I’ve long admired Pete Carroll.
While it’s fun to knock his future prospects in Seattle because of his less than stellar record with the Patriots and Jets in the 90’s, some guys just are MADE for the college game…guys like Urban Meyer and Mack Brown and Jim Tressel spring instantly to mind. However, coaches are an interesting breed. Some are perfectly content sticking with collegians and dealing with recruiting and the more, CEO-esque responsibilities that come outside of the professional realm, yet some, like Bob Stoops and Nick Saban, have a competitive urge that’ll put the possibility of NFL defection square in the crosshairs every time a season doesn’t go as planned by the NCAA prognostication constituency.
Pete Carroll was always a college coach at heart, and if you read the great LA Magazine piece about him authored a few years ago, you’d understand that. But the other thing you should’ve gleaned from that article was that Carroll was one of the more competitive people in the college coaching ranks. This move shouldn’t have surprised anyone.
But what surprises me is the timing of this move. Not because of the inevitability of sanctions swirling around the program, but because these sanctions weren’t levied down MUCH, MUCH sooner. I’ve long been campaigning against the fact that USC has been given a free pass by the NCAA, especially considering the well documented, treasure trove of bullshit Reggie Bush brought down, but because USC, in both football and basketball, has DEFINED the term, “lack of institutional control,” only nobody cared.
Even though USC isn’t among the richest athletic departments in the country, and their pathetic fan base pales in comparison to the more vociferous disciples in the southeast and midwest, they got away with straight up, college program murder. It just doesn’t make sense…schools like Texas and Florida and Ohio State generated a ton more income for their respective schools, conferences and, ultimately, the NCAA, USC was treated with kid gloves and a sideways glance. It just didn’t matter…but before you cast judgment about my stance, after the jump, take a look at just WHAT was going on in USC during Carroll’s tenure, with an additional focus on how fucked up the basketball program was. (courtesy of Bruins Nation).
- Pete Carroll was hired as head football coach by USC in 2001.
- On August 23, 2001, the NCAA placed USC’s athletic department on probation for two years and cut scholarships because tutors wrote papers for three athletes in the late 1990s. The events leading to the probation were before Carroll’s time, but I include this for completeness sake.
- In 2002, the father of USC tailback Justin Fargas invited former USC Heisman Trophy winner, and alleged double-murderer, O. J. Simpson to a team practice (he was found not guilty in his criminal trial but was later found liable in a civil trial). After the practice, Carroll allowed Simpson to come onto the field and meet the players and pose for pictures. Carroll defends himself from criticism by claiming that Simpson wasn’t invited. In May 2008, Simpson’s ex manager alleged that Simpson admitted to killing Nicole Brown Simpson.
- On July 19, 2003, USC Sophomore OT Winston Justice pleaded no contest to solicitation of a prostitute in Long Beach on June 24. Winston was put on 3 years probation and fined $300 for the offense.
- On March 3, 2004, Winston Justice was arrested on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon. On June 15, 2004, Justice pleaded no contest to exhibition of a replica firearm. Justice was sentenced to 60 days of electronic monitoring and three years’ probation. Justice was also suspended for two semesters by USC’s student affairs committee after his arrest.
- In August 2004, USC starting tailback Hershel Dennis was at the center of a police investigation of an alleged sexual assault. According to sources, the incident took place at a party on August 16, and involved a female friend of Dennis. On August 17, Dennis was removed from practice and suspended by Carroll for “disciplinary reasons,” including breaking curfew. On December 13, 2004, the LAPD announced it would not press charges.
- On January 14, 2005, Tim Floyd was hired as head basketball coach by USC.
- In late March 2005, USC starting cornerback Eric Wright was arrested for investigation of sexual assault. Wright was booked on rape charges and bail was set at $100,000 according to the Sheriff’s Department. Wright was held out of spring practice, and, in April 2005, the district attorney declined to press charged because of insufficient evidence. Nevertheless, on June 2, 2005, Wright left USC amid possible disciplinary action. On August 25, Wright was suspended by three semesters by USC’s student affairs committee, based upon the district attorney’s office having found 136 pills of the drug Ecstasy in Wright’s room at an apartment he shared with another player.
- In early April 2005, USC tight end Dominique Bird fractured his jaw during an alleged altercation with receiver Steve Smith. Bird, Smith and Carroll reportedly refused to comment on the incident, and no disciplinary action was taken.
