As expected, nothing of substance came out of the first day of USC’s appearance before the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions.
However, the central figure in the case, who was thousands of miles away getting his amateur athletics groove on at the time, did speak on the record to a Los Angeles Times reporter. And pretty much said nothing.
As he was in Vancouver attending the Winter Olympic games, former Trojan running back Reggie Bush told the Times that he’d really like to speak out, but doggone it those pesky lawyers and such preclude him from doing so. In lieu of addressing any of the issues, Bush did say that he would defend good ol’ ‘SC until the day he dies.
So they have that going for them. Which is good.
“There are attorneys, there are lawsuits, there are all those things that keep you from being able to talk,” Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, said during a promotional stop at a sponsor’s office in Vancouver, adding, “I’ve tried to do everything I can, on my part, to help USC out.”
“I can’t really speak on that because of pending things, but I’ve done everything I can and I will defend ‘SC until the day I die. . . . That’s just because I felt USC was so good to me. . . . I am USC and I represent USC.”
(Must… bite… tongue…)
Former head coach Pete Carroll and running backs coach Todd McNair were grilled yesterday by the committee regarding what they knew of the alleged illegal benefits given to Bush and his family.
There was no word as to the substance of the answers provided by Carroll and McNair. Carroll was expected to fly out of Thursday night, while McNair will likely be back on the hot seat for a second day in a row.
“I will defend ‘SC until the day I die. . . . That’s just because I felt USC was so good to me. . . . I am USC and I represent USC.”
“Even if I have to lie and stone wall the NCAA” must have been truncated from Bushby’s comments.
So you mean even though a school stands to get upwards of 12 million dollars for going to a BCS bowl game….and…. that school will gladly fire any coach who doesnt routinely win 11 or 12 games a year–which is what’s required to get a BCS bowl bid…..the rest of the college football landscape is expected to be pure and full of integrity?
You mean there are still “rules” to this thing?
Really?
If Bush wants to speak out so badly, how come in his lawsuit with Lake did he have a non-exclusion clause. It’s time he and usc told the truth about everything and take their punishment like they should.
Where did his family get the money to live in such and nice house? Where did he get the money to buy a tricked out car while living on a scholarship at usc. And, I’m sure that none of the coaches knew a thing about any of this.
Alright Reggie, exactly where did all this money come from and what exactly was really your involvement with these agents?
NCAA should leave Reggie alone. He made millons for that school and all he got from it was a half ass education. College atheletes get a break from some where. It is almost humaly impposible to practice and play sports in college and do all of your assignments. Of course there are always some exceptions but on the whole student atheletes get a break from a professor, aide or other students who want to be there friend.These schools recruit kids from as young as Pop Warner just to play football but waon’t give them money to eat or go to the movie, and when somone else does they say it is a violation. The NCAA is a joke, they want all the money, and they say Reggie is greedy.
Not true, Jake Sniles. Many athletes at prestigious universities play, practice, and graduate with good grades. Yes they get free tutors if they want but they still have to make their grades. I never saw athletes get a break (from a top tier university) but I can’t speak for smaller, lower-level ones. They get a free education, good meals, and no one made them play football. Quit making excuses in life!