Trogan Thuggery: Leading Southern Cal Rusher Implicated in Sexual  Battery

Breaking story this evening from the Los Angeles Times concerning leading southern cal rusher Mark Tyler.  The first incident, according to the Times, involves Tyler, while intoxicated, spitting on a coed.    The southern cal Department of Public Safety website states

A student reported that an intoxicated student spat on her after she and a friend escorted him to his residence.

Tyler, obviously ever the gentleman, admits he did so.  

 

Now about the sexual battery.

The sexual battery allegation, which allegedly occurred on April 28, is more serious.  According to the the southern cal Department of Public Safety website, "A student reported that she was sexually assaulted by another student."  The only action reflected on the southern cal gumshoe website is that the entire matter was referred to "Student Affairs" and "Judicial Affairs."  The Times, which has been rightly criticized for having failed to competently cover the Reggie Bush corruption story, merely claims there was only an inappropriate touching.  As noted though, southern cal's own "police force" admits the allegation involves sexual battery.  

 

Unlike the spitting incident, Tyler denies it ever occurred--well sort of.   According to the Times, Tyler denies he committed a sexual battery but then the student athlete issued an official talk out of both sides of your mouth non-denial denial:

"It would not be appropriate for me to comment while I await the result of the Student Affairs hearing except to say that I regret my actions, I have apologized to all parties and I have sought counseling both within and outside the university," Tyler said in a statement.

Wait Tyler my man--I thought nothing happened.  Why apologize if nothing happened?

This is the same lawyered up minimization and no comment line we got during the Sample-Garrett-Carroll days which were adjudicated by two NCAA panels to be awash in football/basketball/women's tennis corruption.  To complicate matters, the reaction of the crack sc police department to sexual battery to just turn it over to Student Affairs should be a red flag for any parent.  At sc, if your daughter  is molested by a football player--too bad--"Student Affairs" will be charged with getting to the bottom of it.   Further, to fail to take aggressive action under these circumstances puts southern cal at great risk to civil rights suits.   The "school" and its police department have duty to protect women against these sorts of insults. 

Finally, the southern cal lawyers which advise crack agencies like the public "safety" department and "Student Affairs" and "Judicial Affairs" are mired in a serious conflict of interest.  These are same phalanx of litigators that represent the football program and were active participants in stonewalling the NCAA.  Remember when Garrett and his lawyers would refuse to "comment" but then proceeded to posture with some self-serving comment.  Same thing here.  Tyler at first says it would be inappropriate to comment and then he explains he is so sorry and he is getting "counseling."  It is the same song and dance we watched during the Sample-Garrett-Carroll years.

The simple truth is nothing has changed on Figueroa since Haden took over.

Last add. The lad is presumed innocent until proven guilty.