- In August 2005, USC defensive end Frostee Rucker allegedly got into a fight with his girlfriend at a party he was hosting in Los Angeles. In June 2006, Rucker was charged with two misdemeanor counts of spousal battery and two counts of vandalism and was scheduled to be arraigned on August 11, 2006. Despite the incident, Rucker did not face any discipline from USC, and didn’t miss a game. In May 2007, Rucker pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and vandalism charges stemming from the 2005 incident. As part of a plea agreement, the prosecutors dropped a charge of spousal battery and Rucker was sentenced to three years of probation. Prior to transferring to USC, in April of 2002, Rucker was charged in Colorado with sexual assault and indecent exposure. Rucker reportedly eventually accepted a one-year deferred sentence on a misdemeanor harassment charge.
- On August 13, 2005, 10 veteran USC players were involved in a hazing incident where they shaved the head of freshman quarterback Mark Sanchez. Also, what started out as a water fight between USC players, escalated into an all-out brawl as it spiraled out of control. Reportedly, there was significant damage to the players dorms as players were thrown through walls.
- On October 31, 2005, USC tailback LenDale White played a macabre prank by pretending to quit the team and throwing a dummy off a building on Child’s Way. Separately, Pete Carroll apologized to Washington State coach Bill Doba for USC players pushing and bumping Doba while trying to get to the locker room during halftime of their game.
- On November 2, 2005, USC linebacker Rey Maualuga was arrested for investigation of misdemeanor battery after punching a man at an off-campus Halloween party (twice, without provocation). A witness at the scene reportedly quoted Maualuga as stating “I own the police.” Carroll took no disciplinary action, and Maualuga played the following weekend against Stanford. One USC pundit observed at the time that “discipline is Coach Carroll’s number one weakness.” On November 22, 2005, the city attorney’s office declined to file charges. Maualuga was defended at the court hearing by controversial and well-connected USC alumni attorney Carmen “Nooch” Trutanich, who has a long history with USC and previously represented both Wright and Dennis.
- On December 21, 2005, USC starting quarterback Matt Leinart had his eligibility temporarily revoked after appearing in a promotional segment on ESPN earlier that month, a violation of an NCAA rule. Leinart was reinstated shortly thereafter. One observer claims the NCAA was just concerned about money.
- On January 1, 2006, reporters from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and CBS Sportline reportedly told the USC football team about potential recruiting violations stemming from visits by USC recruits to Papadakis Taverna, a Greek restaurant owned by former USC linebacker John Papadakis. As of July 2007, the investigation by USC compliance officials continued.
- On January 21, 2006, USC quarterback Matt Leinart was cited by the Pac-10 for working out with his own coach using school facilities. According to the NCAA, a student athlete cannot utilize the school’s facilities to work out with a coach, unless the coach is affiliated with the university.
- On April 21, 2006, the family of USC running back Reggie Bush was implicated by numerous separate media reports as having lived in a house purchased by a San Diego-area man with ties to a sports agent and a tribal casino. Both the Pac-10 and the NCAA have launched an investigation into potential NCAA violations in connnection with this matter, which is pending. More recent reports in this fast evolving story are here, here, and here. Yahoo Sports, which is responsible for much of the investigative reporting on this issue, has set up a page dedicated to its eight-month probe here.
- On April 26, 2006, USC quarterback Mark Sanchez was arrested for investigation of sexually assaulting a female student earlier that same day. Sanchez was released upon posting $200,000 bail, and was ordered to appear in court on May 17, 2006. Sanchez was also placed on “interim suspension” by USC while the case was pending. On June 2, 2006, the LA District Attorney announced that it would not be bring charges against Sanchez due to insufficient evidence.
- On April 30, 2006, it was reported that USC compliance officials were investigating whether an NCAA rule was violated because receiver Dwayne Jarrett failed to pay approximately $10,000 for his half of the rent for an upscale apartment he shared with former quarterback Matt Leinart. USC claims that no rules were violated, though it was initially reported that Jarret may have to sit out a portion of the 2006-07 season. Jarrett ultimately avoided punishment and was the 45th pick in the 2007 NFL draft. After a disappointing season, Jarrett was arrested on March 11, 2008 and charged with driving under the influence.
