Pete Carroll, Tim Floyd, USC and Scandal (3rd Update)
It's that time of year again.
For the third year in a row, I present my updated collection of all of the available information regarding the scandal, criminality, investigations, embarrassing incidents and other assorted black eyes that have plagued USC since Pete Carroll's tenure began six years ago.
When this began in April 2006, it was strictly a football affair. In the 2007 edition, however, I included the first entry for Southern Cal's basketball team, observing that "it appears likely that there will be trouble with Tim Floyd's program if he doesn't take steps to avoid the controversy surrounding Pete Carroll's program." Well, he hasn't. So, there has.
I remain surprised that Southern Cal athletes would be implicated in so many incidents during such a short period of time. Even recently, I actually began to think that Southern Cal might have taken steps to limit additional incidents, or at least conceal them from view. Perhaps they have for the football team. But, clearly, not so for the basketball team.
Keep in mind, since I first posted this in April 2006, the list of incidents has nearly tripled. One would think that, following the -- and there's no other way to put it -- massive uninterrupted deluge of problems, that USC compliance officials would be like a veteran army, standing ready to take swift and substantial action to prevent further problems. Unfortunately, that does not seem to have happened. Rather, Southern Cal appears to have opted for a strategy of calculated ignorance rather than genuine institutional control.
As before, I have endeavored to collect as much information as is publicly available. Unfortunately, many of the news stories about these issues are no longer available online. I've provided links where I found them, and relied upon second hand sources to the extent those are reliable. Also, there are some dead links in the text below that I've left there both for posterity, and so you know that I wasn't making anything up.
I also continue to try to be as objective as reasonably possible. The facts speak for themselves. I see no need to embellish. If anyone has any information that would help make this entry more accurate and complete, please let me know, and I will edit this accordingly.
Once again, when I first posted this in 2006, a few people disagreed with a few items, but didn't provide any supporting evidence. I offered to publish any such information, and did so again in the 2007 edition. To date, however, no one has contradicted a single entry with any credible facts. That said, if I'm wrong in any way, please tell me.
Finally, many moons ago, I shared my view that everyone doesn't really do it, and talked about those rationalizing mischief at USC. To this day, some apologists continue to try to explain away the behavior detailed below by claiming that it "happens everywhere." That's fine. And, if you can show me a similar list for every other Division I program out there for the same six year period, I'll consider revisiting my opinion.
- Pete Carroll was hired as head football coach by USC in 2001.
- On August 23, 2001, the NCAA placed USC's athletic department on probation for two years and cut scholarships because tutors wrote papers for three athletes in the late 1990s. The events leading to the probation were before Carroll's time, but I include this for completeness sake.
- In 2002, the father of USC tailback Justin Fargas invited former USC Heisman Trophy winner, and alleged double-murderer, O. J. Simpson to a team practice (he was found not guilty in his criminal trial but was later found liable in a civil trial). After the practice, Carroll allowed Simpson to come onto the field and meet the players and pose for pictures. Carroll defends himself from criticism by claiming that Simpson wasn't invited. In May 2008, Simpson's ex manager alleged that Simpson admitted to killing Nicole Brown Simpson.
- On July 19, 2003, USC Sophomore OT Winston Justice pleaded no contest to solicitation of a prostitute in Long Beach on June 24. Winston was put on 3 years probation and fined $300 for the offense.
- On March 3, 2004, Winston Justice was arrested on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon. On June 15, 2004, Justice pleaded no contest to exhibition of a replica firearm. Justice was sentenced to 60 days of electronic monitoring and three years' probation. Justice was also suspended for two semesters by USC's student affairs committee after his arrest.
- In August 2004, USC starting tailback Hershel Dennis was at the center of a police investigation of an alleged sexual assault. According to sources, the incident took place at a party on August 16, and involved a female friend of Dennis. On August 17, Dennis was removed from practice and suspended by Carroll for "disciplinary reasons," including breaking curfew. On December 13, 2004, the LAPD announced it would not press charges.
- On January 14, 2005, Tim Floyd was hired as head basketball coach by USC.
- In late March 2005, USC starting cornerback Eric Wright was arrested for investigation of sexual assault. Wright was booked on rape charges and bail was set at $100,000 according to the Sheriff's Department. Wright was held out of spring practice, and, in April 2005, the district attorney declined to press charged because of insufficient evidence. Nevertheless, on June 2, 2005, Wright left USC amid possible disciplinary action. On August 25, Wright was suspended by three semesters by USC's student affairs committee, based upon the district attorney's office having found 136 pills of the drug Ecstasy in Wright's room at an apartment he shared with another player.
- In early April 2005, USC tight end Dominique Bird fractured his jaw during an alleged altercation with receiver Steve Smith. Bird, Smith and Carroll reportedly refused to comment on the incident, and no disciplinary action was taken.
