Football Articles
USC Continues to Cheat & The NCAA Is Too Gutless to Care
Posted by CloseToJumping on December 18th, 2009 under Football, Recruiting
We all remember the stories and coverage that came almost solely from Yahoo! covering the fact that Reggie Bush and his family received benefits from agents and others that were courting him. This, of course, occurred throughout his time on campus at USC. Yahoo!’s coverage was excellent (here’s an article as a primer for what was going on), but it did nothing to further the cause of integrity inside of the NCAA amateur ranks. The NCAA to date has done nothing and likely will do nothing, ever, when it comes to this situation.
Let’s be clear. At this point, there’s printed proof that Bush was taking money from people while he was on campus. He also never attempted to make good on his promises to the people paying him that he’d use them as agents (which means nothing other than the fact that he’s as worthless a human as he is a #2 overall draft pick – he can’t even cheat honestly). This is why these pseudo-agents went public and provided documentation and information about Bush taking payments. Meanwhile, Bush went on to win the Heisman, an award for amateurs, and competed for two national titles, winning one. Pete Carroll played stupid, as did the USC program, and the NCAA is too weak and willfully toothless to do anything. USC appears simply too important as a program to be honestly punished.
In addition to the Bush payoffs (and similar documents and reports about basketball star OJ Mayo’s cheating), USC’s seemingly been corrupt since Carroll’s arrival in the way they handle street agents. One of the most poorly understood aspects of the recruiting game is how some athletes are delivered to campuses through handlers.
We’ve discussed it at length on this site, basically leading the coverage among the CFB sites. You can read about it here (the initial rip on it by me); here (a follow-up rip on it by TaylorTRoom) ; and here (more expounding on the nonsense by Scipio Tex).
What’s rarely ever discussed by ESPN or the other media outlets is the actual street agent phenomenon. Perhaps they don’t understand. Rivals, of course, certainly does, and they willfully ignore it and act as if it doesn’t exist within their coverage. Scout and ESPN Recruiting do not do any better. The only real way to get your head fully around the street agent game, have a conversation with parents of players being recruited, or various recruiting gurus paid to understand the space, and you’ll hear very real stories about the agent game and who’s playing it.
Regardless, one of the biggest winners in the street agent game is Pete Carroll and USC. They’ve supposedly been buying players indirectly for years. The guys they hurt when they play this game, besides the players, who are effectively a part of a modern slave trade, are guys like Joe Paterno, who’s seen the fertile New Jersey area raided by Carroll through agents, and guys like Mack Brown, who’s seen similar things happen in Texas as Carroll comes in and grabs guys. They’re losing players to USC because they’re not willing to cheat, not because they don’t throw dummies off of buildings for Halloween pranks.
Will Lyles Thinks Pete Carroll is an Awesome Guy
Well, the beat goes on to this day for one of the dirtiest programs in college football. News has now broken that Joe McKnight, a player taken out of Louisiana out from underneath LSU and the rest of the entirely dirty SEC, imagine that, is driving a car that he didn’t pay for. He’s been doing it for a while.
What will happen next?
Probably nothing. USC will act surprised and make claims that they’ll investigate it internally. Just as they did in regard to Bush and OJ Mayo. USC will choose to do nothing. McKnight will probably declare for the NFL after performing well and unpunished in a bowl game, and he’ll never comment on being a cheater again.
And the rest of us? Well, we all lose. We have to continue to play by the rules and watch pieces of garbage like “nice guy” Pete Carroll and his program work their asses off with their wallets to get back where they rightfully belong – in a position to beat Stanford.
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Nickel Rover commented on the blog post Barnes worst team 8 hours, 48 minutes ago
06_UT: you are probably right. I thought about changing the post description to “least favorite Barnes team” because that’s more accurate but I didn’t feel like it.
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Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Nike U in Turmoil 8 hours, 53 minutes ago
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Who will the get? Mark Few?
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We came up short.
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dick commented on the blog post Barnes worst team 13 hours, 3 minutes ago
“Also because those other teams gave great effort almost every game. This team’s effort was questionable. Dumb and lazy, not a good combo…..”
This is what made this season so bizarre for me. This has never been a problem for Barnes’ teams. But I actually questioned this team’s heart and desire to play together
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srr50 commented on the blog post March Madness Open Thread Part Deaux 13 hours, 17 minutes ago
Travis Ford spent the 2nd half channeling his inner Rick Barnes — lot’s of standing around on offense while one player tries to generate something off a ball screen — then taking a forced shot.
So the Big 12 goes 5-2 in Round One.
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skymonkeyhorn commented on the blog post Barnes worst team 13 hours, 22 minutes ago
This is the worst coached team ever in Barnes era. Period.
Worst defense over the whole season,
Offense sucked big time and the bench coaching was horrible, ransom’s attitude was better then the coach’s overall this season.
