If the late Al Davis were alive today, he’d feel vindicated and like he’s the world’s smartest person. The more it’s brought to our attention, the more fans learn the truth about Lane Kiffin, the second-year coach at USC, whose bizarre play calling and methods have smudged the Trojans’ national title aspirations.
With five losses this season, it’s hard to trust Kiffin, and his father, Monte, who is USC defensive coordinator. Whether they are athletic director Pat Haden’s guys or not, the Kiffins don’t deserve merit or applause for sabotaging the beauty of a prestigious and distinguished program that a multitude of Southern Californians marvel for its history of triumph, names and Heisman trophy winners. The Kiffins aren’t the centerpieces of the USC culture, just a step backwards, which could very well turn into a dilemma.
It was conceived that Lane and Monte are unfitted for demanding coaching jobs, a more notable and respected athletic program, where expectations are immense. The perception of the Trojans suddenly fading into the background is real, with no standards like before when USC used to be the powerhouses of college football, and weren’t vulnerable or substandard. Fact is, the Trojans are standing by someone who has proven he cannot coach an elite program, which is now on decline. This is something USC fans, students, faculty and alumni are not all too familiar with, but in the post-Carroll era, the Men of Troy are hurting without a first-rate coach who has an acute understanding on how to groom an attractive program inured to triumph and accumulating bowl titles.
Haden is absolutely serious about Kiffin returning next season. But what about your program, Haden? What about protecting the school, and not someone who had familiarity with the university under the tutelage of Pete Carroll from 2001-2006? What about keeping a winning team intact, and not caring so much about Kiffin’s recruiting brilliance, needing Ed Orgeron by his side to lure a top recruiting class?
Through it all, Haden assures Kiffin that he will return regardless of the Trojans (No. 18 BCS, No. 21 AP) finishing 7-5, after entering the season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll. For so long, the Trojans have been on top of the mountain. The tale of this storied program is something many would prefer not to tell when USC lost to Stanford, Arizona, Oregon and UCLA, three of those losses in the past month. Of course, no one ever saw this coming, since the Trojans were projected to contend for a national title, with all their talent, athleticism and depth. Unlike UCLA or Notre Dame, USC was devoid of Rose Bowl consideration, after an embarrassing loss to UCLA, which sent the Bruins to the Pac-12 title game Nov. 30.
The man who was hired to clean up the mess and purge all of the scummy violations is counting on Kiffin to change the culture and guide the Trojans to the promise land, failing to realize that he’s deflating just as fast as a football, quickly exposing himself to unfavorable judgment. The man who was brought on board to clean house is allowing Kiffin to demolish USC, and ride another season of hell and torture. The truth of the matter is, Haden is smarter than that, and should know better, who was once a Rhodes scholar and is a retired NFL quarterback. The bottom line is, Kiffin is a cheater and failure on so many levels.
In all seriousness, Kiffin wasn’t ever coaching material, although he worked in the shadows of one of the greats in NCAA history. And the longer he’s in Los Angeles, the faster the program will submerge under his watch. Bad as his past is, bad as his reputation is, Kiffin cannot be trusted, not anytime soon, not ever. If USC looks to move forward, they’ll have to divorce Kiffin and both parties would have to go their separate ways.
Until then, the Trojans won’t succeed with Kiffin on the sideline calling ill-advised plays and exploiting weird schemes, which gives him and his father bad names, as the vast majority are impatient and outraged hoping to run the Kiffins out of town. The most hated person in college football, undoubtedly, is easily Kiffin. From Knoxville to Los Angeles, Kiffin has encountered a tremendous amount of hatred and seems unwanted at every institution in the US of A. The spotlight placed on Lame Kiffin, the most scorned person at USC, is too much — and not once this season did Kiffin take responsibility for this team’s suffering, long suffering – to be exact.
He is not a hero in the sense of reviving a program, but a saboteur of some sort and a con artist whom we’d like to see disappear into the darkened clouds of his own allegations from the past, and never step foot on campus ever again. It’s utterly repugnant that he ignored NCAA rules at Tennessee, where Kiffin was cited by the NCAA for his involvement in coaches and student hostesses making improper contacts with recruits. For a long time, he was in people’s heads, beating and abusing the system, just what he had in mind. As a scumbag with no morals and no sense of integrity for the game, Kiffin violated the rules as if he was above the law, arrogant and reckless during the NCAA investigations, which led to another boneheaded action.
