Leave Reggie Bush Alone, Let Him Keep Heisman

For all the crazy corruption that has shamelessly obliterated a regal program, the most prominent athletic department in collegiate sports, Reggie Bush won’t give back his Heisman Trophy. In other words, the Heisman Trust must take it from him to confiscate the noble prize. This comes as no surprise, during a period when USC is mired in disarray and currently has been penalized with sanctions for infractions simply in relations to Bush’s ghastly scandal.


The university has no relevance with the former tailback and has removed traces of Bush, and sadly believes he’s accountable for the school’s severe punishment. In the end of a three-year investigation, the ugliest scandal publicly turned into a crisis and USC returned the replica of Bush’s award, as the school no longer had the desire endorsing the former star. His infamous sins, without a doubt, embarrassed the university, particularly when the NCAA delivered a two-year postseason ban, four years’ probation, loss of scholarships and forfeits of games for improper benefits.

As if all of this isn’t why Pete Carroll hurried and fled the storied program, the notion now is that he abandoned USC, realizing the circumstances and welfare of handling distasteful plights. In other words, he hightailed to avoid all the tension and any setbacks circling at USC. This story is epically draining and sickening in a way, as our nation derides a famous running back in the history of USC. Surely, the dreaded fallacies ruined its image.

But in fairness, it’s amiss to place all the blame on Bush, now a scapegoat in the midst of a rotten controversy that either has the nation furious or satisfied with the latest hearsay of Bush likely losing the Heisman. What mostly bothers me is that everyone is pointing the finger at Bush. And according to Yahoo Sports, reports are speculating that the Trust is expected to take the honorable prize away from a singular athlete whose exploits were valuable and efficacious to USC’s achievements in the past. The conspiracy surrounding Bush is disgraceful and awful for college athletics, but even more so, it is shameful and horrible for USC.

Hardly ever does an adorable school accept guilt or admit to wrongdoings, but in this instance the university seemed uncaring and said they were unaware of the sins that materialized. All along, from the seam of things, Garrett had a suspicion Bush had accepted cash and benefits as the institution fostered to traditionally excel in a spotless culture, until hideous infractions ruined the beauty of a well-respected university.

All along, Garrett was careless of fixing a troubled environment and refused to address the suspicious chaos. Next thing, all of this cast severe destruction and labeled the Trojans as a fraud, to sadly cripple a beautiful image. Rest assured that his arrogance, derelict personality and the lack of responsibility spelled doom. That said, it has launched a cleaning process to restore some faith in a downcast culture. And still, you are faulting the man with the stiffed-arm statue. Right now, the Trojans are pledging compliance, and perhaps waited too late to crack down on a reckless disaster, finally realizing the consequences involved for violating NCAA rules.

This time, with the sanctions leaving an admirable school in tatters for pathetically allowing too much unlawfulness and influential depravity to manipulate the minds of student athletes, the new president Max Nikias, and Pat Haden, the successor of the negligent Garrett, are cleaning up the dirtiest program and have encountered burdens by taking stern actions. The negligence and self-indulgence of Garrett forced an elite program to intensely deteriorate. There are no longer any invaluable images of Bush inside Heritage Hall, still disappointed with the outcome after the investigation surfaced that he really received improprieties. If the Football Writers Association of America vacated USC’s 2004 championship, and the BCS is prepared to vacate it as well, then does it make it acceptable for Bush to return his trophy?

Not necessarily.

How will this one end, I wonder?

All of which, the Trust has every excuse to seize the trophy. If so, runner-up Vince Young won’t be given the noble prize, even if Texas’ coach Mack Brown has considerably lobbied for his former quarterback to be honored with the 2005 award. But the truth is, Bush was one hell of a player whose stardom emerged and work ethic showed weekly. On the contrary, he broke the rules and never confessed to the truth. If he was truthfully and never sugarcoated the actual facts, maybe he wouldn’t be belittled by cynics and critics. This is a good reason to take it right?