Trips write up pre and post better then the game plan and O schemes.
Hell we could have -
srr50 commented on the blog post March Madness Open Thread Part Deaux 13 hours, 25 minutes ago
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dick commented on the blog post FLV March Madness First Round Bets 13 hours, 27 minutes ago
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Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Barnes worst team 14 hours, 41 minutes ago
I wasn’t trying to say they quit. They just didn’t play hard a lot of the time. Lazy = lack of effort. Example, our transition defense was about 75% effort and 25% stupidity. We loafed down court a lot. The kids didn’t like to lose so they would fight back,
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Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Barnes worst team 16 hours, 14 minutes ago
This the most disappointing team because our talent level is higher than those others.
The DGib/Buckman team was the least talented, barely, after the injury to LaMarcus and Tucker’s suspension.
Last year’s team was the hardest to watch. Just watching AJ Abrams, who I don’t hate as much as most, run around like a
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uthookem commented on the blog post Barnes worst team 16 hours, 21 minutes ago
Agreed on Damo being my favorite Longhorn basketball player, I wish him all the best.
This was definitely the worst, by far.
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seven_fan said:
December 18th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Seems to me that the NCAA is both “heavy handed’ and ‘ineffective’ depending on either a) your school affiliation or b) your rival’s cheating mentality. The Bush case was well documented and the NCAA did nothing. Other schools have scholarships reduced, and other penalities assessed when they self-report. At some point, some bright boy is gonna sue, get to the Supreme Court against the NCAA and they’ll have to dissolve this steaming pile of mastadon dung.
CW said:
December 18th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
my favorite McKnight quote by far…
McKnight and Beltran are the parents of a 10-month-old son, Jaiden. McKnight told the Times the Land Rover belonged to “my baby mama’s boss.”
Epic.
uthookem said:
December 18th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
So you’re saying I need to look at McKnight as a later rounder in my fantasy team next season?
Good call on the “good guy” Petey Carroll angle, that guy is crooked.
I finished watching ‘The U’ documentary tonight and thought to myself, “If there is a God, then Mack Brown will surely win his second national title on January 7th. That piece of shit Dennis Erickson won two national titles, how can Mack Brown not win at least two?”
And yeah, I’m still happy that my other alma mater went for two to try and make it 50 against Petey.
Hook ‘em!
CloseToJumping said:
December 18th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Good for you going to Stanford, man. That’s impressive.
Carroll is well documented as being completely comfy with street agents, as evidenced in the photo above, as well as the Scout video where a USC coach is screaming ol’Will’s name.
I am rooting for Brown to win it again, just to stick it in the eye of every cheating scumbag out there.
uthookem said:
December 18th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I am rooting for Brown to win it again, just to stick it in the eye of every cheating scumbag out there.
Yep. I was hoping we could get Florida so Brown would have a chance at the Meyer skin on the wall, but a second Saban skin will suffice as he is quite possibly the bigger asshole.
And, the official name (as seen on the diploma) is The Leland Stanford Junior University. Although, hold your applause until the end, as I’m just now figuring out HTML italics (and still fuck it up on occasion).
Did they catch that Heights arsonist? Just keep ‘em out of the clear lake area and I’ll be happy…
Sailor Ripley said:
December 19th, 2009 at 12:03 am
Well, they burned Tim Floyd at the stake as a peace offering.
google said:
December 19th, 2009 at 12:08 am
Have a look at the company website(schenter’s). Don’t what he is doing giving football players free cars.To top it all he went Udub.
His wife, Dawn, has no idea what her husband for a living.
http://www.teslavision.com/default.htm
PrimeTime said:
December 19th, 2009 at 3:11 am
Cut the bullshit guys. To think we don’t cheat or do stuff against NCAA rules is completely asinine and stupid. We do and so does every other major program. The difference between us and USC is we don’t get caught and we know how to do it well. How the hell does Rick Barnes keep getting all these Mickey D’s All American’s to come here when all he has to his name is one Final Four appearance? You honestly believe Barnes is that great of a recruiter that he can get all these to come here. Give me a break man. Wake up and realize that if you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying. To honestly believe that we play fair and by NCAA rules is just dumb. So does George Mason and you don’t see them get Kevin Durant to come to there school.
Tell me again why is USC at fault for taking advantage of a system that won’t punish them?
Look why exactly is this so bad? Sure it maybe against some rules. But are these rules really right? College football stopped being amateur athletics the day the game was founded. What is so wrong about a kid who came from nothing getting rewarded for his talents? His coach, the University, the Pac 10, ESPN, Nike everybody profit off him why shouldn’t he.
TKO said:
December 19th, 2009 at 3:46 am
McKnight told the Times the Land Rover belonged to “my baby mama’s boss.”
Great quote. Sounds like something out of a Dave Chappelle skit.
