! Corrupting amateur athletes is unethical! Failing to recognize and address the problem is inexcusable!

Mayo is a state native and there is a natural homegrown buzz about this story, but it seems to altogether miss a rather large implication. Well, until now.

If, indeed, Guillory was providing the hanky to go with whatever panky Mayo would accept, then it’s time the state moved in hard, investigating just how all those Division I players wound up at Huntington and if there were any rules broken at the time.

The tools are there to move forward.

When Gov. Joe Manchin was Secretary of State the Uniform Athlete Agent Act was passed an enacted as Chapter 30, Article 39 of the West Virginia Code.

Section 30-39-14 (2) states that “an athlete’s agent, with the intent to induce a student-athlete to enter into an agency contract, may not:

“Furnish anything of value to a student-athlete before the student-athlete enters into the agency contract.”

If the agent violates this rule he is “guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars or confined in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than three years, or both fined and confined.”

Indeed, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the investigation stops at USC and Mayo, Inc. It might not be the most pleasant direction to go, but it’s certainly understandable. It ought to be imminent, if even to clear names and rid people of the perception of guilt.