Not a chance.

Go ahead, take his Heisman. But in the meantime, the folks should consider stripping Mike Garrett, too. It was arrogance and unawareness that ended a miserable tenure, blinded strongly by the insidious mess. He allowed slimy agents to tarnish an illustrious program, while Bush accepted improprieties from a wannabe agent. It was wrong to take cash and extra benefits from third parties that has erroneously created a nightmare at USC and ruined what could have been a meaningful season for mostly the deep and talented Trojans, who entered the year with an us-against-the-world mentality.


How mind-blowing college football is singling out Bush. How fascinating that he’s liable amid the scandal. It’s essentially irresponsible of reports to release that the Trust is planning to strip Bush when there hasn’t been enough reports unmasking accurate details. It’s an absolute disgrace to make Bush the epicenter, while the trustees and college football wrongly condones the university as the innocent ones with all the turmoil shattering much aspiration for a school once invincible.

But nowadays, Southern California is just as guilty and liable as Bush.

Meanwhile, it would be interesting to see how the Trust handles the ongoing issue, since it seems as if they are becoming enforcers more than enablers. Faced with ultimate shame, he denied any wrongdoing and still has claimed innocence to this day. Whether he’s trying to protect his image or the university’s image, Bush is making matters worse. But either way, he shouldn’t lose his Heisman and the Trust shouldn’t expunge it.

Not long ago, he met with the Heisman executives during an investigation. In his defense, he hasn’t been very cooperative, but very narrow-minded and defensive to the point where it’s difficult to believe anything.

What has happened lately is that obstinacy could cost him his Heisman. He could have been nice enough and confessed, but nothing is sincere if he continuously denies all wrongdoing.

As for Bush, he’s very delusional and ashamed by all the malfeasance. Of course, it isn’t his entire fault. However, it seems like that because of his inability to come clean. But his partners in crime are just as guilty, which is why Carroll fled and Garrett stepped down. For that, he has lost dignity and has been tarnished since infractions left a grotesque reflection on USC.

As much as Carroll and Garrett denied the violations in front of investigators, with all glaring evidence that Bush pocketed an estimate of $300,000 and moved his family into a $757,000 house during his playing days at USC, clearly we all know it happened. But to see a player stripped of the Heisman is unprecedented, and this is very unusual. What is amazing is that no one is stripping 1968 Heisman winner O.J. Simpson. The sad thing is, he is serving a 33-year prison sentence and was acquitted on double-murder charges, but he’s permitted to keep the award.

For all the tableau of legends, he is the one who committed the most horrendous crime?

In short, Bush is owed credit for offering a remorseful apology to Haden and the university. And most of all, he deserves to keep his award.

What harm is that?

If the Heisman Trust is formulating an agenda, a modern standard to minimize the dishonesty in college sports, it would be reprehensible to take it from Bush. If the Trust is concerned with good character, well then encourage the NCAA to fix an unsound system. And unfortunately, the fingers are pointed at Bush and he now levies a punishment if he is deprived of the trophy.

Because of all the devastation and public humiliation, it’s still unfair to strip the scrutinized running back. But momentarily, the Heisman Trust has denied any possibility of taking Bush’s 2005 award bestowed to the potent rusher when he had a highlighted season with 1,740 yards and 16 touchdowns and contributed in Southern California’s rush attack with his explosiveness and brilliant footwork.

If there’s one thing certain at a time a fraudulent system and hypocrisy ruptures a disingenuous sport, he’s not the biggest criminal although he received cash and benefits from a sleazy agent. Earlier this week, Heisman Trophy Trust executive director Robert Whalen told the Associated Press that a decision hasn’t been made, which means we are worried about the unknown, something that is out of our control.

Go ahead, take his Heisman.

But this isn’t fair punishment, just unfair treatment.

