Even as some would say “it’s about time”, there’s little doubt that NCAA sanctions have had a profound effect on the USC football program and the culture surrounding it.
With sanctions looming back in late March, the school announced that it was barring from their football practices people “such as athlete agents, marketing agents or financial advisors to athletes.”
Now comes word that the program is taking the word “compliance” as it pertains to NCAA regulations and embracing it with every fiber of its being.
According to Pedro Moura of ESPNLosAngeles.com, every member of the football program is required to meet with school compliance officials by the end of next week. The sessions are being held starting Tuesday -- wide receivers, tight ends and offensive linemen -- and will run through July 22 -- linebackers and special teams. Defensive linemen and quarterbacks will meet on Thursday, July 15, and running backs, fullbacks and defensive backs on Tuesday, July 20.
The notices of “Mandatory Football Compliance Orientation Meetings” have been posted throughout Heritage Hall, with a “friendly” reminder that the players are to bring current copies of their housing lease and car-related job-related information to their required sessions.
Pete Carroll‘s petulance notwithstanding, it’s obvious something needed to be done. Kudos to USC for recognizing -- with a wee bit of prodding from the NCAA -- that something did indeed need to be done, regardless of whether it came after the fact or not.