That was when he forayed into the Tennessee Titans and hired running backs coach Kennedy Pola as his offensive coordinator, without getting permission from Titans then-head coach Jeff Fisher. For much of his coaching career, Kiffin has been a sneaky, untrustworthy person who’s out to create mishap and play loose with the rules that enables him to behave impolitely and wrongly, which usually results in infractions. What we can take away from Kiffin’s arrogance and self-indulgence, along with his lack of awareness and concern about an institution, is the fact that he refuses to consult the rulebook and just go about it his way.
Kiffin, from the first day, was never the guy for USC when, in fact, he was hired by ex-athletic director, Mike Garrett, another former Trojan football legend, leaving USC in an absolute mess and tarnishing his legacy with a reputation as the worst sham in college athletics. The humiliating 22-13 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday night marked the first time since 1995 that the Trojans were swept by their rivals. So now there’s blame on Kiffin, which seems accurate with his play calling in critical situations.
The criticism of Kiffin is understandable, after failing to call timeouts after two runs were stopped in the Notre Dame game and after he didn’t signal for a timeout in a goal-line situation early in the game, which might’ve taken away a touchdown pass. Kiffin, who has more enemies than friends, is blamed for the Trojans disappointing season because of his dumb mistakes and clock management issues. This is something the Trojans don’t need, because the fall from grace has been horrendous, particularly when they could and should have beaten the unbeaten Irish Saturday.
While USC could have smeared No. 1 Notre Dame from playing for its first national championship in 24 years, the Irish celebrated on the field in Los Angeles and finally had bragging rights over USC, with the versatility of Everett Golson, championship-building guru Brian Kelly and senior linebacker Manti Te’o. The Trojans talent was unlimited, with Marqise Lee and Robert Woods of a lethal USC receiving core, along with Matt Barkley, who the Trojans missed on Saturday night. The injured quarterback was replaced by redshirt freshman Max Wittek, who had a solid debut. He completed 14 of 23 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions, but it certainly wasn’t good enough to end the Irish’s hopes.
And so the Trojans lacks leadership and have a lethargic, futile and flawed defense. But the bigger issue here is Kiffin, folks. It won’t get any better for USC, until Haden realizes that he’s essentially not made to be a coach. For his career, he is a staggering 37-32 as a head coach with the Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Volunteers and USC. It sounds like Kiffin can only beat unranked opponents, and loses to top-ranked opponents. That’s become his trait, and it’s a bad trait.
As long as Haden calls Kiffin his guy, well, then, expect the worst.
Showing posts with label Pat Haden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pat Haden. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Matt Barkley Knows Staying in School Is Cool for USC

Yet, even as we grow attach to Matt Barkley – chanting, simply pleading for him to return next season as a senior – we now realize that he’s not a mercenary but feels there is unfinished business. The prestigious football institution is widely appreciated and nurtures the welfare of pedigree, remarkable dynasties, idealism and great pride at USC that has a strong influence on many student-athletes.
Such was Barkley, a three-year starting quarterback and team captain who led USC to a 10-2 record this season. It’s the beginning to a new tale — more precisely, as Barkley announced Thursday that he will return for a final college season. It began, like any other nerve-racking announcement, with a brief news conference and then he made the announcement standing at the podium in front of a Christmas tree surrounded by six Heisman trophies.
The swarms of reporters packed Heritage Hall, and when he conveyed that he will forgo entering the NFL draft and return for his senior season, he was cheered by spectators and then serenaded by the school band. He’s like the god of the city – a humbled icon in a town that canonize college football, where the folks are deprived of a pro football franchise.
And when he announced that he’ll come back next season – and thus favorites to win the national championship – Barkley delivered an early Christmas present to every Trojans fan. He walked onto campus and into Heritage Hall wearing a smile on Thursday, well-groomed and proud to acknowledge that he’ll be back next season to possibly lead the Trojans to a BCS bowl game.