Reggie Bush Void of Heisman Because of Greed: Prestige Dwindles at USC

Somewhere this week, a gifted running back is dropping his head in shame. With all the sanctions tarnishing USC a once-prestigious atmosphere for exquisite athleticism and higher education is now defaced of self-destruction and embarrassment because of arrogance and indulgence.

But with all the turmoil poisoning a regal university, casting gloom over the spacious campus, it’s elementary to believe USC priorities were glitches as the school alleged it had no awareness of the hypocrisy tainting the program.

However, the essential dismantling of collegiate sports is the manipulation of slimy agents and has emerged as the vernacular in the realm of the NCAA, sadly demolishing spirit and placing ignominy within an elite program.

It’s the ugliest fallout ever, a disgraceful and awful terminal, ousting a historic mark and a noteworthy era where the Trojans relentlessly prevailed each weekend and, as a result, won national titles and were advertised as powerhouses.


But now, the crystal ball trophies are profoundly dirty and blemished with the corruption of Reggie Bush, the star tailback whose attainments bolstered the Trojans to two national titles, while winning a bronze, stiff-armed statue for himself.

If ever there were a time to take accountability and cautionary actions, it would have been a long time ago, but the severe punishment was announced that Southern California was returning its replica of the 2005 Heisman Trophy.

The latest sanctions and annihilation, hazed under farce with four-year probation, postseason forfeits, and now the loss of one’s Heisman award, is the parody of stigma at a program that toyed with academics and the standards of education.

But it’s very mind-blowing and preposterous that the trustees aren’t accountable and somehow weren’t aware of Bush accepting $300,000, or his parents moving from an apartment to a wealthier house when sordid agents offered costless housing. All while attending USC as a "student" athlete, not a professional athlete, Bush was young and mindless.

But around the nation, of course, he’s accused as a disgraceful fraud, and he’s responsible for all the harsh sanctions. With all his achievements, nonetheless, he was unaware of what the sleazy businessmen presented and lavished to him, just as predecessor Mike Garrett had no knowledge whatsoever. The arrogance and forbearance of former athletic director stained legitimacy and a symbolic brand of traditional accomplishments.

So, as anticipated, he was booted and Pat Haden was hired to revamp a treacherous program for which rising stars are becoming fallen stars. The new president of USC Max Nikias is demanding strong character and a spotless image, ready to escape the wicked era of NCAA penalties that toppled a storied program.

The ramifications of fraud were clear, but instead Garrett was in denial and failed to take stricter measures by setting barriers for a disoriented atmosphere.

Doing so, he installed further embarrassment and inconvenience for mishandling the burlesque scandals that better defined a tainted program, battered in a national holocaust of committing infractions and making a mockery of academia.

But the successor of Garrett is handed a tougher task by playing the role of an enforcer to avoid compliance and investigations after amplifying deeply in an athletic department, suffocating under the latest sanctions and with the lack of perspicacity.

In fairness, the Heisman Trust must vacate Garrett’s trophy, too. In his tenure as the overseer of USC athletics, he allowed too much immunity and lacked knowledge. The reality of a dreadful ordeal is that he was too damn apathetic and ruined his credibility within a masterful program harmed with asterisks.

Meanwhile, Bush should be showing remorse instead of denying the truth, secretively refusing to utter the honest evidence of wrongdoing.


He’s obviously guilty of taking money and accepting improprieties, but he’s unwilling to release the truth, arrogantly endangering his wondrous legacy and respectability. It’s very unfair that the entire university is punished and liable of someone else’s wrongdoing, suffering severe penalties for a star athlete who no longer attends USC and a careless athletic director who was recently banished in a significant role.

Five years later, Bush is stripped of the Heisman for obviously taking counterfeit money and having a greedy, arrogant, self-absorbed modus. It doesn’t take long before an innocent paragon becomes the evilest enemy at an illustrious university where he represented a high-powered offense, if not only in the Pac-10, in college football, as one of the singular tailbacks in Trojans history.

