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capitalcity · 04-29-2006, 09:47 AM

Carroll really has/had some great guys on the payroll...

Winston Justice - solicitation of prostitution, (pellet) gun charges
LenDale White - positive drug test, questionable work ethic
Reggie Bush - agentgate, questions abound
Matt Leinhart - NCAA rules violations, ruled ineligible then reinstated for Rose Bowl

Now this...

A program in turmoil
Sanchez arrest latest in a litany of troubles at USC
Posted: Friday April 28, 2006 1:27PM; Updated: Friday April 28, 2006 6:17PM

The scene, as it was described in published reports late Wednesday, read like something out of a Law and Order script: LAPD cars descending on the parking lot of an apartment complex across the street from the USC campus, there to arrest a young man accused of committing sexual assault.

For followers of the prestigious Trojans football program, the identity of the alleged culprit was nothing short of shocking: Mark Sanchez, USC's affable, curly-haired, golden-boy quarterback long ago hailed as the next Matt Leinart.

Less than three weeks earlier, the redshirt freshman was basking in the glory of an impressive performance in his first USC spring game. (He started in place of injured junior John David Booty.) On Wednesday afternoon he was being led away in handcuffs to a downtown detention center where he submitted DNA and hair samples, according to the Los Angeles Daily News, and was released early Thursday after posting a $200,000 bail, according to the Los Angles Times.

For Trojans fans, the disturbing news comes as something of a double whammy, fresh on the heels of a mini-scandal involving 2005 Heisman winner Reggie Bush. But there's a big difference. While the Bush saga has received national attention due to his status as the likely No. 1 pick in this weekend's draft, the story isn't nearly as salacious as it's been presented. As best as one can surmise from the details available, an aspiring sports marketer leased a house in San Diego to Bush's parents in hopes of landing Bush as a client. He failed and is now going public with the dirty details. Bush and his family have denied any wrongdoing. This wasn't Leigh Steinberg or Drew Rosenhaus giving out $100 handshakes in the USC locker room.

A star quarterback arrested on the suspicion of sexual assault, on the other hand, that's the story that should be sending shivers through the USC community.

In the name of fairness, let it be stated clearly and unambiguously that Sanchez has not been charged with a crime. Sanchez has been accused of sexual assault by a female student and is scheduled to appear before a judge on May 17, but police investigators are still in the very early stages of gathering evidence. (Sanchez hasn't publicly commented on the charges.) All we know from published reports is that the quarterback returned from a popular night club near campus early Wednesday morning, appearing intoxicated, according to witnesses, and that the alleged assault occurred sometime shortly thereafter.

No matter what did or didn't occur, however, the stain on both Sanchez and the USC program has already set. In light of the national uproar surrounding the Duke lacrosse scandal, Sanchez's name will undoubtedly be linked to that story in coming weeks by academics and pundits looking to espouse on the ills of big-time college athletics.

More pertinent to Sanchez's case, however, are some legitimate questions about Pete Carroll's program, questions that have been simmering under the surface for quite some time but, due to the hysteria surrounding the Trojans' quest for a third straight national title last season, were for the most part ignored.

First and foremost, does USC's widely revered head coach run too loose a ship?

While no reasonable person believes college athletes can be closely watched around the clock, the reality is that head coaches are ultimately held responsible for their players' actions. Ohio State's Jim Tressel was crucified a couple of years ago when the Buckeyes had an unusually high string of off-field transgressions. Florida State's Bobby Bowden has been answering questions for years about the often unflattering perception of his program.

Carroll, on the other hand, has remained largely unscathed despite an ever-growing litany of incidents. In 2004, police investigated a sexual assault case involving tailback Hershel Dennis. He was never charged. Tackle Winston Justice was suspended from school for a year following his arrest for brandishing a replica firearm at a student (he received three years probation). Cornerback Eric Wright, who has since transferred to UNLV, was charged with sexual assault last year (the charges were later dropped) and was suspended from school because police found 136 ecstasy pills in his apartment. And linebacker Rey Maualuga was arrested for allegedly punching a student at a Halloween party last year (no charges were filed).

Sadly, player arrests are not unusual in big time college football. What is unusual is Carroll's response to these incidents: There usually isn't one. While known for his candor with reporters when discussing most other topics -- like why he loves USC, why the Trojans are so good, and how many blue-chip recruits are lining up to play for them -- Carroll has always been notably evasive, if not downright defensive, when it comes to the subject of player discipline. His reaction to Sanchez's arrest was to issue a brief statement saying the university would handle the matter.