- In August of 2006, USC defensive back Brandon Ting quit the football team after reportedly testing postive for steroid use. His twin brother, Ryan, also a defensive back on the USC football team, quit the team just days later, claiming that he wanted to concentrate on preparing for medical school, and was never tested. Interestingly, Arthur Ting, father of the twins, is a Bay Area orthopedic surgeon who has reportedly appeared as a witness before a grand jury considering possible perjury charges against baseball’s Barry Bonds, one of Arthur’s clients. This incident finally triggered some real interest by the LA Times.
- On August 29, 2006, it was announced that former USC quarterback Matt Leinart would be having a child out of wedlock with USC basketball player Brynn Cameron. While not improper in any meaningful way outside of his personal life, this event begins a long list of embarrassing incidents involving the former USC star (not to mention other USC quarterbacks).
- On October 16, 2006, it was announced that then 14-year-old high school freshman Dwayne Polee Jr., who had yet to even play a game at Westchester high, had verbally committed to USC’s basketball team. Though not improper, the early commitment was unconventional, and was repeated in June 2007 when USC announced the verbal commitment of 14-year-old middle school player Ryan Boatright, who, at the time, had not yet even decided upon where he was going to high school. Further eyebrows were raised in June 2007, when USC hired Dwayne Polee Sr., father of Dwayne Polee Jr., as Director of Basketball Operations, amid charges of nepotism.
- On December 4, 2006, former USC stand-out, and former Rams rookie, tight end Dominique Byrd was arrested for allegedly hitting a bar patron in the face with a drinking glass. Byrd was charged with second- and third-degree assault and armed criminal action. He was released shortly after posting a $25,000 bond. In early May, 2008, Byrd was scheduled to go to trial in St. Louis Circuit Court on felony charges of assault and armed criminal action stemming from the nightclub scuffle in December 2006. In March 2007, he was charged with DUI in California. In October 2007, he pleaded no contest to the DUI charge and received three years’ probation. In May 2008, Byrd was released by the Rams.
- In January 2007, a federal investigation into extortion claims by former USC running back Reggie Bush and his family revealed the existence of taped converstations that could confirm Bush took cash and gifts while he was playing football for USC. It was also reported that nearly $280,000 in cash, rent and gifts were allegedly given to Bush and his family. The information came to light following the issuance of grand jury subpoenas to multiple witness by the U.S. District Attorney’s office in San Diego. Both the NCAA and Pac-10 continue to investigate. Also, more recent articles suggest that Reggie Bush was involved earlier and more deeply than previously reported in efforts to create the sports marketing agency at the center of the continuing controversy. The investigation has, to date, yielded no definitive proof that USC officials had knowledge of Bush’s misconduct, though Bush was nevertheless asked not to attend the Trojans’ Rose Bowl matchup against Michigan on New Year’s Day.
- On February 2, 2007, it was reported that a “stampede of student athletes,” including three USC linemen, ex-USC receiver Keary Colbert, and members of the USC women’s basketball, volleyball and water polo teams, had improperly attempted to take an academic shortcut around the university’s foreign language requirement by signing up for a course at Los Angeles Trade Tech College taught by USC graduate Senora Ross, who promised to give the athletes no lower than a “B.” Upon discovering the situation, USC officials disallowed the transfer of credits from Trade Tech.
- On February 8, 2007, it was reported that USC football players had created and joined a racist Facebook group as a “joke.” The racist Facebook group was called “White Nation,” showed a graphic of a swastika and black baby in handcuffs with the caption “arrest black babies before they become criminals.” The group was created by USC linebacker Clay Matthews and was joined by teammates David Buehler, Brian Cushing, Dan Deckas and Dallas Sartz. Coach Pete Carroll responded to reports of the incident by saying he had no plans to discipline the players, and USC later announced that none of the players would be punished. According to Carroll, “[i]t’s not a controversy, it’s a mistake.”
- On February 9, 2007, USC compliance officials announced they were investigating whether an NCAA violation occurred during the Trojans’ pursuit of Louisiana prep star running back Joe McKnight. The investigation followed reports that McKnight had told reporters that USC coach Pete Carroll had set up a conference call so he and high school coach J.T. Curtis could be assured by ex-Trojan running back Reggie Bush that USC would not be punished for a separate NCAA investigation into improper benefits allegedly taken by Bush. Carroll later denied that any call took place, and Curtis said that McKnight misspoke. According to NCAA officials, if USC got Bush’s help in recruiting McKnight, it would be considered a “secondary violation” of recruiting rules.