Maybe it was appropriate to void his Heisman, in many ways, to avoid any nonsense of athletes bonding with manipulative agents or accepting benefits and gifts. At first, when reports surfaced of his relationship and the alleged infractions, he said that he had no involvement and the accusations were false.

He lied.

That was a common perception of Bush refusing to confess in violating the NCAA rule, which prohibits the acceptance of benefits and improprieties. He crippled his description as the best, most explosive running back in USC history, he ruined believability, and lastly, he ravaged the Trojans, who now have to live and suffer with disgrace as winning national titles are out of the equation.

Surely, he was a national attraction and was highly targeted by agents with the exceptional talent he exposed regularly on the field. The hierarchy of the top running back at USC does not exist, and he’s a forgotten Trojan even when he inflated revenue in advertisements, ticket sales, scholarship funding, and team apparel.

Between a defiant Garrett, whose reign ended so miserably and embarrassingly, and Bush’s greed and unbearable stance in a despicable situation, USC badly plunges and attenuates as a relentless program. By the time Haden arrived, it felt like he transformed the culture instantly, as no one miss the incompetence of Garnett, who left a program in bedlam and nearly on life-support until Haden’s presence revived promise.

It’s very unfortunate that Bush’s spectacular season in 2005 is forgotten. In the aftermath of sanctions and infractions, he brought it on himself.

NCAA Waited Late to Crack Down on Hypocrisy, Conspiracy

If there is any ultimate hypocrisy denting collegiate sports, it’s because of the apathy and recklessness of the NCAA.

The same committee that allowed much to poison the prestigious image of college football wasn’t historically stern enough to investigate a repulsive, ongoing scandal.

Before the recent revelations of wannabe or legit sports agents lavishing student-athletes with a wealthier style of living, the NCAA was deceived and publicly embarrassed when dishonest college stars were duplicitous and extorted the indulgent system.

But suddenly, the NCAA is imposing severe sanctions for any wrongdoings and infractions, tarnishing the reputation of collegiate sports and grasping a sense that athletes have had relationships with corrupted agents.

The brand of the NCAA is scams and shams as numerous schools make a mockery of academia, disrespecting the tenor and significance of education.

By now, trustees and the committees are discerned of the average student-athletes’ wishes, unlike decades ago when education represented higher value, rather than lifting to unimaginable heights at the pro level.


But now that we live in the modern age of athletics and reside in a country where the average kid dreams of blossoming as the next acclaimed superstar, it’s realistic to assume kids aren’t attending school to establish a profession as a doctor, lawyer, or even a sports writer.

As of recently, the dark and gloomy times indeed reduces the aspects of purity and rectitude.

But more than anything, schools aren’t getting involved in the unscrupulous infractions that have created dreaded woes and expunged believability.

Four schools are under investigation for agent-related incidents and apparently, it is only the beginning of an ugly ordeal that maligns the integrity and ignores the magnitude of amateur refinement.

There’s a nightmare brewing in the SEC with the issue of incongruities and hypocrisy as the NCAA is conducting investigations in the Southeastern Conference, aiming to drag down the high-powered and superior conference.

If there are top prospects committing to high-caliber universities and older adults are capable of influencing the minds of college athletes, it’s very unlikely to jettison the scandals.

But the NCAA waited too late in cracking down on sleazy agents and allowed matters to turn worse. The probing of Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina are warning signs of infringement and the epitome of ignorance and unawareness within an association in denial.

Years ago, the NCAA never reacted to agents or addressed the countless violations destroying a school’s pride and respectability.

Years ago, the so-called business advisers approached campuses and athletes, awarding uneducated and unprofessional athletes with unlawful gifts and cash. It’s been a fraudulent industry and rarely were the Infraction Committees proactive in probing misleading agents, labeling collegiate sports as a disingenuous business.

Because agents are the sphere of college sports, as are athletic directors for permitting immunity and having no awareness in what strangers are introducing to their student-athletes, it’s disturbing to know that frauds and lies still exist in college sports, looming as the dirtiest crisis in the NCAA.