Carroll is an NFL guy running an NFL-style program, and part of that means a 24/7 focus on football. You don't hear many soliloquies from him about "preparing young men for life" like you do from more old-school college coaches. Whether that's actually part of the job description is open to debate.

It's no secret that USC has long operated in a far more laid-back manner than most other powerhouses. Practices are open to just about anyone. Carroll and his assistants are known to end practice by running around the field playing "football golf." Pranks, like last year's Halloween "walk-out" by running back LenDale White -- which ended with a dummy being tossed off a nearby roof -- are not uncommon.

Such antics have long been viewed in a wildly favorable light by those who cover college football, a refreshing change from the buttoned-down operations at places like Michigan and Penn State. Carroll's reputation as a "player's coach" has helped the Trojans attract No. 1 recruiting classes year after year. But has his seemingly unconditional support of his players gone too far?

Many feel the Trojans' head man set a dangerous precedent last season when he never officially reprimanded Maualuga -- who, it should be noted, was also dealing with the illness of his father, who died on Jan. 2 from cancer. Carroll, the toast of both L.A. and national media since engineering USC's resurgence, received only mild criticism at the time about his handling of the situation (one Daily News columnist did take him to task), but his laissez-faire approach did not go unnoticed on campus, where students who attended the party and witnessed Maualuga's punch were stunned to see him receive no discernible punishment. Meanwhile, Wright was suspended from the team but never dismissed; he transferred of his own accord. And Justice's suspension came from the university, not the football program.

One alarming note is that the alleged cases involving Dennis, Wright and Sanchez all took place at the same apartment complex, Cardinal Gardens, where many of the Trojans' freshman football players live. Because of the limited number of residence halls on USC's campus, approximately 1,000 freshmen live in university-operated apartment complexes that, like Cardinal Gardens, are within walking distance to campus but also to fraternity row and the popular 901 Club, which, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times, Sanchez entered using a fake ID only a couple of hours prior to the alleged incident.

For those who know Sanchez, news of his arrest was downright astonishing. Groomed since youth to be a quarterback by his father, Nick, a former high school quarterback and a constant presence at Trojans practices last season, and older brothers Nick and Brandon, both former college quarterbacks themselves, the Orange County native is friendly and articulate. By all accounts he is a model student and teammate. Rightly or wrongly, however, his reputation has now been irreparably tarnished. So, too, has USC's.