- In August 2005, USC defensive end Frostee Rucker allegedly got into a fight with his girlfriend at a party he was hosting in Los Angeles. In June 2006, Rucker was charged with two misdemeanor counts of spousal battery and two counts of vandalism and was scheduled to be arraigned on August 11, 2006. Despite the incident, Rucker did not face any discipline from USC, and didn't miss a game. In May 2007, Rucker pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and vandalism charges stemming from the 2005 incident. As part of a plea agreement, the prosecutors dropped a charge of spousal battery and Rucker was sentenced to three years of probation. Prior to transferring to USC, in April of 2002, Rucker was charged in Colorado with sexual assault and indecent exposure. Rucker reportedly eventually accepted a one-year deferred sentence on a misdemeanor harassment charge.
- On August 13, 2005, 10 veteran USC players were involved in a hazing incident where they shaved the head of freshman quarterback Mark Sanchez. Also, what started out as a water fight between USC players, escalated into an all-out brawl as it spiraled out of control. Reportedly, there was significant damage to the players dorms as players were thrown through walls.
- On October 31, 2005, USC tailback LenDale White played a macabre prank by pretending to quit the team and throwing a dummy off a building on Child's Way. Separately, Pete Carroll apologized to Washington State coach Bill Doba for USC players pushing and bumping Doba while trying to get to the locker room during halftime of their game.
- On November 2, 2005, USC linebacker Rey Maualuga was arrested for investigation of misdemeanor battery after punching a man at an off-campus Halloween party (twice, without provocation). A witness at the scene reportedly quoted Maualuga as stating "I own the police." Carroll took no disciplinary action, and Maualuga played the following weekend against Stanford. One USC pundit observed at the time that "discipline is Coach Carroll's number one weakness." On November 22, 2005, the city attorney's office declined to file charges. Maualuga was defended at the court hearing by controversial and well-connected USC alumni attorney Carmen "Nooch" Trutanich, who has a long history with USC and previously represented both Wright and Dennis.
- On December 21, 2005, USC starting quarterback Matt Leinart had his eligibility temporarily revoked after appearing in a promotional segment on ESPN earlier that month, a violation of an NCAA rule. Leinart was reinstated shortly thereafter. One observer claims the NCAA was just concerned about money.
- On January 1, 2006, reporters from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and CBS Sportline reportedly told the USC football team about potential recruiting violations stemming from visits by USC recruits to Papadakis Taverna, a Greek restaurant owned by former USC linebacker John Papadakis. As of July 2007, the investigation by USC compliance officials continued.
- On January 21, 2006, USC quarterback Matt Leinart was cited by the Pac-10 for working out with his own coach using school facilities. According to the NCAA, a student athlete cannot utilize the school's facilities to work out with a coach, unless the coach is affiliated with the university.
- On April 21, 2006, the family of USC running back Reggie Bush was implicated by numerous separate media reports as having lived in a house purchased by a San Diego-area man with ties to a sports agent and a tribal casino. Both the Pac-10 and the NCAA have launched an investigation into potential NCAA violations in connnection with this matter, which is pending. More recent reports in this fast evolving story are here, here, and here. Yahoo Sports, which is responsible for much of the investigative reporting on this issue, has set up a page dedicated to its eight-month probe here.
- On April 26, 2006, USC quarterback Mark Sanchez was arrested for investigation of sexually assaulting a female student earlier that same day. Sanchez was released upon posting $200,000 bail, and was ordered to appear in court on May 17, 2006. Sanchez was also placed on "interim suspension" by USC while the case was pending. On June 2, 2006, the LA District Attorney announced that it would not be bring charges against Sanchez due to insufficient evidence.
- On April 30, 2006, it was reported that USC compliance officials were investigating whether an NCAA rule was violated because receiver Dwayne Jarrett failed to pay approximately $10,000 for his half of the rent for an upscale apartment he shared with former quarterback Matt Leinart. USC claims that no rules were violated, though it was initially reported that Jarret may have to sit out a portion of the 2006-07 season. Jarrett ultimately avoided punishment and was the 45th pick in the 2007 NFL draft. After a disappointing season, Jarrett was arrested on March 11, 2008 and charged with driving under the influence.
- In August of 2006, USC defensive back Brandon Ting quit the football team after reportedly testing postive for steroid use. His twin brother, Ryan, also a defensive back on the USC football team, quit the team just days later, claiming that he wanted to concentrate on preparing for medical school, and was never tested. Interestingly, Arthur Ting, father of the twins, is a Bay Area orthopedic surgeon who has reportedly appeared as a witness before a grand jury considering possible perjury charges against baseball's Barry Bonds, one of Arthur's clients. This incident finally triggered some real interest by the LA Times.
- On August 29, 2006, it was announced that former USC quarterback Matt Leinart would be having a child out of wedlock with USC basketball player Brynn Cameron. While not improper in any meaningful way outside of his personal life, this event begins a long list of embarrassing incidents involving the former USC star (not to mention other USC quarterbacks).