- On March 9, 2007, USC basketball recruit O.J. Mayo was arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession in Huntington, West Virginia. Mayo was one of four young males found in a suspicious vehicle by a Cabell County Sheriff’s drug task force unit assigned to serve a search warrant at a house nearby. The charges against Mayo were later dismissed by a magistrate judge, after the driver of the vehicle pleaded guilty to the charge (though Mayo’s father subsequently had his own difficulties). The incident followed a controversy in January following Mayo’s two (some sources say three) game suspension after receiving two technical fouls in a high school game and coming into contact with an official, as well as prior reports of three suspensions by his high school, the last one following an altercation with a female student.
- On April 14, 2007, it was announced that Percy Romeo Miller, also known as Romeo (and formerly Lil’ Romeo) had been offered a basketball scholarship to USC. The scholarship offer, to a 5-foot-10 point guard with a bad knee who had never played a full season of high-school basketball, was roundly criticized by national commentators as a thinly veiled attempt by USC to obtain the commitment of Miller’s friend, prep star and NBA prospect Demar DeRozan, while ignoring Miller’s mediocre at best talent.
- In the first week of August, 2007, there were new developments in the NCAA investigation of former USC running back Reggie Bush, when it was reported that audio recordings that allegedly establish an improper financial relationship between Bush and a would-be sports marketing agent were played for NCAA investigators. The tapes were revealed after Lloyd Lake, a partner in failed sports marketing agency New Era Sports enterprise, filed a lawsuit against Bush and his family, seeking to recoup nearly $300,000 in benefits Lake claims he helped provide. Lake’s allegations were further detailed in January 2008, with the publication of Don Yaeger’s book Tarnished Heisman, which chronicled various allegations swirling around Bush’s USC tenure, including claims that Bush received $47,000 out of an overall $291,000 that went to his family from sports marketer Lake. That same month, published reports contained Lake’s (unsubstantiated) allegation that USC coaches knew Bush was taking money in violation of NCAA rules.
- On August 28, 2007, a contributor to Bruinsnation.com unearthed a report from April 1996 that USC running backs coach Todd McNair was arrested and charged with 81 offenses involving the mistreatment of 22 pit bulls being trained on his property for dogfights while a running back for the Houston Oilers. In light of recent press relating to NFL quarterback Michael Vick, the report unleashed a firestorm, with numerous acts of alleged animal cruelty being uncovered in McNair’s past, including multiple misdemeanors convictions (via plea bargain) regarding animal cruelty and failure to license, and “all indications” that McNair was involved in dog flighting. McNair, who was previously implicated in Reggie Bush scandal, having allegedly known about Bush’s involvement with the New Era venture before USC national championship game against Texas, faced no discipline from USC.
- On September 27, 2007, it was reported that USC sophomore point guard Daniel Hackett would be sidelined at least six weeks after suffering multiple fractures of his jaw when he was struck by the “elbow” of teammate O.J. Mayo during a pickup game. Shortly thereafter, it was reported, based upon several sources, including a member of the basketball team, that Mayo punched Hackett during the game. The player was quoted as saying “Yeah, he punched him,” “They changed the story for the media.” Despite later denials by Floyd and others, this version of the events was confirmed on multiple occasions.
- On November 3, 2007, convicted felon Suge Knight was given a sideline pass to a USC game. Knight joins O.J. Simpson and Snoop Dogg as USC’s esteemed guests.
- In early November 2007, USC forward Davon Jefferson was suspended for the team’s embarrassing season-opening loss to Mercer. Jefferson, who required two years to meet the NCAA’s minimum academic requirements and was kicked out of prep school before he joined USC, was also later benched for much of a narrow loss at Stanford and also suspended for a loss to Washington State. After clashing with Floyd, Jefferson did not even inform the school of his decision to turn pro.
- On January 21, 2008, USC freshman guard O.J. Mayo was alleged to have violated NCAA rules by accepting complimentary tickets from Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony to a Lakers-Nuggets game at Staples Center. Coach Floyd subsequently took the blame, and Mayo was ultimately required to donate the value of the tickets to charity.
- On March 2, 2008, USC defensive tackle Fili Moala was arrested for resisting and obstructing an officer after a melee at a Newport Beach bar was broken up by police. Moala was released after posting $500 bail, and on March 13, the Orange County district attorney’s office declined to press charges.