Greater than coaches recruiting over the phone, overworking players in practice, or hiring hostesses as a way to coax prospects into committing with the program, the NCAA mismanaged conspiracies and negated the poison of a tattered Tank Black—the former sports agent who donated payments to several Florida players.

But eventually he was charged with federal conspiracy and sentenced to seven years in prison. What’s staggering is that the NCAA refused to investigate Black and had access to public records of his payments.

That year, the Gators won the national title with the deepest and most talented team in the nation, but considering that Black had a meaningful relationship with Florida, ultimately the finest program in the nation wasn’t legit and had tarnished because of the misdeeds.

With all the dismal scandals, the NCAA is finally taking action and helping fortify its own cause for monitoring faulty agents, eroding an industry that profits on high-powered talent, rituals and images.

If ever there were a time to dismiss college football, it would be a good time now, with all the latest destruction at USC.


It used to be the most prestigious university before turning into the most poisonous University for violating NCAA rules, deciding to return its replica of Reggie Bush's Heisman trophy and withdraw from all the achievements of Bush and O.J. Mayo.

It took NCAA investigators three years to probe a malicious scandal at USC, accusing the star running back of unlawful deeds. Bush obtained $300,000 from two wannabe agents during his prosperous career with the Trojans, and his parents were given a $757,000 house.

As a way of punishing Bush for embarrassing the program and violating rules, he will be remembered as a forgotten Trojan.

It’s hardly fair to crack down on two players and insult a pair of prolific stars who aren’t fully accountable for the Trojans infractions.

If the administrators weren’t aware, obviously Bush or Mayo weren’t aware of the scandals becoming a trend and casting facades in college football.

Ravaged by shame, Athletic Director Mike Garrett was dismissed of overseeing the ruptured department at USC on Tuesday.

The mental state of the Trojans is anything but flawless, and punishing Garrett is a severe lesson as Southern California is essentially trying to remove the indulgence and apathy in their program. His cockiness and stubbornness impaired a well-respected program, as did Pete Carroll, who is in denial and arrogantly denies the violations as well as the sanctions.

Maybe he fled Southern California for Seattle because of the sanctions. Above all, they are on four-year probation, losing recruits and stripped of a Heisman. All of this ruins the opportunities of grabbing the top prospects in the country.

But now, the affliction resides allegedly at the Swamp and Alabama. Mostly at SEC Media day, all the talk circulated the muck agents, a nightmarish situation that threatens a program withheld of accusations.

Mike Slive, commissioner of the SEC, vented on the ongoing obstacles and requested for “national strategy” and “education not enforcement.”


If there was one irate coach harshly ripping agents, it was Alabama’s Nick Saban during the press conference on Wednesday, once Marcel Dareus of the Crimson Tide was reportedly announced ineligible after the university compliance officials investigated his involvement with agents.

It certainly doesn’t mean he’s an asterisk or a criminal, until proven guilty. And even if he’s accused of violating rules, then accuse the agent of influencing the minds of young and inexperienced athletes.

There are accusations pending against Maurkice Pouncey, but the ex-Florida star denies ever accepting $100,000 from the representation of a sordid agent at the Southeastern Conference title game and the Sugar Bowl last season.

“I did not accept $100,000, it is an absolutely ridiculous claim. I have completely cooperated with the investigation and answered any and all questions put to me,” Pouncey said in a statement released by his attorney, M. Stephen Stanfield.


Recently, he met with Urban Meyer and Athletic Director Jeremy Foley, and told them he’s innocent and never had a relationship or any connections with agents.

“He never lied to me before,” Meyer said.

Isn’t that what we all want to believe?

As much as the nation admires college football, the investigations involving agent-related inquiries are upsetting and absurd, nauseating our stomachs and disappointing our consciousness as North and South Carolina's programs were announced last week to be part of the NCAA investigation.

