The problem is that if something like this would cost Alabama 20 scholarships and a threat of the death penalty. In this case the NCAA will just say that the school had no way of knowing. That is pretty much what the did with Ohio State and before that U of Florida.
BTW, I like all the schools that I just mentioned - the problem is that the NCAA deals out very subjective punishments.
I just had a call from a friend wanting to discuss this and she virtually said the same thing you did - if Bush had played for Bama, we could count on the death penalty - let it be USC, Notre Dame, Awburn.....well you get the drift....and it would be a slap on the wrist....
"The problem is that if something like this would cost Alabama 20 scholarships and a threat of the death penalty."
Since this is $30 grand over what Alabama got busted for they should get whollped. But they won't. You are right about the subjective and, well, arbitrary punishments.