The General said:
December 19th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Primetime,
If we were cheating, we would never lose a recruiting battle. We would recruit the kids in Texas that are associated with certain street agents or AAU programs, that we don’t currently recruit.
Nobody would ever outbid Texas boosters on a recruit. Reference srr50’s article http://barkingcarnival.fantake.com/2009/12/17/texas-football-boosters-the-billionaire-boys-club/
Also, part of the anger towards Pete Carroll is from the ridiculously fawning media coverage that he receives.
EnglishAg said:
December 19th, 2009 at 4:55 am
texas gives immunity from suit with every scholarship
Magnificent Bastard said:
December 19th, 2009 at 6:05 am
PrimeTime,
1. Texas does not cheat
2. Rick Barnes is a good recruiter
3. The rules are right, and USC is wrong
4. If the kid comes from nothing, why sneeze at a scholly?
5. I am asinine, stupid and dumb
dedfischer said:
December 19th, 2009 at 6:41 am
I know Sergio Kindle had no idea how to play gin rummy before he got to Texas.
Orangetower said:
December 19th, 2009 at 6:50 am
Primetime
Go back to ou or atm and troll over there. Do you really think you’re Deion Sanders?
These guys will get popped sooner or later. Guys like Mack Brown, Jim Tressel, and Gary Patterson will prevail. It is only a matter of time before Stoops, Carroll, and Meyer are further exposed and get flushed.
magnusbleuveigner said:
December 19th, 2009 at 8:09 am
This is an excellent write-up. CTJ, you know how to roll the shoulder into an uppercut my friend. Keep calling it like it is.
uthookem, I’ve felt the same about Mack. Surely, his character alone is deserving of two championships. I can’t wait til he has them, and we still here about how he’s only won two conference championships.
triplehorn said:
December 19th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Re: How the hell does Rick Barnes keep getting all these Mickey D’s All American’s to come here when all he has to his name is one Final Four appearance? You honestly believe Barnes is that great of a recruiter that he can get all these to come here.
I was wondering which might be more influential for a high school recruit, number of Final Four appearances a program has, or number of players from a coach’s program who go on to the NBA.
If the latter is important, then Barnes and his previous recruits have achieved a notable measure of success that is now feeding itself future stars.
WWGDD said:
December 19th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Nice play TripleHorn. That’s right where I was headed with my post.
BicBenedict said:
December 19th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Texas is so well liked that I’m sure no one would turn them in if they were dirty. No one cheats today for very long and goes unnoticed. Just ask Tiger. Where are the street agents that funnel the kids to UT? CTJ has pictures of Pete and documented cases. What do you have? Great recruits so Rick must be a cheater?
Phenomenal Smith said:
December 19th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Hopefully in 20 years someone will put together a documentary celebrating USC’s cheating ways. Oh, those lovable scamps.
n-ea said:
December 19th, 2009 at 11:59 am
[McKnight] My baby mama’s boss [McKnight]
[McKnight] I just do what I got to do [McKinight]
I hope Joe makes a rap album in the very near future.
n-ea said:
December 19th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
How can you identify the author of the ESPN article?
dick said:
December 19th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
“Guys like Mack Brown, Jim Tressel, and Gary Patterson will prevail.”
Tressel? hmmmm
bighornfan32 said:
December 19th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
primetime is a troll if I’ve ever seen one.
Dez Bryant said:
December 19th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
PrimeTime jus callin it like he see it. Dood no all bout who cheatin so get off my man.
BEHorn said:
December 19th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Primetime is a troll, and not a good one.
Mister Mike said:
December 21st, 2009 at 7:35 am
I’ve been waiting a long time to see another SMU…
USC = SMU West. Hopefully the NCAA will hit them with a tactical nuke and the rest of us will be able to piss on their ashes.
I know, I know…but one can dream.
Magnificent Bastard said:
December 21st, 2009 at 7:51 am
This one will be entertaining us for a while. The owner of the Land Rover, Scott Schenter, says:
1. He’s a University of Washington fan.
2. He bought the domain name 4joemcknight.com because of its cleverness.
3. In May 2008 he founded “USC Marketing”, which is obviously short for United States China Marketing.
I’m not making this shit up. The LA Times and Daily News are.
Huskerwes1 said:
December 21st, 2009 at 8:02 am
All programs have different incentives – though I still haven’t figured out what Nebraska has to offer other than the program and facilities – but that doesn’t mean that all programs cheat.
You have to know they don’t or more schools would “buy” the talent required to win a title.
Wouldn’t it just take a polished pro, a car and some $$$?