- On March 5, 2008, USC recruit Maurice Simmons was arrested for robbery in Compton, after he allegedly pointed a handgun at a man and demanded his belongings. Simmons, a linebacker from Dominguez High School, was initially held at the Los Angeles County jail on $50,000 bail, and then released after posting bail of $85,000. Simmons was arraigned on March 7, and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 15, 2008. To date, USC has not indicated whether or not it intends to honor its commitment to Simmons. Developing.
- On April 1, 2008, USC head coach Pete Carroll, in an attempt to make light of the Trojan’s extensive past history of criminality, invited members of the LAPD to play a prank on defensive end Everson Griffen, who was said to have “physically abused a freshman” and was threatened with arrest during a team meeting.
- On April 6, 2008, USC sophomore tailback Joe McKnight was held out of the team’s scrimmage and it was announced that he would miss the final week of spring workouts because he was academically ineligible to participate. McKnight had dropped a class, leaving him without the 12 units required for eligibility.
- On April 27, 2008, the NFL draft ended with USC guard Drew Radovich remaining unselected. Expected by some to be a mid-to-late round pick, Radovich’s stock allegedly dropped based upon character concerns.
- In late April or early May, 2008, a video was posted on Pete Carroll’s website starring his son, Brennan. The video, replete with profanity and questionable behavior, was widely ridiculed, and was allegedly used against USC in recruiting. In mid-May, the video was removed from youtube.com, with Carroll explaining that it was just a “spoof.”
- On May 2, 2008, the judge in the civil litigation between former USC running back Reggie Bush and Lloyd Lake ordered the parties to appear in June 2008 for their depositions, and denied Bush’s attempts to impose a “gag order” to prevent the deposition transcripts from being shared with the NCAA. The judge also set a trial date of March 13, 2009.
- On May 4, 2008, former USC tight end Fred Davis failed to attend the final practice of the The Washington Redskins minicamp because he overslept after a late night out. Besides giving a poor first impression, Davis confirmed concerns about his commitment to football dating back to his time at USC. Davis was suspended for two games his freshman year at USC for coming back late from his home in Ohio, and missed the 2005 Orange Bowl.
- On May 6, 2008, it was announced that USC’s men’s basketball team was the only major athletic program in the Southland penalized with scholarship losses as the result of a poor performance in the NCAA’s academic progress rate. The Trojans were penalized in part because Lodrick Stewart, Nick Young and Gabe Pruitt stopped attending class after the 2007 season, and because three players transferred within the same season. USC’s APR score of 804 was 121 points below the minimum-acceptable mark, and stemmed from various academic problems, including Gabe Pruitt’s academic ineligibility for the fall 2006 semester, and his ineligibility again following the spring 2007 semester. USC served the penalty during the 2007-08 season.
- On May 13, 2008, ESPN aired an episode of Outside the Lines that contained extensive, well-documented allegations that USC guard O.J. Mayo received improper benefits from a sports agent (BDA Sports) and that agent’s runner (Rodney Guillory) both before and during his one season at USC. It was alleged that Guillory received benefits in excess of $200,000, while Mayo received $30,000 in benefits, including cash, clothes, cell phone service, and a flat screen television for his dorm room. USC immediately faced a storm of criticism, with several prominent commentator calling for sanctions, including the so-called “death penalty.” The criticism of USC intensified as it was reported that Guillory was given largely unfettered access to Mayo and the athletic department, after a highly unusual recruitment process, despite USC knowing of his involvement with agents, including a prior scandal with USC’s Jeff Trepagnier, for many years. The Pac-10 and the NCAA have launched investigations. Developing.
I mean, where do we start?
How the fuck has this been going on, in the internet age, where information is widely available to anyone with a computer and connection, could the NCAA so blindly ignore such a hideous representation of “student athletics?”
Above we have a meticulously detailed list of the infractions that have gone on between the two “money sports,” at USC, and yet, this is the first we’re hearing of ANY sanctions even being considered. Why has this taken so long? Why hasn’t anything been investigated before?
But the question I’m most concerned with is why the fuck hasn’t Pete Carroll taken a scintilla of blame from this whole ordeal?