This isn’t a coincidence or an illusion, but an omen of corruption—something that should have been discovered and handled a long time ago.

Without Needing Time to Think, It's Time USC Fires Mike Garrett

Whenever USC trustees do an entire town a favor that immerses in the most famous football program in a region where supporters are devoid of a non-professional football franchise, mend respectability of tarnishing and remove the toxic stains turning an illustrious institution into a toxic wasteland and dismiss athletic director Mike Garrett, the Trojans will avoid sanctions for being deceitful criminals of violating NCAA rules.

Apparently, the mood at the spacious and amiable campus located off of Figueroa Ave, is perturbed and overwrought after hearing the latest penalties imposed on an athletic program.

The program remains known for triumphant feats and producing Heisman trophy winners. Now, the unbraced university is known for committing infractions, portrayed as dirty and duplicitous sleazes following a significant NCAA investigation amid unspecified scandals that unveiled the truth.

From Heritage Hall, to the tallness of the Tommy Trojan bronze statue, to Doheny Library, all the students and average fanatics are raving over the unpleasant sins, suffocating and devaluing the recruiting classes of the future at Southern California University.

Battered with much tainted perceptions and harsh penalties, the prominent university is delayed from winning another crystal ball or even smelling roses in an annual appearance at the Rose Bowl.

There were legions of mischievous and deceptive frauds to blame and point fingers because of the infringements in violating NCAA rules.

For years, investigators have probed a troubling dilemma that has ruined the integrity and purity of collegiate sports, but the most noticeable scandals existed at USC, a famous university now buffeted notoriously for wrongdoings and declining to follow traditional principles.

The chronicles and headlines no longer address winning or recruiting the best high school prospect, enveloped by former tailback Reggie Bush, then-basketball phenom O.J. Mayo and coach Tim Floyd, the pseudo who fled the program when pending accusations transpired and were a messy burden.

This is a college football team, with a numerous of scapegoats. This is a college football team, with tainted corruption and will be labeled as an asterisk, forgetting all the championship wins it has compiled over the years with the top quarterbacks and running backs in the nation.

Because of arrogance and recklessness, the Trojans went from the most powerful program to the most powerless program, without having the last word.

All the foolish sins caused ruination within collegiate sports greatest dynasty, and smudged the memories of sheer greatness and exultation. Few want to believe that it’s Bush’s fault when the NCAA learned he had accepted and was lavished with improper gifts and cash from two phony agents.

There are others who want to believe that Floyd is the goon to blame amid a crisis for which he vanished to relieve headaches.

Remember, he allegedly bestowed $1,000 in cash transactions to Rodney Guillory, an event promoter who acted as an agent to Mayo and represented him unlawfully.

Remember, USC self-sanctioned its basketball program for infractions that happened before Mayo’s one-and-done season with the Trojans and Floyd attended the infractions committee hearing. However, he still isn’t the one to blame for USC’s impaired gloom, costing the bleak program a two-year postseason ban and a loss of 30 football scholarships during four-year probation.

Of all the violations, the man to blame isn’t Bush, who played an important role in the Trojans momentous dynasty.

Of all the turmoil, the man to blame isn’t Mayo, but instead he should be credited for reforming an impoverished basketball program in a season he almost led the Trojans to the Elite Eight.

Of all the foolishness, the man to blame isn’t Floyd, even though his arrogance and egotistic morals sabotaged the emergence of the basketball powerhouses in the Pac-10.


But recently, with all the conspiracy the one to deem as a liable and egocentric imbecile is Garrett, a permissive overseer who should have been fired long ago, inexplicably smearing his credibility for the unnecessary sanctions.

He certainly has unhinged his legacy as well as rupturing the legacy of Pete Carroll, a triumphant architect and most winning coach.

There was too much latitude allowed and he was unaware with the unlawful troubles that deflowered mystique and the beauty of purity and believability in one of the commendable programs.