You're Wrong said:
December 21st, 2009 at 8:46 am
Primetime, nice try dood. If Mack were cheating there are numerous players that would’ve and would be Longhorns. Lache Seastrunk would be a Horn, Terrence Tolliver would be a Horn. We would’ve had a great shot at Trent Richardson if we ponied up for players. I’m the list of could’ves would be quite extensive if only we played ball with handlers.
admin said:
December 21st, 2009 at 7:10 pm
LA Times’ Plaschke is fanning the embers.
TOR said:
December 21st, 2009 at 7:40 pm
“Jim Tressel”
wat
Occam's Razor said:
December 22nd, 2009 at 5:44 am
Pete Carrol has a firesafe full of pictures of Paul Dee peeing on a song girl.
CurrentLonghornStudent said:
December 22nd, 2009 at 7:25 am
Add JaMarkus McFarland and Darrell Scott to the list of players Texas would have landed had Mack cheated his way through the recruiting process. In Scott’s case, maybe it was a good thing Colorado bought out his family’s loyalty. As for McFarland…may he be consigned to an overinflated sense of ego and flame out in the crushing gears of Bob Stoops’s ego.
Everyone can root for Stanford next week to beat OU!
SeeingRed said:
December 22nd, 2009 at 8:32 am
I read the Don Yeager book on Reggie Bush. It is simply amazing the evidence the NCAA is ignoring in that case to protect its USC revenue stream. Bush was beyond arrogant. He & his mother/stepfather were not only taking money from Lake (documented admissions from Bush’s stepfather through recorded phone conversations), but also from marketing agent Mike Ornstein (documented through credit card receipts for hotel/meals/flights, etc.). Starving baby calves have never suckled at teat as hungrily as the Bush family sucked at the wallets of potential agents that they could make think they had a chance of signing Reggie.
The original gameplan for Bush & his lawyers was “Lloyd Lake has a criminal background, just deny you ever got cash, tell everyone you’re being extorted & it’s he said/she said, we win”. Then the recordings surfaced. Whoops.
Before that they even managed to convince NFL Security that Bush was being extorted. In a quickly related story, the FBI launched a federal extortion probe of Lake, the business & his colleagues. They responded to these tactics by refusing to talk to the FBI & demanding a grand jury so they could testify on the record. After grand jury testimony, the FBI dropped the investigation.
Personally, my favorite part was Bush basically costing himself any chance of going #1 by refusing to call Houston GM Charlie Casserly back before the draft. Casserly states that he was sure Bush lied to him in a pre-draft interview about taking cash from agents but it wasn’t a deal breaker & he wanted to talk to him again. He told his agent to have Bush give him a call – nothing for two days, then Bush called him right before boarding a flight, promised to call him as soon as he landed, then he never heard from him again.
One of the screwiest things is how USC allows its players to intern for a sports marketing agent who is known as one of the most dialed in guys to the NFL & actively markets college players to contract agents.
If this season becomes a trend for Southern Cal & they drop as a marketing & bowl juggernaut again, then & only then will the NCAA take action long after the fact. Until that time, they will concern themselves high priority abuse like Kelvin Sampson’s phone calls.
JoeDirt said:
December 22nd, 2009 at 9:39 am
SeeingRed, your comments on SC players working for sports marketing agents really sheds light on why players, like Taylor Mays, are talked about like he is the next coming of Sean Taylor, while game film tells a completely different story. One of the most overhyped college players in a long time.
SeeingRed said:
December 22nd, 2009 at 10:35 am
Yep, Bush was not the only USC player who “interned” for Ornstein.
What really galls is a section later in the book with a timeline of all the quotes, lies & denials from Bush, his lawyers, Pete Carroll, etc. in different media outlets where Bush denies taking money, the lawyers & Bush scream they’re being extorted, Carroll assures that nothing was going on…all before the tapes were released.
The funniest part were other players, etc. being quoted as yeah, he probably took cash but everyone does, he desrves it, etc.
The actual strategy for Bush was to keep the money he & his parents took, estimated in excess of $300,000 altogether & also try to get Lake thrown in jail on trumped up extortion charges. Nice guy. Lake was admittedly trying to get additional interest & damages for work performed, but Bush’s lawyers in one settlement offered him only $100k.
SeeingRed said:
December 22nd, 2009 at 10:38 am
Great section in “Ya Gotta Play Hurt” by Dan Jenkins where Jim Tom Pinch goes into frighteningly accurate detail as to why perennial top 10 programs & cash cows have nothing to fear from the NCAA, they save their statement punishments for those fringe schools that manage to get to a Peach Bowl fairly regularly.
20 years later, it’s still as true as ever. Jenkins is the master & ultimate authority when it comes to college football.
Lo Primero said:
December 22nd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
The heat finally seems to have been raised a bit on USC.
Does the Joe McKnight saga cast any sort of pall over the program? Enough to scare away J. Jeffcoat?
Carroll to Seahawks said:
January 8th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
is Pete Carrolls interest in Seattle job related to this story?