- On October 16, 2006, it was announced that then 14-year-old high school freshman Dwayne Polee Jr., who had yet to even play a game at Westchester high, had verbally committed to USC’s basketball team. Though not improper, the early commitment was unconventional, and was repeated in June 2007 when USC announced the verbal commitment of 14-year-old middle school player Ryan Boatright, who, at the time, had not yet even decided upon where he was going to high school. Further eyebrows were raised in June 2007, when USC hired Dwayne Polee Sr., father of Dwayne Polee Jr., as Director of Basketball Operations, amid charges of nepotism.
- On December 4, 2006, former USC stand-out, and former Rams rookie, tight end Dominique Byrd was arrested for allegedly hitting a bar patron in the face with a drinking glass. Byrd was charged with second- and third-degree assault and armed criminal action. He was released shortly after posting a $25,000 bond. In early May, 2008, Byrd was scheduled to go to trial in St. Louis Circuit Court on felony charges of assault and armed criminal action stemming from the nightclub scuffle in December 2006. In March 2007, he was charged with DUI in California. In October 2007, he pleaded no contest to the DUI charge and received three years' probation. In May 2008, Byrd was released by the Rams.
- In January 2007, a federal investigation into extortion claims by former USC running back Reggie Bush and his family revealed the existence of taped converstations that could confirm Bush took cash and gifts while he was playing football for USC. It was also reported that nearly $280,000 in cash, rent and gifts were allegedly given to Bush and his family. The information came to light following the issuance of grand jury subpoenas to multiple witness by the U.S. District Attorney's office in San Diego. Both the NCAA and Pac-10 continue to investigate. Also, more recent articles suggest that Reggie Bush was involved earlier and more deeply than previously reported in efforts to create the sports marketing agency at the center of the continuing controversy. The investigation has, to date, yielded no definitive proof that USC officials had knowledge of Bush's misconduct, though Bush was nevertheless asked not to attend the Trojans' Rose Bowl matchup against Michigan on New Year's Day.
- On February 2, 2007, it was reported that a "stampede of student athletes," including three USC linemen, ex-USC receiver Keary Colbert, and members of the USC women's basketball, volleyball and water polo teams, had improperly attempted to take an academic shortcut around the university's foreign language requirement by signing up for a course at Los Angeles Trade Tech College taught by USC graduate Senora Ross, who promised to give the athletes no lower than a "B." Upon discovering the situation, USC officials disallowed the transfer of credits from Trade Tech.
- On February 8, 2007, it was reported that USC football players had created and joined a racist Facebook group as a "joke." The racist Facebook group was called "White Nation," showed a graphic of a swastika and black baby in handcuffs with the caption "arrest black babies before they become criminals." The group was created by USC linebacker Clay Matthews and was joined by teammates David Buehler, Brian Cushing, Dan Deckas and Dallas Sartz. Coach Pete Carroll responded to reports of the incident by saying he had no plans to discipline the players, and USC later announced that none of the players would be punished. According to Carroll, "[i]t's not a controversy, it's a mistake."
- On February 9, 2007, USC compliance officials announced they were investigating whether an NCAA violation occurred during the Trojans' pursuit of Louisiana prep star running back Joe McKnight. The investigation followed reports that McKnight had told reporters that USC coach Pete Carroll had set up a conference call so he and high school coach J.T. Curtis could be assured by ex-Trojan running back Reggie Bush that USC would not be punished for a separate NCAA investigation into improper benefits allegedly taken by Bush. Carroll later denied that any call took place, and Curtis said that McKnight misspoke. According to NCAA officials, if USC got Bush's help in recruiting McKnight, it would be considered a "secondary violation" of recruiting rules.
- On March 9, 2007, USC basketball recruit O.J. Mayo was arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession in Huntington, West Virginia. Mayo was one of four young males found in a suspicious vehicle by a Cabell County Sheriff's drug task force unit assigned to serve a search warrant at a house nearby. The charges against Mayo were later dismissed by a magistrate judge, after the driver of the vehicle pleaded guilty to the charge (though Mayo's father subsequently had his own difficulties). The incident followed a controversy in January following Mayo's two (some sources say three) game suspension after receiving two technical fouls in a high school game and coming into contact with an official, as well as prior reports of three suspensions by his high school, the last one following an altercation with a female student.
- On April 14, 2007, it was announced that Percy Romeo Miller, also known as Romeo (and formerly Lil' Romeo) had been offered a basketball scholarship to USC. The scholarship offer, to a 5-foot-10 point guard with a bad knee who had never played a full season of high-school basketball, was roundly criticized by national commentators as a thinly veiled attempt by USC to obtain the commitment of Miller's friend, prep star and NBA prospect Demar DeRozan, while ignoring Miller's mediocre at best talent.