04-29-2006, 09:47 AM	#1
capitalcity Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hippie Hollow Posts: 3,128	A "dynasty" tarnished... Carroll really has/had some great guys on the payroll... Winston Justice - solicitation of prostitution, (pellet) gun charges LenDale White - positive drug test, questionable work ethic Reggie Bush - agentgate, questions abound Matt Leinhart - NCAA rules violations, ruled ineligible then reinstated for Rose Bowl Now this... A program in turmoil Sanchez arrest latest in a litany of troubles at USC Posted: Friday April 28, 2006 1:27PM; Updated: Friday April 28, 2006 6:17PM The scene, as it was described in published reports late Wednesday, read like something out of a Law and Order script: LAPD cars descending on the parking lot of an apartment complex across the street from the USC campus, there to arrest a young man accused of committing sexual assault. For followers of the prestigious Trojans football program, the identity of the alleged culprit was nothing short of shocking: Mark Sanchez, USC's affable, curly-haired, golden-boy quarterback long ago hailed as the next Matt Leinart. Less than three weeks earlier, the redshirt freshman was basking in the glory of an impressive performance in his first USC spring game. (He started in place of injured junior John David Booty.) On Wednesday afternoon he was being led away in handcuffs to a downtown detention center where he submitted DNA and hair samples, according to the Los Angeles Daily News, and was released early Thursday after posting a $200,000 bail, according to the Los Angles Times. For Trojans fans, the disturbing news comes as something of a double whammy, fresh on the heels of a mini-scandal involving 2005 Heisman winner Reggie Bush. But there's a big difference. While the Bush saga has received national attention due to his status as the likely No. 1 pick in this weekend's draft, the story isn't nearly as salacious as it's been presented. As best as one can surmise from the details available, an aspiring sports marketer leased a house in San Diego to Bush's parents in hopes of landing Bush as a client. He failed and is now going public with the dirty details. Bush and his family have denied any wrongdoing. This wasn't Leigh Steinberg or Drew Rosenhaus giving out $100 handshakes in the USC locker room. A star quarterback arrested on the suspicion of sexual assault, on the other hand, that's the story that should be sending shivers through the USC community. In the name of fairness, let it be stated clearly and unambiguously that Sanchez has not been charged with a crime. Sanchez has been accused of sexual assault by a female student and is scheduled to appear before a judge on May 17, but police investigators are still in the very early stages of gathering evidence. (Sanchez hasn't publicly commented on the charges.) All we know from published reports is that the quarterback returned from a popular night club near campus early Wednesday morning, appearing intoxicated, according to witnesses, and that the alleged assault occurred sometime shortly thereafter. No matter what did or didn't occur, however, the stain on both Sanchez and the USC program has already set. In light of the national uproar surrounding the Duke lacrosse scandal, Sanchez's name will undoubtedly be linked to that story in coming weeks by academics and pundits looking to espouse on the ills of big-time college athletics. More pertinent to Sanchez's case, however, are some legitimate questions about Pete Carroll's program, questions that have been simmering under the surface for quite some time but, due to the hysteria surrounding the Trojans' quest for a third straight national title last season, were for the most part ignored. First and foremost, does USC's widely revered head coach run too loose a ship? While no reasonable person believes college athletes can be closely watched around the clock, the reality is that head coaches are ultimately held responsible for their players' actions. Ohio State's Jim Tressel was crucified a couple of years ago when the Buckeyes had an unusually high string of off-field transgressions. Florida State's Bobby Bowden has been answering questions for years about the often unflattering perception of his program. Carroll, on the other hand, has remained largely unscathed despite an ever-growing litany of incidents. In 2004, police investigated a sexual assault case involving tailback Hershel Dennis. He was never charged. Tackle Winston Justice was suspended from school for a year following his arrest for brandishing a replica firearm at a student (he received three years probation). Cornerback Eric Wright, who has since transferred to UNLV, was charged with sexual assault last year (the charges were later dropped) and was suspended from school because police found 136 ecstasy pills in his apartment. And linebacker Rey Maualuga was arrested for allegedly punching a student at a Halloween party last year (no charges were filed). Sadly, player arrests are not unusual in big time college football. What is unusual is Carroll's response to these incidents: There usually isn't one. While known for his candor with reporters when discussing most other topics -- like why he loves USC, why the Trojans are so good, and how many blue-chip recruits are lining up to play for them -- Carroll has always been notably evasive, if not downright defensive, when it comes to the subject of player discipline. His reaction to Sanchez's arrest was to issue a brief statement saying the university would handle the matter. Carroll is an NFL guy running an NFL-style program, and part of that means a 24/7 focus on football. You don't hear many soliloquies from him about "preparing young men for life" like you do from more old-school college coaches. Whether that's actually part of the job description is open to debate. It's no secret that USC has long operated in a far more laid-back manner than most other powerhouses. Practices are open to just about anyone. Carroll and his assistants are known to end practice by running around the field playing "football golf." Pranks, like last year's Halloween "walk-out" by running back LenDale White -- which ended with a dummy being tossed off a nearby roof -- are not uncommon. Such antics have long been viewed in a wildly favorable light by those who cover college football, a refreshing change from the buttoned-down operations at places like Michigan and Penn State. Carroll's reputation as a "player's coach" has helped the Trojans attract No. 1 recruiting classes year after year. But has his seemingly unconditional support of his players gone too far? Many feel the Trojans' head man set a dangerous precedent last season when he never officially reprimanded Maualuga -- who, it should be noted, was also dealing with the illness of his father, who died on Jan. 2 from cancer. Carroll, the toast of both L.A. and national media since engineering USC's resurgence, received only mild criticism at the time about his handling of the situation (one Daily News columnist did take him to task), but his laissez-faire approach did not go unnoticed on campus, where students who attended the party and witnessed Maualuga's punch were stunned to see him receive no discernible punishment. Meanwhile, Wright was suspended from the team but never dismissed; he transferred of his own accord. And Justice's suspension came from the university, not the football program. One alarming note is that the alleged cases involving Dennis, Wright and Sanchez all took place at the same apartment complex, Cardinal Gardens, where many of the Trojans' freshman football players live. Because of the limited number of residence halls on USC's campus, approximately 1,000 freshmen live in university-operated apartment complexes that, like Cardinal Gardens, are within walking distance to campus but also to fraternity row and the popular 901 Club, which, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times, Sanchez entered using a fake ID only a couple of hours prior to the alleged incident. For those who know Sanchez, news of his arrest was downright astonishing. Groomed since youth to be a quarterback by his father, Nick, a former high school quarterback and a constant presence at Trojans practices last season, and older brothers Nick and Brandon, both former college quarterbacks themselves, the Orange County native is friendly and articulate. By all accounts he is a model student and teammate. Rightly or wrongly, however, his reputation has now been irreparably tarnished. So, too, has USC's. __________________ Back up in your ass with the resurrection.