Like I said above, I admire the hell out of Carroll, but at the same time, I find it incredibly hard to believe that he had no idea what was going on with his program. Yes, he’s a relaxed guy who likes to keep things loose and relaxed. Sure, he spends his evenings in South Central and is more than busy with coaching and recruiting. These aren’t excuses…that’s his job. But what’s also part of his job is dealing with shit like this.
I liken Carroll’s situation to that of Jim Tressel, back during the whole Maurice Clarett saga up through today. The residue of that incident still lingers on, despite an internal and NCAA investigation that proved nothing salacious took place. Yet at the same time, that was ONE semi-major incident, combined with a couple of minor ones (Troy Smith getting a $500 handshake, a few DUI’s), and OSU is still considered a filthy program.
Nevermind the fact that NOTHING like what was detailed above has taken place.
My problem isn’t with Carroll. My problem is with two parties…USC AD Mike Garrett and the NCAA itself. Why has this taken so long to get taken care of? Why didn’t Mike Garrett do anything about it when it was happening under his watch? Why did USC so willingly and voluntarily flaunt it’s disregard for the rules without repercussions? This is straight up bullshit, and getting into the fray when the money train has wound down is not acceptable.
USC SHOULD get as stern a punishment as possible without giving them the death penalty. This was such a gross mismanagement of the college football system that you can’t just turn a blind eye and say, “well, this shit happens everywhere.” The NCAA failed it’s cause, and HAS failed it’s cause for the past three years. They’ve done nothing. Garrett has done nothing. These two parties have totally screwed the pooch, and it’s Carroll’s name, and Tim Floyd’s job, that has taken the brunt of the backlash.
It’s great that USC looks like it’s about to get what it deserves, but at the same time, this should’ve been taken care of LONG ago. And the fact that it hasn’t is disgusting and hypocritical. Everyone involved, from Carroll to Garrett to Floyd to the NCAA should hang their heads in shame. It’s about time.
Filed under:
College Football
too many words
This post reads like a Roberto Bolano novel
yea i know, but it’s hard to be succinct when there’s such a ridiculous number of issues there, man.
look at that shit…it’s all covered. from assault, to violation of NCAA rules, to theft, to having agents, having rogue boosters…it’s death penalty shit.
tOSU makes them look like choir boys though
I can do this too:
• July 26, 2008: Ohio State defensive tackle Doug Worthington was arrested over the weekend and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. According to OSU campus police records, he was charged at 3:13 a.m. Saturday on Woody Hayes Drive. Worthington, 20, is a starting defensive tackle and a redshirt junior who started 11 games for the Buckeyes last season.
• July 7, 2008: Eugene Clifford, a backup cornerback for Ohio State and former Colerain High School football standout, is facing assault charges after allegedly punching two men in the face. According to police, Clifford hit two Holy Grail employees who were trying to break up a fight early Friday at the Corryville tavern. This is not the first time Clifford, 20, has been in trouble with the law or his team. In December 2007, Clifford, then in his first season with the Buckeyes, was suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules. His suspension forced him to sit out of the national championship game against LSU. While a senior at Colerain, Clifford was cited for marijuana possession in March 2007. He paid a $105 fine in that case, though the player’s father, Eugene Clifford Jr. later denied the drugs belonged to his son. Clifford, who is facing two misdemeanor assault charges, is scheduled to appear in court Monday morning for his arraignment.
• Sept 24, 2007: Police arrested an Ohio State University football player Monday night on the city’s north side. According to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, Antonio Henton was arrested and charged with soliciting a prostitute on North High Street and East 6th Avenue at about 8:30 p.m., NBC 4 reported.
• April 2, 2006: Offensive tackle, Alex Boone, was cited for allegedly driving under the influence early Sunday morning. According to a statement released by the university, Alex Boone, 18, will be placed in the school’s drug and alcohol counseling program, NBC 4 reported. Police said Boone was arrested and charged after a two-vehicle crash. The crash occurred at the intersection of West 10th Avenue and South College Road at about 3:30 a.m.
• May 21, 2005: Defensive lineman Tim Schafer is charged with disorderly conduct after police twice had to break up early-morning fights between him and another man. The 6-foot-5, 295-pound Schafer, who started five games as an offensive lineman last season, and the 5-8, 200-pound other man were both bloody, had bite marks and smelled of alcohol.
• May 19, 2005: Redshirt freshman running back Erik Haw was cited after a university police officer said he saw him smoking a marijuana cigarette while standing outside a dormitory. Haw, expected to compete for the starting tailback job, faces a court appearance on Friday in Franklin County Municipal Court. Ohio State officials said he would enter a drug education program and undergo frequent testing.