- In the first week of August, 2007, there were new developments in the NCAA investigation of former USC running back Reggie Bush, when it was reported that audio recordings that allegedly establish an improper financial relationship between Bush and a would-be sports marketing agent were played for NCAA investigators. The tapes were revealed after Lloyd Lake, a partner in failed sports marketing agency New Era Sports enterprise, filed a lawsuit against Bush and his family, seeking to recoup nearly $300,000 in benefits Lake claims he helped provide. Lake's allegations were further detailed in January 2008, with the publication of Don Yaeger's book Tarnished Heisman, which chronicled various allegations swirling around Bush's USC tenure, including claims that Bush received $47,000 out of an overall $291,000 that went to his family from sports marketer Lake. That same month, published reports contained Lake's (unsubstantiated) allegation that USC coaches knew Bush was taking money in violation of NCAA rules.
- On August 28, 2007, a contributor to Bruinsnation.com unearthed a report from April 1996 that USC running backs coach Todd McNair was arrested and charged with 81 offenses involving the mistreatment of 22 pit bulls being trained on his property for dogfights while a running back for the Houston Oilers. In light of recent press relating to NFL quarterback Michael Vick, the report unleashed a firestorm, with numerous acts of alleged animal cruelty being uncovered in McNair's past, including multiple misdemeanors convictions (via plea bargain) regarding animal cruelty and failure to license, and "all indications" that McNair was involved in dog flighting. McNair, who was previously implicated in Reggie Bush scandal, having allegedly known about Bush's involvement with the New Era venture before USC national championship game against Texas, faced no discipline from USC.
- On September 27, 2007, it was reported that USC sophomore point guard Daniel Hackett would be sidelined at least six weeks after suffering multiple fractures of his jaw when he was struck by the "elbow" of teammate O.J. Mayo during a pickup game. Shortly thereafter, it was reported, based upon several sources, including a member of the basketball team, that Mayo punched Hackett during the game. The player was quoted as saying "Yeah, he punched him," "They changed the story for the media." Despite later denials by Floyd and others, this version of the events was confirmed on multiple occasions.
- On November 3, 2007, convicted felon Suge Knight was given a sideline pass to a USC game. Knight joins O.J. Simpson and Snoop Dogg as USC's esteemed guests.
- In early November 2007, USC forward Davon Jefferson was suspended for the team's embarrassing season-opening loss to Mercer. Jefferson, who required two years to meet the NCAA's minimum academic requirements and was kicked out of prep school before he joined USC, was also later benched for much of a narrow loss at Stanford and also suspended for a loss to Washington State. After clashing with Floyd, Jefferson did not even inform the school of his decision to turn pro.
- On January 21, 2008, USC freshman guard O.J. Mayo was alleged to have violated NCAA rules by accepting complimentary tickets from Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony to a Lakers-Nuggets game at Staples Center. Coach Floyd subsequently took the blame, and Mayo was ultimately required to donate the value of the tickets to charity.
- On March 2, 2008, USC defensive tackle Fili Moala was arrested for resisting and obstructing an officer after a melee at a Newport Beach bar was broken up by police. Moala was released after posting $500 bail, and on March 13, the Orange County district attorney's office declined to press charges.
- On March 5, 2008, USC recruit Maurice Simmons was arrested for robbery in Compton, after he allegedly pointed a handgun at a man and demanded his belongings. Simmons, a linebacker from Dominguez High School, was initially held at the Los Angeles County jail on $50,000 bail, and then released after posting bail of $85,000. Simmons was arraigned on March 7, and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 15, 2008. To date, USC has not indicated whether or not it intends to honor its commitment to Simmons. Developing.
- On April 1, 2008, USC head coach Pete Carroll, in an attempt to make light of the Trojan's extensive past history of criminality, invited members of the LAPD to play a prank on defensive end Everson Griffen, who was said to have "physically abused a freshman" and was threatened with arrest during a team meeting.
- On April 6, 2008, USC sophomore tailback Joe McKnight was held out of the team's scrimmage and it was announced that he would miss the final week of spring workouts because he was academically ineligible to participate. McKnight had dropped a class, leaving him without the 12 units required for eligibility.
- On April 27, 2008, the NFL draft ended with USC guard Drew Radovich remaining unselected. Expected by some to be a mid-to-late round pick, Radovich's stock allegedly dropped based upon character concerns.
- In late April or early May, 2008, a video was posted on Pete Carroll's website starring his son, Brennan. The video, replete with profanity and questionable behavior, was widely ridiculed, and was allegedly used against USC in recruiting. In mid-May, the video was removed from youtube.com, with Carroll explaining that it was just a "spoof."
- On May 2, 2008, the judge in the civil litigation between former USC running back Reggie Bush and Lloyd Lake ordered the parties to appear in June 2008 for their depositions, and denied Bush's attempts to impose a "gag order" to prevent the deposition transcripts from being shared with the NCAA. The judge also set a trial date of March 13, 2009.
- On May 4, 2008, former USC tight end Fred Davis failed to attend the final practice of the The Washington Redskins minicamp because he overslept after a late night out. Besides giving a poor first impression, Davis confirmed concerns about his commitment to football dating back to his time at USC. Davis was suspended for two games his freshman year at USC for coming back late from his home in Ohio, and missed the 2005 Orange Bowl.