Before he filled in the vacancy as Seattle Seahawks head coach last winter, Carroll acknowledged that his intentions weren’t to elude USC for the scandals.

It’s difficult to believe now that the Trojans must vacate every win between December 2004 and the end of the 2005 season. All of which he was the focal point in the majority of the national titles and wins during his nine-year tenure.

It’s very telling that the most dynamic football university in the nation possibly will be the first school forced to forfeit a championship after the Bowl Championship Series. By viewing this situation, the Trojans are doing whatever it could to downplay further humiliation after USC reprehensibly lost two seasons and scholarships, which wreaks the stability of luring student athletes.

To some extent, it’s an insult to Southern California’s academia and athleticism, but a severe punishment that sends a message and a reality check.

Maybe it sent a reality check to the administrators that it’s time to get rid of a helpless Garrett and hire someone else who’ll be willing to purge the poisonous devastation in the aftermath.

The NCAA held the Trojans hostage as President Steven Sample, Carroll and running back coach Todd McNair and school attorneys and compliance officials eagerly waited since meeting months ago of the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

And finally, it was unveiled that the ruling was unpleasant and destructive enough to hinder the Trojans of dominating the turf on Saturdays.

This is a scandal that obviously gave us an advisable description, knowingly understanding that USC is oblivious and pompous.

For nearly an entire decade, the entire university was highly regarded as the top football program in the nation, constituting an exulted culture with top-notch prospects that verbally committed and forged signatures within a school that had the greatest memories in sports by garnering two national titles, three Heisman winners and seven consecutive Pac-10 titles.

But it’s a shame that none of the indelible moments in school history will last after a player was paid off and a coach was hired by the name of Lane Kiffin, who selfishly left a program in shambles for committing allegedly six infractions.

It’s really a troubling situation when Garrett doesn’t have the audacity to maneuver his program. It’s really sad that he has been manipulated and badly deceived, without setting stricter boundaries to taper all the madness, causing a heinous disaster.

There’s one thing certain about USC. They won’t Fight On, unless the administration waves farewell to a man who destroyed the pride and character of the mighty warriors. His arrogance and indifference has damaged the culture and the apparent symbol of Trojans football.

If Garrett isn’t dismissed, then there’s no fight in Troy.

Lane Kiffin Makes a Perfect Blend at USC, Despite Immoralities

If there is sensibility under the dim lights in Hollywood, the latest arrival of Lane Kiffin might be an antidote to abandon the ugly mess. Most are aware that a toxic wasteland has polluted the coolest and popular atmosphere in Los Angeles, with outrageous scandals diagnosing the uncertainty for an impaired program.

At USC, pending investigations are currently putting a freeze on a multitude of potential recruits, forcing the former coaching staff to flee the monstrous havoc. That’s not the case for Kiffin, who promptly came to the Trojans’ rescue, expected to be named the next head coach of USC. He is, the new football coach, reducing tears and generating smiles as Pete Carroll’s successor after the Trojans former coach left for the airport a day ago to prepare for an NFL coaching job.


Kiffin is the main attraction returning to the West Coast and departing from the South to attain employment in Southern California, an environment where he is used to the warm receptions, the traditional melody of the “Fight On” anthem. He worked under Carroll for six years, studying and mastering the formation and integral methods to football.

Never mind the horrific downfall at Tennessee, a program that gave Kiffin a shot to strengthen an impotent school after a divorce badly ended with the Oakland Raiders, during a brief assignment in the NFL.

Put aside the alleged NCAA violations, even though he’s still being probed for committing six infractions. Forget about the alleged female recruiting hostesses that the New York Times investigated and acknowledged that women visited prospects in North Carolina.

There are populace believing he’s not suitable to coach a program with a quantity of issues. USC cannot allow more sanctions to ruin credibility, arguably at the most respected program at least before the preface of scandals became ugly. If he committed minor crimes at Tennessee, the latest slip ups are hard to elude and makes it hard for Kiffin to convince that he has grown and past the rogue stages of his flowering coaching career.