If nothing else, USC is certainly more exciting and in prime contention as one of the top football programs in the nation, after the Trojans were in the second year of a two-year postseason ban for NCAA violations from Reggie Bush accepting improper benefits.
What the program retained was an NFL-ready quarterback, as well as a collegiate star on a mission to finish on top for what has the makings of a legendary tale, especially if he leads USC in its first year off probation and direct the well-respected team into national triumph. It comes as no surprise that he returned for the gratitude of USC fans, and more than ever, to compete for the crystal football.
“I know in my heart I have not yet finished my journey as a Trojan football player,” Barkley said. “The 2012 team has some serious unfinished business to attend to and I intend to play in it.”
The letters started arriving early in the mail on most mornings. The letter of recommendations were mailed and delivered to his house for signs of encouragement to coax Barkley in verbally committing and attending a university that expressed the deepest interest in the most decorated high school football player in Orange County history during four seasons at quarterback for Mater Dei.
He waited for his dream to turn into reality, and indeed, mastered an ultimate goal with his signed letter of intent. The ink was drying slowly, his signature was glowing brightly and he had chosen to exemplify the recent installment of much promise at USC. Before his commitment to the university where he has excelled to the fullest, he had attended commencement at Mater Dei. His graduation tassel was proudly beside him.
Barkley recalled as he entered as a non-redshirt freshman – and he felt honor and delighted when he earned the nod to be No. 4 Southern California’s starting quarterback in his first game. Embraced as the nation’s most coveted high school prospect, he’d believe he had the intangibles and worked out on campus. Barkley, ladies and gentlemen, is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, and more importantly, has a chance to play for the championship. By now, it’s a clear explanation as to why he returned. And we now know that he turned down millions in NFL riches – for now, as he had been encouraged to go for money. But in the end, he stayed for pride and education.
The USC doors by all accounts were open and Barkley could have ventured to fulfill his lifelong dream in playing at the highest level. It’s good that he’s not money-hungry, all about fame and apparently not buying into the hype of being a top draftee in April. It’s good that he’s staying to fulfill his ambition on the collegiate level realizing top-dollars will be available next year, particularly if he can elevate his draft status next season.
Barkley, an unflappable kid and true leader poised for the moment, probably can lead USC to a national championship next season. The world is dominated with talk about Barkley, and now there’ll be plenty more Trojan Walks, in which he’ll stroll through a walkway of fans on his way to the Coliseum.
It’s exciting but he’s taking a risk by staying in school for another year, a dicey move if he sustains a career-threatening injury and devalues his chances in being picked as top player in the draft. While he’s not the first and only player to pass on an opportunity to turn pro, he’s at high risk of suffering a severe injury. He’s the most recent – and thus he’ll become the best quarterback arguably in the nation next season.
If he suffers an ailment, then he’d lower his draft status even with an unpredictable NFL draft class. There’s a strong chance the Southern California native and son of a former water polo star – a blonde with blue eyes, a devout Christian, can possibly win a 2012 national championship. There’s a strong chance he is a possible 2012 Heisman Trophy winner.

The most popular player, probably in the country now, is forever growing as a well-rounded athlete and has quarterbacked one of the highest-profile programs in the land. This is Hollywood, where so many athletic stars are treated like celebrities, in which they are in a sense, particularly Barkley.
He’s in a place of stars and where they blossom – he’s the star of a university and fits in perfectly with the crowd. Based on his blonde hair, white teeth and his emergence to stardom, he is one of the likable athletes in Southern California. It wasn’t long ago when a saddened Barkley called USC head coach Lane Kiffin to come to his house with his wife to meet him and his family to talk about his decision Wednesday evening.
So maybe it’s what came from everyone’s encouragement that helped Barkley make his choice, listening to all advice and now he’s staying. He asked Kiffin and USC athletic director Pat Haden for advice, making his decision a few days prior to the announcement.
It’s not easy turning down bundles of NFL money, but Barkley’s heart is with the Trojans and community, ready for his first and final opportunity – mind you – to lead USC to its first conference title and 12th national championship. Whether there is some good or bad to his decision, Barkley’s presence is felt and he can guide USC in one of the most historic moments in school history.
Ever thought?