- On May 6, 2008, it was announced that USC's men's basketball team was the only major athletic program in the Southland penalized with scholarship losses as the result of a poor performance in the NCAA's academic progress rate. The Trojans were penalized in part because Lodrick Stewart, Nick Young and Gabe Pruitt stopped attending class after the 2007 season, and because three players transferred within the same season. USC's APR score of 804 was 121 points below the minimum-acceptable mark, and stemmed from various academic problems, including Gabe Pruitt's academic ineligibility for the fall 2006 semester, and his ineligibility again following the spring 2007 semester. USC served the penalty during the 2007-08 season.
- On May 13, 2008, ESPN aired an episode of Outside the Lines that contained extensive, well-documented allegations that USC guard O.J. Mayo received improper benefits from a sports agent (BDA Sports) and that agent's runner (Rodney Guillory) both before and during his one season at USC. It was alleged that Guillory received benefits in excess of $200,000, while Mayo received $30,000 in benefits, including cash, clothes, cell phone service, and a flat screen television for his dorm room. USC immediately faced a storm of criticism, with several prominent commentator calling for sanctions, including the so-called "death penalty." The criticism of USC intensified as it was reported that Guillory was given largely unfettered access to Mayo and the athletic department, after a highly unusual recruitment process, despite USC knowing of his involvement with agents, including a prior scandal with USC's Jeff Trepagnier, for many years. The Pac-10 and the NCAA have launched investigations. Developing.
There are additional allegations swirling around out there, but I have not included anything I could not verify in at least two places. I've also left out "on the field" misconduct, including various stories about blatant personal fouls and possible cheating. Again, please provide any (verifiable) information or links you may have in the comments section.
Finally, let me address something that comes up every year. As I've said above, this is a list of "scandal, criminality, investigations, embarrassing incidents and other assorted black eyes" affecting Southern Cal. It's broader than just criminality. So, dearest Southern Cal apologists, please spare me the arguments about how something above isn't really a crime, even if many of the items above do involve serious, sometime violent, criminal behavior.
GO BRUINS.
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beautifully done!
should be a permanent link on the site, updated as time goes on.
this “win at all costs” mentality that they have will eventually bite them
by glassbruin on May 15, 2008 7:50 AM PDT 0 recs
Make it a permanent link
I always have to look for this post to see if I recognize a name from before every time I see a new story that belongs.
by Rhapsode on
May 15, 2008 7:03 PM PDT
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Outstanding!!!
As Joe Friday would say “Just the facts.” and this is just the facts. No emotion, no invective, just outstanding research and reporting.
Why must one go to a blog to find such a straightforward compilation of empirical data that suggests that there is no “institutional control” at sc?
And, if everyone does it, why aren’t there similar powerful compilations pointing at us? At other schools?
The answers are clear. No everyone does it and the MSM and NCAA don’t have either the courage, skill, or incentive to do what you do, every year.
Menelaus, you and your work make this place special.
sjh
by Class of 66 on May 15, 2008 8:16 AM PDT 0 recs
That's very kind
And it means even more coming from someone like you, who is as much or more of a reason that this place is great.
by Menelaus on
May 15, 2008 9:35 AM PDT
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i didn't see the ecstacy distribution
wasn’t a Carroll player arrested for having hundreds of tabs of e in his dorm room? did i just miss it? the list is so long, its hard to keep track…
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on May 15, 2008 8:30 AM PDT 0 recs
silverlake
I seem to recall you post on other UCLA boards (was it BRO?). If you do, you should share this link with everyone. All Bruins should be united on this (and not hold any grudge from Dorrell era).
by bluestreet on
May 15, 2008 8:43 AM PDT
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If Menelaus is cool with it
I will. I think he might post on BRO as well though. I don’t know…
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on
May 15, 2008 9:00 AM PDT
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Good stuff, M
I found the following sort of interesting:
“On April 26, 2006, USC quarterback Mark Sanchez was arrested for investigation of sexually assaulting a female student earlier that same day. Sanchez was released upon posting $200,000 bail, and was ordered to appear in court on May 17, 2006.” (Emphasis added.)
Who posted bail? As I understand these things, the bail bond is 100% collateralized (i.e., someone’s house), and the bond premium is very high – maybe 10%. If those assumpions are correct, then someone put up $200K or a house, and paid $20,000 to a bondsman. Now that would not have been a problem for me to put up when I was in college, of course. I would just ask the butler to call pater at the compound and ask him to advance my next week’s allowance. Oh, wait. I didn’t go to justsc. I didn’t have $20, let alone $20K.
