It’s been a week since Dillon Baxter was suspended for USC’s season opener against Hawaii, and, if the true freshman’s words can be taken at face value, he’s taking the punishment to heart.
Head coach Lane Kiffin suspended the prized back for what he said were an accumulation of unspecified incidents, although allegedly being the person under the influence of a controlled substance was the likely tipping point.
Regardless of the actual reason or reasons, a contrite Baxter is publicly saying all the right things.
“Just be responsible, do what you need to do and stop acting like a knucklehead and everything should be fine,” Baxter said when asked what he’s learned since having a negative public light shone on him.
“I’ve done a couple things, and things happen, and I made a mistake. But I’m going to move on from here on out.”
What he might not be doing is moving on across the Pacific, even as a spectator. Kiffin, the Los Angeles Times reports, is leaning toward leaving Baxter back at USC when the team travels to Hawaii for the opener.