In two-plus seasons, Kiffin’s 12-21 record isn’t flawless or something to rave heavily on. The demoralizing 37-14 loss to Virginia Tech wasn’t impressive in his first season as a college football head coach, especially when Kiffin hasn’t had much without his former boss Carroll. He leaves Rocky Top for a Hollywood makeover, given the privilege to take on a steeper role and excel as an acute successor.


Fourteen months in Knoxville, his reputation teetered for acting childish and blubbering with SEC coaches. He had a verbal confrontation with Florida coach Urban Meyer, when he accused him of illegal recruiting. And ever since losing to its archrivals, Kiffin was described as the laughingstock of the SEC, the little kid who wasn’t sure of how to manage a program alongside the old timers.

All over the nation, he was derided for all the foolish nonsense. Losing control of a disoriented team, three of his freshman players were arrested and charged with armed robbery. In an attempt to revamp a program of unforeseen failures, he’s a great suit for the program.


Lots has to do with Kiffin’s fiery attitude, bringing intensity and is powerful in luring top prospects. His ability to persuade goes a long ways, even though much of his crafty exertion appears impractical for the alleged conspiracies.

Bringing aboard Kiffin to a program when times aren’t suitable, the polarizing athletic director Mike Garrett isn’t terrified of a regal athletic department degenerating. Nor should the average Trojans fan.

If they are brave enough to understand and trust in Kiffin, very well he could be the next greatest head coach after he observed and listened to Carroll. One ghastly season isn’t enough proof to say whether he’s a joke as a head coach.

In Oakland, under an ill-tempered owner All Davis, he wasn’t given enough time to transform a pessimistic franchise. Same goes for the year spent in Knoxville, where simplicity and inexperienced underlined first impressions.

The headaches have yet to expire, and probing still persists whether former running back and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush allegedly was lavished with improper gifts and benefits by two businessmen who shouldn’t had been allowed to influence student-athletes.

And suddenly, prolific running back Joe McKnight is hightailing, trying to escape a sanction that he’s being held liable for. He has decided to expand on a promising future, and will declare for the NFL Draft as well as receiver Damian Williams.

However, the disturbing headline these days revolves around McKnight, who is being investigated for driving a Land Rover registered in the name of a businessman who has a website called www.4joemcknight.com.

The Trojans aren’t in bad shape able to rebuild around a sensational quarterback Matt Barkley, who has the potential and talent to lead the Pac-10 in statistics. Just a day ago, Matt’s father said he’s expected to return for his sophomore season.

It isn’t such a bad suggestion to rebound under the 34-year-old Kiffin, either. Bringing a reliable staff he has instituted, a workable nucleus that could present problems for the emergence of Oregon and Stanford.

While grudges are shown toward Kiffin, he’s bringing a crafty staff along, which makes the Trojans favorable. Monte, his father and defensive coordinator, and Ed Orgeron as his recruiting coordinator will travel to Los Angeles. And to top things, Norm Chow may revisit the Trojans as offensive coordinator.

With seemingly a lot of questions, the players are satisfied by the replacement. Kiffin could be mistaken as a student, but the players already have tremendous respect. Barkley and running back Marc Taylor calls it the perfect replacement for Carroll. And Garrett issued a statement, elated of the greatest gift since Carroll accepted the job last decade.

“Lane brings a lot to the table,” Garrett said. “He has a coaching background both in the pros and in the best collegiate conferences. He has a great command of the X’s and O’s. He is familiar with the Trojan landscape and will be a great representative of our university. He keeps the game fun. And, very importantly, he has proven to be one of the finest recruiters anywhere.”

Having familiarity is the key to building upon success, a brilliant recruiting coordinator, a father who has great knowledge of defensive methods to fight on. We’ll see if this measures up to multiple national titles.

But according to my senses, the Trojans will hoist the crystal football.