Stop me if you heard this one before…
Already the subject of an NCAA investigation into the “activities” of Reggie Bush while he was at Southern Cal, the Trojans could find themselves in even more deep feces with the collegiate athletics governing body.
According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, a vehicle connected to running back Joe McKnight is the subject of an internal investigation that could ultimately land on the desk of the NCAA pending the school’s findings.
At question is a 2007 Land Rover that McKnight was seen driving around the campus by a Times reporter. The vehicle is registered to a Scott Schenter, who is the boss of McKnight’s girlfriend, who is also the mother of his child.
Schenter, 47, has a background that includes marketing, and a company he owned registered a website called 4joemcknight.com. It is unclear whether Schenter has any ties with USC or the school had knowledge of his activities.
McKnight, a junior who led the Trojans in rushing this season and is seriously considering making a jump to the NFL, denied to the Times that he has ever driven the vehicle or that he has any knowledge of the vehicle other than riding around in it.
“I never talk to her about it,” he added. “I just see it whenever my girlfriend’s around with my kid. I ask no questions. I just do what I got to do.”
Later, McKnight again reiterated that he’s Sgt. Schultz in the whole Land Rover imbroglio.
“I never drove the vehicle, I’ve never driven it. I know I can’t drive cars I’m not supposed to. If somebody said they spotted me driving, they’re seeing wrong. I don’t even have the keys. … I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m just being a football player and a father to my child.
“I won’t break any rules because I know if I do I can’t get on the football field. I’m trying to keep my life secure and stay on the football field.”
Given the fact that the school is already knee-deep in an NCAA investigation into not only Bush but former basketball player O.J. Mayo as well, the NCAA will likely not look too kindly on yet another incident involving the school.
An NCAA spokesman told the Times that at least two by-laws could’ve been broken based on what is currently known about the situation.
NCAA by-law 12.3.1.2 says that a student-athlete shall be ineligible if he, or relatives or friends, accepts transportation or other benefits from agents or marketing representatives. NCAA by-law 12.1.2.1.6 prohibits preferential treatment, benefits or services because of the individual’s athletics reputation or skill or pay-back potential as a professional athlete.
With all of that being said, it’s believed this investigation — provided it reaches the NCAA — should conclude in or around 2019. At the earliest.
You would think USC would have done better this year considering they are the highest paid team in college football
Gee. Providing cars, paying for houses and the NCAA looks into it for years but is afraid to do anything.
Tennessee fans go watch a football game and the NCAA launches an immediate investigation and alerts the press.
Doesn’t seem that the NCAA is even handed; does it?
Oh thats right—one teams can get 12 weeks of football TV coverage and tell their recruits they will be on national TV every week and the other schools can tell their recruits they will be on national TV if they have a winning record maybe two or three games. Now that seems like a level playing field for all.
Maybe someone needs to check to see if the fox is on the take to look the other way sometimes.
I am just waiting for the NCAA to crack down on USC for everything. When the NCAA does crack down it will be hilarious. USC will get what they deserve, hopefully many scholarships for many seasons.
It’s the grandfather of his child for heavens sake. Talk about a pre existing relationship. This goes nowhere.
Now NCAA give them the death penalty for all the other crap that goes on out there.
if we left these matters up to the current corrupt ncaa(we know how the payoff systems now are operated), 2019 would be a ridiculously early date.
if school boosters from any school channel the right amount of funds to certain boutique law firms run by ex ncaa attorneys and investigators, ncaa investigations can go on forever with no conclusion under the current system.
of course, we made the walls of secrecy surrounding ncaa investigations come down with our big court win over the ncaa on 10/15/2009, forcing the ncaa, for the 1st time ever, to disclose to the public every transcript and document in the florida state athletic department ncaa investigation.
the ncaa spent millions in attorneys fees at trial and on appeal trying to defeat our allies and us in that case, only to lose.
did the florida state athletic department actually violate some rules? yes, they did.
however, florida state self reported the violations instead of playing coverup like usc and florida state chose not to make those huge payoffs to any of those boutique law firms.
so, the ncaa actually hit florida state with some severe sanctions.