So who posted that bond? Is that a matter of public record? And can any of our smart computer people access that?
by Fox 71 on May 15, 2008 8:41 AM PDT 0 recs
To Quote Inspector Renault, "I'm Shocked"
I am not surprised that a major college athletic program has interminable off the field problems. After all, doesn’t winning justify everything? However, I am wondering why this post is included on a UCLA centric blog. Would the same level of effort be applied to track another school’s foibles if that school was not our principle rival? Please don’t misinterpret my comment as condoning these activities. I just don’t think Bruin fans need to be $c’s conscience. Itemizing $c’s misdeeds does not make our program better. I like the John Wooden philosophy of being the best you can be and not worrying about your opponent.
I am sure some will argue that $c is not being held to a comparable standard and, therefore, the playing field is not level. Unfortunately, that’s life. Let the fools at $c delude themselves into believing their program is superior. They can have their fantasy world. I would prefer to revel in all things UCLA and celebrate all the good things that are happening to our program (Championship 101, three straight final fours and the number one incoming freshman class, the new era in football, etc.). The only time I want to hear about $c is when they are on the losing end of any contest (athletic or academic) played against the Bruins.
by Bruin77 on May 15, 2008 8:48 AM PDT 0 recs
If the Bruins are not checking the TrOjans
Who will?
I am sorry Menelaus writes a great post itemizing all the sordid details from cross-town, which is not being covered by the MSM and you come here whining?
If you want to write something then post it.
Let me ask you something – are you paying Menelaus, Nestor, Tydides and others to write for you? You come here as a guest enjoying their content and the only thing you can do is just whine.
Sad.
by bluestreet on
May 15, 2008 8:54 AM PDT
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Two Points
First, you can characterize my post as a whine; I would call it an alternative perspective. I thought that was one of the purposes of a blog, the exchange of ideas.
Second, if this information is not being exposed in the MSM, where did Menelaus get the detailed level of information for this post? I think your point is the MSM is not taking all the individual events and conflating them into an indictment of the $c athletic program. If that is your point, you are wrong. Look at the stories at WWL, SI, the Daily News and others (sorry I don’t have time to provide links, but Nestor put up a really good one this morning written by Paul Oberjuerge). $C is not being taken to task just for the Mayo situation, but the Mayo situation is being used as a jumping off point for other problems at $c and college sports, in general.
I just read the following comment in article discussing the political process. The article noted that instead of focusing on politicians’ policy differences, guilt by association and straw man arguments are used to win elections. I think this is analogous to UCLA fans’ focus on the problems at $c: "The process is the process, the game is the game. And you can spend your time exposing how flawed the game is, or you can spend your time winning it." As screwed up as $c is, what does that have to do with UCLA? Let’s be the best we can be and let the fools across town deal with their soiled house.
by Bruin77 on
May 15, 2008 9:40 AM PDT
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Wrong
You write:
Look at the stories at WWL, SI, the Daily News and others (sorry I don’t have time to provide links, but Nestor put up a really good one this morning written by Paul Oberjuerge). $C is not being taken to task just for the Mayo situation, but the Mayo situation is being used as a jumping off point for other problems at $c and college sports, in general.
So far all we have had is WWL column from Forde, SI column from Wynn who are speaking out for the FIRST TIME. Wolf on DN provided commentary but never got to the hear of the issue. No one to date has really grasped the systematic pattern of problem at SuC. So you are wrong to say that MSM is covering the big picture sufficiently. They are not.
And beating SuC has everything to do with being a Bruin. If you don’t see it that’s fine. But it is pathetic on your part to put downt the efforts of blogger on BN who are using their spare time to expose the evil empire. You may not appreciate. But I and many others over here do.
by bluestreet on
May 15, 2008 9:48 AM PDT
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The genesis of this...
...back in 2006, was a simple proposition.
At the time, a number of scandals came up across town, and some people claimed that all universities were the same, that “everyone does it” and that some kind of moral equivalence existed between all schools. That didn’t seem consistent with the facts. (By the way, your post, which lumps together all “major college athletic program[s]” seems premised on that same sort of thinking, though I may be reading too much into it.) So, I ran a number of searches on both USC and UCLA (so, yes, I spent equal effort). I wanted to test the hypothesis.
What I found was that USC had a list that was both longer and also contained items of much greater severity. My findings also revealed that USC was less likely to punish misconduct responsibly. Afterwards, I posted it. And here it is today, two years later.
And I’m sorry that you don’t want to hear about this. I suggest you don’t read my posts. Or that you read my many other post celebrating UCLA athletics.
by Menelaus on
May 15, 2008 9:27 AM PDT
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No one is forcing you to read us
If you don’t like what we are writing, then don’t read us.
If you want to contribute to this community, write about something else, then step up.
If you want to whine about what we are writing (and yes your comment came across as pure whine), do it somewhere else.
Thanks.
by Nestor on
May 15, 2008 9:51 AM PDT
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great stuff...
the ONLY thing that I think doesn’t deserve to be on there is the Sanchez sexual assault accusation. I say this only because video has shown Sanchez to be at practice at the time when he supposedly committed the crime. The girl obviously just didn’t like him and wanted to pin something on him….and that doesn’t speak too well for his character does it?