• May 11, 2005: Redshirt freshman kicker Jonathan Skeete was suspended following an early morning arrest on an outstanding warrant for drug trafficking. Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel has suspended kicker Jonathan Skeete for violation of team rules.
• December 21, 2004: Albert Dukes, a freshman WR was arrested in Palm Beach County, FL and charged with two second-degree felony counts of lewd and lascivious conduct involving a 12 year old girl. Tressel permits Dukes to travel with the team to the Alamo Bowl.
• October 23, 2004: Lydell Ross is arrested at Pure Platinum gentlemen’s club on Bethel Road in Columbus for attempting to pass fake money to a 24-year-old woman at the club. The police report said the woman was an entertainer.
• June 7, 2004: Ohio State University police arrested tight end Louis Irizarry and charged him with Criminal Trespassing at Neil and Tuttle Park Place. An officer pulled over his vehicle and a records check showed he had been banned from campus unless he got special permission from the university.
• May 17, 2004: Freshman Punter A.J. Traspasso is arrested again for underaged drinking. This time, it was by Perkins Township police near Sandusky, Oh.
• May 5, 2004: Freshman Punter A.J. Traspasso is scheduled to appear in Municipal Court at 9 a.m. Wednesday after being charged with underage drinking. The all-state punter was cited after the Spring Game along East 15th Avenue near campus, authorities said.
• May 1, 2004: Sophomore backups Louis Irizarry and Ira Guilford are arrested and charged with robbery after a student is assaulted and his wallet is stolen at 3 a.m. They are held in Franklin County jail through the weekend. Both plead innocent to the robbery charge, with Guilford released after paying a $25,000 bond. Irizarry is held pending a hearing to determine if he had violated his probation from an earlier assault conviction.
• April 29, 2004: Ohio State fullback Branden Joe was cited last week for an alleged misdemeanor open container violation, according to Columbus police.The incident allegedly happened last weekend in the parking lot of a campus-area convenience store.
Joe, a Westerville native, was found guilty of drunken driving in 2002 after officers found him drunk and sleeping in his car on an exit ramp along state Route 315.
• Nov. 16, 2003: At 3 a.m. after a win over Purdue and six days before the Michigan game, wide receiver Santonio Holmes and quarterback Troy Smith are charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct after a fight in a parking lot on campus. A window in a car is kicked out and one woman reported her jaw was broken. Holmes is held out of the starting lineup at Michigan but returns to play most of the game.
• Oct. 27, 2003: Louis Irizarry is charged with three counts of first-degree misdemeanor assault after three people sustain minor injuries during a fight in a Park Hall dorm room. Irizarry is suspended two days later. He is found guilty of one charge each of assault, negligent assault and disorderly conduct and pays $404 court costs and is put on probation. He is later reinstated to the team and is listed as the second-team tight end on the 2004 spring depth chart before he is suspended indefinitely after the May 1, 2004, arrest.
• June 2003: Sophomore tight end Redgie Arden of Ohio State pleaded innocent Monday to his second drunken driving charge in 15 months. Arden, 21, was arrested at 5:54 a.m. Sunday on a charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence, the Ironton Police Department said. In March 2002, Arden pleaded guilty to a drunken driving charge in Ironton. He was sentenced to three days in jail and fined.
• April 2003: Running back Maurice Clarett reports that a car he has borrowed from a local used-car dealer was broken into and thousands of dollars in cash, CDs, stereo equipment and clothing was stolen. The car was in the parking lot at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and Clarett calls police from a telephone in Tressel’s office. Clarett was later charged with lying to police about the value of the stolen items and is charged with misdemeanor falsification of the police report on the theft. Clarett pleads guilty on Jan. 14, 2004, to the reduced charge of failure to aid a law enforcement officer. He is ordered to pay the maximum fine of $100 and serves no jail time. The charge does not appear on his criminal record.
• Oct. 30, 2002: A reserve long snapper on the Ohio State football team is charged with felonious assault for allegedly beating up a man. Kurt Wilhelm, 20, a sophomore walk-on, surrendered to police Tuesday. He is the younger brother of Buckeyes linebacker Matt Wilhelm. An arrest warrant was issued for Kurt Wilhelm following the incident at 2:15 a.m. Saturday in an apartment complex. A university official said coach Jim Tressel had been aware of the incident Saturday, which is why Kurt Wilhelm did not dress for the game against Penn State. But the official said the university was still looking into the details of what happened.