how does the money get from the boutique law firms to corrupt invividuals at the ncaa? there are certain channels.
however, the really big channel works as follows. attorneys and investigators who end up at the ncaa are not there, with very minor exceptions, because they had the credentials to get other jobs and they have no real futues after the ncaa, unless, of course, they play ball with the corrupt system and get big money jobs at one of those boutique law firms or at certain schools like usc conducting theoretical internal investigations which are really just coverups.
can this corrupt system be fixed? yes, with wrecking balls in the civil courts and we have already won the 1st big round there and are not slowing down.
the only correct rules enforcement system? one which is fully transparent to and accountable to the public.
does it matter to the current ncaa what mcknight did or did not do at usc? no.
mcknight is going to the nfl anyway, just like bush, and will refuse to cooperate in any investigation.
the usc internal investigators will do nothing anyway because usc is paying them large salaries.
if this matter ever does get to the ncaa level under thge current system, the ncaa will announce an investigation and wait to see if usc boosters makes the required payoffs to those boutique law firms.
when the usc boosters do that and play coverup, under the current corrupt system, the investigation goes nowhere.
@ Taylor – Great finish. Trojan players are like Teflon to NCAA regulations, murder indictments, and – consistently – academic enlightenment.
To wit: you left out what I feel is the best part of the ESPN/AP report:
“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.’”
Wow. Just wow. Please, no more posts from U$C peeps who even vaguely hint at a belief that the Trojans put the word “student-” in front of athletes.
“I’m just being a football player and a father to my child.”
I’m sure he’s a good dad, and I’m not knocking his fatherhood circumstances, but reading his statements makes it clear this kid isn’t a student. Though the fact that he’s enrolled a U$C is a pretty clear indictment of the institution academically.
Cheat on, Trojans! Cheat on!
Robertg—you are just a disbarred lawyer who couldn’t hack it in the court room, and is pissed because USC constantly smacks down your beloved, dysfunctional notre dame fighting Quasimodo’s.
get a job…maybe you can be a file clerk for a real lawyer
USC haters need to chill. The same mentality that killed SMU when they had the Pony Express in Craig James and Eric Dickerson because mighty Texas were a bunch of a#*s*s is jealousy beyond their insecurity that someone could stain their dirty laundry. Get real USC haters, the crap the NCAA puts on teams with their rediculous sanctions is biting the hand that feeds them and makes them who they are. They make tons of money off of unpaid athletes, at least the ones they don’t catch. The gates are not suffering and revenue is flowing steadily. Just pay athletes as farm teams for the pros. That would make sense or don’t charge admission to football games and don’t get any kick backs for bowl revenues. Something is wrong with this picture of the rule makers trying to do anyone in for taking bubble gum from an agent.
So when is Carroll going to have to answer for the multiple “transgressions” his players use…. Oh yeah I just used transgressions in a sentence… Your not the only one Tiger. Seriously though can they at least get a couple scholarships taken away, with all the homey’s he gets that could actually hurt him I mean in less Barkley wants to pay his own way then I guess it would not matter…
Between Mayo and Reggie Bush they should get the death penalty. They are so arrogant and flagrant. Sure everyone does it, but they rub it in the NCAA’s face.
SOP @ USC.
Raise your hand if you’re surprised.
[No one raises their hands since USC fan can't hear when their head is in the sand.]
pete carrol sucks boys
You might want to update your story. The LATimes has…
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/12/joe-mcknight-story-was-rushed-santa-monica-businessman-says.html
It amuses me when USC fans resort to calling everyone else haters and saying they are just jealous. That’s like a rapist at his sentencing telling everyone they are just jealous cause he got laid and they didn’t.
McKnight and USC did not break any of the by-laws. Read them. They say STUDENT/athlete. McKnight himself doesn’t use the word student. He is just there to play football.
USC……… University of Southern Cheaters
robertg,
You are the one who told us that Charlie Weis wouldn’t be leaving Notre Dame.
You have also said that there will not be football played at Notre Dame or any other college/university next year because of your “civil RICO lawsuits.”
So pardon me if I just ignore your entire, rambling post.