USC and NCAA sanctions: One man says you can't handle the tooth Unbuckling the mailbag: Question: Let USC slide? Your article on USC appeared in today's Chicago Tribune. After reading it I checked online to see where you were located. Imagine my "surprise" when I found out that you are in Los Angeles. That fetid, putrid smell is actually coming from the USC athletic department. Since I work for the federal government as a forensic dentist . . . I know that smell. It is going to take more than one can of Lysol to remove it. SC deserves every sanction that can be given to them. George F. Loss, D.D.S. Answer: I was hoping to start this year's mailbag on a lighter, upbeat note, but your letter hit me like a root canal at a crime scene investigation. Four out of five forensic dentists I surveyed actually thought the NCAA had gone far enough in sanctioning USC. I also couldn't help but notice that your middle initial, combined with your last name, spells "Floss." You say USC deserves every sanction that can be given to it. That would include the NCAA's Death Penalty - shutting down the program - which I guess is where you come in with your taxpayer-provided, postmortem gum scrapers. I bet, though, not one of your patients has ever complained. Q: How dumb are Buckeyes fans? Second question: How much does the NCAA regret the USC sanctions in retrospect? Carlos A. Garcia A: These days there are two types of dumb Ohio State fans. One type thinks it's funny to wear a T-shirt that reads: "I'd rather shower at Penn State than cheer for the Wolverines." The other type thinks NCAA sanctions levied against them were less warranted than those imposed on USC. To your second point, I don't think the NCAA has many regrets, other than losing control over college football. Q: Is this the first time that both UCLA and USC have scored touchdowns of more than 70 yards on the first play of their first game of the season? Frank S. A: That's a great question. And I don't know. UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley raced 72 yards on the Bruins' first play against Rice, USC's Matt Barkley connected with Marqise Lee for a 75-yard score against Hawaii. The other weird thing: both teams scored 49 points. Q: I know you know your stuff, but do you really think USC is No.