That being said, there are probably over 50 incidents on here, and I only see 1 that SC people could argue about. Quite a rap sheet Carroll and his boys have created…
by bucknellbruin on May 15, 2008 8:54 AM PDT 0 recs
Here's the thing
I’ve heard a million different stories about Sanchez. Very, very few are backed up by any facts. I’ve heard everything from that the guy did it, to that the girl was bullied into making false charges by a religious mother. So, I posted the facts, nothing more or less.
If you have any facts, including a link to this video or a report discussing this video, please let me know. But, and I mean this respectfully, I’m sure you’ll understand that I just can’t take your word for it.
by Menelaus on
May 15, 2008 9:30 AM PDT
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Sanchez
I don’t know whether he committed the crime or not. He was not prosecuted because the decision-makers concluded that there was insufficient evidence to warrant a trial. I have seen nothing to suggest that Sanchez sued anyone for false arrest or false imprisonment. The presence or absence of litigation doesn’t really prove whether the sexual assault took place or whether the arrest was bogus. In fact, all I know about the incident is what I read here in the BN.
What still stands out to me is that he had to post $200,000 bail. That’s a LOT of money. When I was in college, $20,000 was probably the equivalent of $200,000 now, but even then I could not have posted the bond, even with my parents’ house going into the equation. So who posted the bond? The Sanchez family? I don’t know about their financial situation, but unless Sanchez pere is a left handed pitcher in the big leagues, it would be unlikely that they have that kind of money sitting in their cookie jar. So who posted it? The athletic department? Some alum? Three wealthy and influential alumni? Cheatie Petie himself? But if the family actually posted it, where did they get the money? And did they just eat the bond premium? To me, that’s as big a story as whether this nice, upstanding young trOJie acted like the other guys discussed in M’s column.
by Fox 71 on
May 15, 2008 10:17 AM PDT
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More damaging than a wooden horse
The football and basketball teams are setting fire to their own school’s reputation, sketchy as that already was. In isolation, one might dismiss each incidence as “just one misguided kid in need of direction,” but this mass of indiscretions is deeply disturbing. Doesn’t this school want to recruit and raise good citizens? Or is the behavior on these teams reflective of broader institutional values on this campus? USC has tried to convey itself as some kind of “Ivy League of the West” in recent years with stricter admissions standards, but the underlying culture of academic laxity, narcissism, and perceived privilege does not disappear so easily, whether in the athletic department or among the student body. Beneath the veneer of Heritage Hall, the band, and Traveler’s trot, there’s still a lot of rot. Thanks for rolling out a bonfire’s worth of evidence, Menelaus!
by bryanucla on May 15, 2008 9:03 AM PDT 0 recs
broader institutional values
I don’t know the answers to all your questions, though I have my strong suspicions, and suspect that part of the answer is reflected in Paul Oberjuerge’s post linked yesterday.
by Menelaus on
May 15, 2008 9:34 AM PDT
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As Pat Forde
said on ESPN the other day, “USC has officially become an SEC school in the Pac 10”. As your very thorough, well-documented list shows, they are even worse than that.
Clearly, you can’t spell SCandal without ‘SC!
by godblesstyus95 on May 15, 2008 9:29 AM PDT 0 recs
Very well done
One forgets how extensive U$C’s transgressions are until you read this post. I kept reading, wondering time and time again, am I done yet?
All of these incidents come as no surprise. U$C cares about winning, no matter the cost. The whole mantra of “student-athlete” and “collegiate” athletics means nothing to them. It’s all about just win baby. So, as a result, look at the kind of “student” athlete they recruit: guys with little to no character and are able to go to college for the sole reason they can dunk a basketball or catch a football.
UCLA, on the other hand, recruits guys that are not just great athletes, but men of great character. Look at the future President of Cameroon. There is no doubt he’d still be at UCLA (or Stanford, Cal, or any prominent Ivy) if he was just another 5’9” guy, because he’s earned it in the classroom. KD wasn’t a great coach, but he didn’t bring in guys who embarassed the program (as our favorite wrecking ball in Jacksonville shows). It’s nice knowing our compliance folks are doing their jobs, that our coaches don’t bring in guys of questionable character (and if CBH did by accident, the dude would be gone after one year of being worked hard by CBH day in and day out), and that our student-athletes actually are students and go to class (I had a lot of classes with fellow history majors Ced Bozeman, Quinn Hawking, and Josiah Johnson) (although in fairness, Rodney Leslie and the Ball twins barely ever went to the one class I had with them; but then again, neither did I, and why would one when it was an open-note history final?).
All-in-all, a great post, with tons of information (although it’s the U.S. Attorney, not U.S. District Attorney, but that’s just b/c I do what I do).
by norcald503 on May 15, 2008 9:56 AM PDT 0 recs
In regards to Aboya...
I believe he had previously committed to Georgetown before coming here, so that says something about his academic prowess.
