The Death Penalty. A threat that is so rare and so frightening that it sends shivers down fans’ minds every time their team is being investigated. But for something that is so feared, it has only happened a handful of times. So is something that is so uncommon really something that should be worried about? Ask SMU.
A quick backstory is required to show how serious the Death Penalty is in modern sports. Both Kentucky (1952-53) and Southwestern Lousiana (1972) were hit with the Death Penalty before Southern Methodist. SMU’s punishment was the first under the “repeat offender” rule.