“Our USC football team has been through some tough times, and we have preserved, but the 2012 team has some serious unfinished business to attend to, and I intend to play a part of it,” Barkley announced in his sentimental, eloquent speech. “So yes, I’ve firmly decided to forgo the NFL draft in 2012 and finish this exceptional and unique journey that I’ve had here at USC.”
This was even a proud moment for Kiffin, stepping onto the podium to share his kind words as the endless cheers and screams finally stopped. The point is, in what may have been his toughest decision ever, Barkley turned down high-draft pick money in guaranteed for an opportunity to fulfill his memorable journey at USC. Although a serious injury could permanently cripple the dream to play in the NFL and risk money, he’s on the verge of being regarded as one of the finest USC legends.
“I am prepared to play quarterback in the NFL, it is my dream to play quarterback in the NFL, and I intend to make that dream a reality,” Barkley said. “But I also know that I came to USC to compete and have a rare journey as a USC football player, earn a degree from this exceptional university and forge lifelong bonds with the Trojan family.”
The negative side is, he can turn out like former Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart. Years ago, he returned to school, lost the national title in a heartbreaking upset to Texas and lowered his draft stock, turning into an absolute bust.
For Barkley, this was a tough decision, very tough, a choice many student-athletes would not have chosen. This season, he threw for 3,528 yards, with 39 touchdown passes and just six interceptions.
“I love being a USC student-athlete, it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but I am not postponing my dream and objective of playing in the NFL for one year so that I can just have one more year of college life,” Barkley said. “I’m staying because I want to finish what I started … finish alongside the most dedicated and courageous teammates I could ever have, and know for a few short years, I dedicated myself fully to achieving all that I can as a USC football player.”
With the heavy expectations, Barkley told his coach he was staying by giving Kiffin a Christmas ornament and had him turn it over. It was his sweet way of saying he was staying for one more year. The back of the ornament read, “One more year.”
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Thursday, September 9, 2010
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.

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.
Labels:
Mike Garrett,
NCAA football,
Pat Haden,
Reggie Bush,
USC Trojans
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Lane Kiffin Welcomes in Sins at USC, But Overlooks Red Flags

Here in the origin of Southern California, a prestigious university is tattered in tremendous dysfunction and tainted with all the latest sanctions and scandals at USC. But it turns out Lane Kiffin is back in the news as horrid headlines surfaced of the scrutinized coach, hated for fleeing a program after recruiting nine prospects and committing allegedly six infractions at Tennessee.
If the pedigree at USC is embracing triumph, then the coveted program must regret ever hiring Kiffin, who has committed dreadful sins and selfishly walked out on Tennessee, departing Rocky Top and traveled to Hollywood. By reputation, however, he’s the most despised citizen in football, an outlandish collegiate coach encountering such litigation as the Tennessee Titans filed a lawsuit against a misbehaved buffoon.
If he endures in flirting with coaches and asking kids to skip out on class sessions to enroll at USC, the scandals and poison will stain a corrupted program. But it’s obvious that his frequent pattern of troubles is incurable, with his arrogance and self-indulgence to run a fraudulent business and rise above the law. In this predicament, though, he’s not enabled to avoid legal actions, or escape the bad karma of leaving a program in a maelstrom.
In all likelihood, the recent sins are a red flag of utter ruination among an elite program. As he arrived to USC with an unproven track record, he was hastily justified as the finest recruiter at a premium, but the Trojans desperately brought aboard Kiffin, blinded of his uncivil departure and immoralities.
Fourteen months spent at Tennessee, he failed to enlighten and lead a program in football’s best conference, and led the Volunteers to merely a 7-6 record with several infractions. Then lastly, he bailed out when a job opportunity opened at USC. It was a joke as the players he recruited meant nothing at Tennessee.
But it’s a hiring the Trojans will regret as his alleged infractions were archetypes of doom and torment, sauntering into a school with traditionally modest standards and pure accomplishments. For instance, he forayed into the Tennessee Titans, a franchise furious of his cowardice and arrogance in stealing an employee on the eve of training camp, and wrongly hired running backs coach Kennedy Pola as his offensive coordinator.
“I am very disappointed in Lane Kiffin’s approach to this,” coach Jeff Fisher told the Tennessean Saturday. “Typically speaking, when coaches are interested in hiring or discussing potential employment from coaches on respective staffs, there is a courtesy call made from the head coach or athletic director indicating there is interest in talking to an assistant.