Anyways, that was a great post. It just really annoys me that $C has been getting off the hook on numerous occasions without any sort of serious repercussions (until now, perhaps?) and yet the NCAA buries their nose into Drago’s European basketball career and the relationship between Love and Wooden. Sigh.
GO BRUINS!
by jlegs on
May 15, 2008 11:36 AM PDT
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Great work M
This is a pretty impressive compilation of everything that makes Southern Cal who they are.
by Ajax on May 15, 2008 10:21 AM PDT 0 recs
Should we all email this to Adam Rose?
and ask him whether he will link this on LAT’s “What’s Bruin”?
by bluestreet on May 15, 2008 1:14 PM PDT 0 recs
Great idea
but methinks this list will never see the light of day in the fishwrap.
Formerly UCLA Class of 86
by Class of 86 on
May 15, 2008 3:08 PM PDT
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Great Job
Your typing fingers must be aching from that post, Give them a good soak because i feel you will have to add a lot more in the foreseeable future. What an institution.
by artybruin on May 15, 2008 2:09 PM PDT 0 recs
Incredible
Amazing job. I couldn’t even read all of it, it made me so sick.
by Centric on May 15, 2008 2:14 PM PDT 0 recs
Forgot one thing
If you’re going to also talk about ex-USC players’ idiocy, then you’ll have to include the one about the player who used a derogatory comment towards homosexuals during an awareness event for incoming NFL rookies. I wish I could find the article, but all I remember was that an ex-NFL was talking about tolerance and whatnot and the ex-Trojan asked something along the lines of whether it’s okay to call them fg*ts.
by UCLA4Life on May 15, 2008 2:25 PM PDT 0 recs
Great stuff again
And how absolutely, utterly, and disgustingly embarrassing for $uC.
Formerly UCLA Class of 86
by Class of 86 on May 15, 2008 3:04 PM PDT 0 recs
Nothing embarrasses a trOJan
The assume an entitlement to this kind of stuff. There’s got to be a stronger word than “schnorrer,” but my command of Yiddish is very limited.
by Fox 71 on
May 15, 2008 3:14 PM PDT
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Good point
The word “chutzpah” comes to mind too. Still not strong enough, though.
Formerly UCLA Class of 86
by Class of 86 on
May 15, 2008 4:10 PM PDT
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USC - Brandon and Ryan Ting - FALSE steriod accusations
As much as I’d like to see USC go down into flames, there is one allegation that is a blatant lie. Brandon Ting never tested positive for steriods, and neither did his twin brother, Ryan. They have never taken steroids in their lives.
The real reason they both decided to step down was to place their focus on medical school. As you may not know, Brandon and Ryan both graduted in 3 years, and had over 3.80 GPAs and excellent MCAT scores. They contemplated on returning for a senior season (with possibilities of starting) and even pursuing an NFL career. It was NFL or med school. They chose med school and they are doing well at USC med right now. In fact, Coach Carroll pushed them to return for their senior season, and they were seriously contemplating it, but decided that juggling football practices with rigors of med school was not in their best interest.
One last thing, the family has filed a lawsuit against the Times and the writers for defamation. That is why the link to the article was deleted.
I know all this because I personally know both of them and their family, and they are of the highest character.
by shakabruin on May 15, 2008 6:37 PM PDT 0 recs
This is beautiful - One trOJan suing another
Some things are beautiful to watch. Here we have the trOJan Tings suing the trOJan MSM outlet. No matter which side wins, it will be a beautiful thing to watch.
But Shaka, a couple of points. You know the Tings and I don’t. But what I have seen is that Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens both deny taking steroids notwithstanding the contradictory evidence. I clicked on the links in M’s report, and the statement is still there that the Ting brothers testified positive for steroids. The fact that they denied taking ‘roids can hardly be deemed conclusive. I have not seen the test results, and the fact that some lab tech somewhere determined that there was a positive result does not necessarily mean that the Tings in fact took steroids.
But let me put it this way. If I had to choose which side of that case I would take, and the evidence was a positive test result on one side and a denial of steroid use on the other, I think I would take the side with actual evidence. (Now the exculpatory language: I would not choose to represent either side. I don’t represent serial child molesters, people who abuse animals, crooked politicians, crooked used car salesmen or trOJans, either the living breathing kind, or the kind made up of newsprint.)
by Fox 71 on
May 15, 2008 7:09 PM PDT
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Yeap the AP story link is still active
And there is no retraction there. M is going by information available at hand. And the post we wrote back then was done based on specific information at hand.
by Nestor on
May 15, 2008 7:14 PM PDT
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Their dad
Wasn’t he Barry Bonds’s surgeon? High character indeed.
by SuperBruinMan on
May 15, 2008 8:18 PM PDT
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Do you have a link?
or specific citation proving that the LAT ran a correction to their report? The AP story is still up. Menelaus’s post also linked to a specific AP article. And there is no correction in it.
I think we need specific citation/link showing the allegation against Ting brothers were a blatant lie.
by Nestor on
May 15, 2008 7:12 PM PDT
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