The Crumbling Trojan Horse

It has been a week to forget for Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans. In a week that the program should be celebrated for the five or so first round draft picks that will be selected in Saturday’s NFL draft, the Trojan program has come under serious fire for allegations that Hiesman Trophy winner Reggie Bush’s family accepted housing from media wannabe (scum bag) Michael Michaels, who was allegedly working on behalf of San Diego based player agent (scum bag) David Caravantes. The PAC 10 commissioner, Tom Hanson, has indicated that the conference has been contacted on behalf of the Trojans to investigate the alleged infractions, although at this point it seems unclear what exactly will transpire.

Yesterday came another bombshell, when red-shirt freshman quarterback Mark Sanchez was arrested for sexual assault following in altercation with a female student. Bail was set at 200 thousand dollars and Mark Sanchez has been placed on “interim suspension” by the university pending the LAPD investigation. Needless to say, this latest blow comes at the wrong time for the program, when the entire nation’s sport media is concentrating on NCAA violations and draft superstars.

Nothing may come of the Reggie Bush situation as he is under no pressure or obligation to cooperate with the PAC 10 and the NCAA. However USC does face possible forfeiture of games during the 2005 season, negating their PAC 10 title and Rose Bowl appearance, for playing Bush as an ineligible participant. Bush, for his part, maintains his innocence and has stated on ESPN that he was not aware of the living situation his parent and Michaels had worked and Bush never signed with the agent that Michaels was steering him to, however many speculate that it seems pretty unlikely that Bush would have no knowledge of how his parents were suddenly living in a 725 thousand dollar home in Spring Valley, CA. For all intents and purposes, Reggie more than likely knew his parents where living in a house that they could not afford and knew of the arraignment that was made with Michaels.

Sanchez is another animal all together because his involves actual charges that are going to be filed by the district attorney in the coming days. Worst case scenario, Sanchez is found guilty and his career as a quarterback is over as he will have to do jail time. Best case scenario is that nothing come of these allegations, however the stigma that will be attached to him will be hard to shake. Eric Wright, former USC defensive back, found himself in a similar situation two years ago and had to leave the university to get a second chance at UNLV. In short, there is no easy way for Sanchez to recover from these revelations and this latest slip up has opened a window to the shady dealings within Carroll’s program.

It has been reported that one of the problems with the USC program is that Carroll treats the players like NFL superstars, working them hard in practice and not really caring about what happens off campus. It has also been speculated that there is a serious problem with alcohol among the team and that underage drinking, binge drinking, and public intoxication is a major issue. Last season, Bell Garden police arrived to the scene of a domestic disturbance where freshman linebacker Ray Malaluga was seen swinging an unloaded gun in the air and yelling “I OWN THE LAPD!” It was later determined by police that Malaluga was intoxicated at the time and was later released on his own recognizance. Malaluga was reinstated by Carroll, much to the chagrin of critics, and played a pivotal part in SC’s run to the Rose Bowl. In any case, the revelation that the 19 year old Sanchez was spotted at the 901 Club, a 21 and over establishment, is another indicator that there is too much access to booze on or near the campus for the football players. It also sheds new light on Carroll, who is looking more and more like an absentee coach, asleep at the switch of his program.

With all these problems surfacing, the Trojans still have to worry about the team on the field. With the recent oral commitment to Notre Dame by Jimmy Clausen, the Trojans look to field a team with John David Booty, who may or may not be fully recovered from his backiotomy, and Michael McDonald who had some mop up duty in the Arkansas blowout but other then that, no real experience in an NCAA game. If Pete Carroll has any brains left in his head, he will patch up any ill will he has with Steve Clarkson, Clausen's personal quarterback coach, and get Jimmy into a cardinal and gold uniform. From a report filed by L.A. Daily News USC beat writer Scott Wolf, the Carroll and Clarkson fued began with a pissing contest to see who was going to run Matt Leinert's workout during the USC pro day held a few weeks ago. Clarkson won that battle, but the beef carried over to Clausen's decision to choose Notre Dame.

Pete Carroll is a brilliant tactician, the Rose Bowl’s final drive not withstanding, and two straight national titles and a possible third is proof of that. However the allegations against Carroll’s program might be an opening to sanctions that SC fans best pray never come true. SC fan, you need something to keep you up at night? Just look at how long it’s taken Alabama to come back to some prominence after their NCAA infractions. As for the Holiday Bowl, you better start making plans to go to the Las Vegas Bowl with a 7-5 record.