“So I am very disappointed in the lack of professionalism on behalf of Lane, to call me and leave me a voice mail after Kennedy had informed me he had taken the job. It is just a lack of professionalism.”

All you need to know about Kiffin is that he’s a sham who really isn’t a recruiting expertise, but instead a phony and sordid moron. He indeed plays fast and loose with the rules and violates NCAA principles, which are prohibited or unnecessary.
It’s very abnormal that a lawsuit is filed against a coach, unless its Kiffin crucified and ridiculed for a Lane Violation of breaching the law and protocol regularly. This is the beginning of a controversy and the latest dirt at USC. Pathetically, he lied directly in the faces of trustees during his introduction at Heritage Hall and also pledged that he’d never commit immoralities months ago.
Consider it a red flag, folks.
The hyperbole of iniquities is that he cannot be trusted, and the unlawful attitude won’t cease, either. He’s not aiming for prosperity, but thriving as a way to beat the system and has been very unsuccessful. A few days removed from the university ousting all the dreadful sins of poisoning and tarnishing the etiquette of a school as well as the prestige, USC returned its replica of Reggie Bush’s Heisman trophy, getting rid of the images of a former star tailback.
Just recently, low-keyed, stolid athletic director Mike Garrett was dismissed and replaced with stern Pat Haden, who emphasizes spotless and compliant reversal. But as long as Kiffin is inhuman and tries acting intelligent in bamboozling the system, USC will endure a pattern of infamy and rebelliousness.
The oblivion eventually becomes a clearer understanding as to why the good people dislike Kiffin. First of all, the Titans are suing the fool and USC for “maliciously” hiring Pola, who left the Titans for Southern California, “inducement of breach of contract.”
Secondly, in his tenure at Tennessee, he was hired as the head coach of one of the most prestigious programs in collegiate football, but blew his reputation and had two players booted off the roster for an attempted armed robbery. And thirdly, the NCAA is still investigating whether the program used recruiting hostesses.
“We’re going to have a culture of compliance. We’re going to think about it in the morning, think about it before we go to bed,” Haden said. “We’re going to have issues, but we’ll fess up and be better than the way we have been. We have to do better. We don’t have any choices here. We stub our toe, there’s going to be some problems.”
The least proudest is entering president Max Niklas and begins officially on Aug. 3. But he elaborated on the ongoing burlesque in college football.
“USC, which experiences both the opportunities and challenges involved with a high-profile athletics program at a global hub, will seek to excel in the coming years in a manner that is consistent with the highest values of the academy…The Trojan family honors and respects the USC sporting careers of those persons whose actions did not compromise their athletic program or the opportunities of future USC student-athletes.”
When he previously finished 5-15 in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders, he failed miserably but wasn’t given a chance to predicate a proven capacity, and was accused of deceiving a sullied owner Al Davis, who referred to Kiffin as a “flat-out liar.” And months later, he literally finished with an identical track record and left the Vols in favor of USC.
The athletic director of Tennessee Mike Hamilton was unhappy of his departure, and fans were setting fires and vandalizing city property in the state incensed of his abandonment. The caveat of the recent obstacles is traces of a coaching job in uncertainty and would be jeopardized for all the misconducts, if USC evaluates Kiffin’s latest impurity.
“He is my coach, and I love my coach,” Haden said. “I don’t want to say we’re not going to have any issues. We will. We’re going to have guys whispering in our guys’ ears, but we’re going to do our best. I don’t think we’re going to have a problem with compliance with Lane. I think he knows where we’re coming from.”
Not when he’s committing sins, again. He impetuously stole Pola. So, he’s not an excellent recruiter after all, but a sham. When he was first hired by USC, I actually felt he blended in well as the Trojans head coach, but now he’s a regrettable hiring, one the university needs to carefully consider dismissing.
Labels:
Lane Kiffin,
NCAA football,
Pat Haden,
USC Trojans
Saturday, July 24, 2010
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.
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.
Labels:
Mike Garrett,
NCAA football,
Pat Haden,
Reggie Bush,
USC Trojans
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