For every Ole Miss claim that the NCAA will 'go light' on them, the exact opposite seems to have happened.
They clung to the belief that their self-imposed penalties would be more than enough and the COI will let them go with what they've already put on the table. (Not by a long shot)
They clung to their 'unbelievable response' to the NCAA and believed allegations would be dropped and penalties lessened. (Didn't happen)
They clung to the Rebel Rags lawsuit. Hoping it would cause Leo to recant and the NCAA to quake in fear that another Miami debacle would occur unless they backed down. (Didn't happen)
There was much speculation that if they simply got rid of Freeze, the NCAA would back off. But instead they backed him as far as they publicly could until the Nutt lawsuit uncovered unforgivable evidence and they were forced to give him the boot. Now they're forced to defend a 'culture of compliance' that Freeze built while his credibility is in shambles? (Didn't happen)
If we've learned anything throughout the history of this investigation, it's that the reality of the issues Ole Miss has are far more serious than any of us imagined. And with that in mind, the COI will hammer the Plantation harder than any of us expect. They are about to get burned to the ground leaving a pile of embers that will glow for years to come.