• Oct. 13, 2002: Linebacker Fred Pagac Jr. is charged with persistent disorderly conduct. Pagac was arrested at 3:45 a.m. after police said he was intoxicated and had a role in a fight involving two women outside a campus-area bar about 12 hours after the Buckeyes’ homecoming victory over San Jose State. The police report said an officer told Pagac to stop but he continued to fight. Pagac was suspended for the team’s next game at Wisconsin. Pagac pleaded innocent. In December, before the team’s national championship game against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, Pagac was acquitted in a jury trial.
• Aug. 17, 2002: Defensive lineman Quinn Pitcock is charged with underage drinking in his hometown of Piqua. He is suspended from the team for the three weeks of preseason workouts, then worked out with the team and is not held out of any games. He pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct.
• Aug. 24, 2002: Flanker Chris Vance, the Buckeyes’ second-leading receiver from 2001, is suspended from the team before the season opener for what Tressel called a violation of team policy. Vance was with the team on the sidelines but did not play against Texas Tech. He rejoined the team for practice the following week but did not play in the second game against Kent State. Athletic director Andy Geiger later said Vance’s unspecified violation took place the previous winter. Vance returned for the third game and ended up as the team’s fourth-leading receiver. It was later revealed that Vance was arrested for under aged drinking at an off campus night club.
• July 29, 2002: Wide receiver Angelo Chattams is investigated for the alleged theft of a set of golf clubs from a sport utility vehicle in West Carrollton. Prosecutors approve but do not file a theft charge, permitting Chattams to enroll in a program for nonviolent, first-time offenders and avoid a charge. He was excused from the team to deal with the legal matter, then reinstated and played in the season-opener. He does not play again for the Buckeyes.
• July 26, 2002: Police find Branden Joe, a sophomore fullback, asleep in a car on a highway ramp near campus. The police report says he refused to take a Breathalyzer test. He was suspended for the three weeks of preseason camp and the team’s season opener against Texas Tech, then returns to the team although his playing time is limited by injuries.
• April 27, 2002: Linebacker Marco Cooper is arrested hours after the Buckeyes’ annual intrasquad scrimmage and charged with felony drug abuse and carrying a concealed weapon in his sports-utility vehicle. Cooper pleads guilty to two charges in November and is put on probation.
• March 2, 2002: Tight end Redgie Arden is arrested on a charge of drunken driving in his hometown of Ironton. The redshirt freshman is found guilty and is sentenced to three days in jail and fined. Suspended indefinitely from the team, he does not participate in summer workouts before the 2002 season but is reinstated before the start of the 2002 season and played in 11 games. He is a member of the 2004 team and is listed on the two-deep roster at defensive end.
• Nov. 15, 2001: Quarterback Steve Bellisari is arrested two days before the Illinois game for drunken driving. Tressel suspends the Buckeyes’ three-year starter indefinitely and then reinstates him to the team three days later. A senior, he practiced with the team for the Michigan game but did not play, then came off the bench to play most of the team’s Outback Bowl loss to South Carolina. He later served a weekend in jail.
• March 21, 2001: Cornerback Derek Ross is arrested on charges of driving without a license and providing false information to police, giving an incorrect name when pulled over for speeding. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail. He is suspended from Ohio State’s 2001 spring practices, then played most of the 2001 season, leading the Big Ten in interceptions and earning second-team all-conference honors. Left team to make himself available for the NFL draft a year early.
• Jan. 18, 2001: Tressel is hired.
I left out half of the list.
/just saying
paris…your list pales in comparison to the one about USC.
im not saying that OSU is clean as fuck, just that the USC list is CLEARLY an example of program infidelity.
USC > tOSU
i hate you so much.
Wow. Pretty much all I can say. Wow.
i am really good at pissing you off.
All I want to know is if Carroll likes being shit on?
/hands Spencer a doll
Ok Spence, show us where USC touched you
Gotta agree with spencer here, Paris. I mean, look at this stuff:
Absolutely unreal. Hazing, pranks, sex, and sleep? I mean…. come on. Unacceptable!
[spence grabs doll puts it facedown and repreatedly rams his finger where a butthole would be.]
If you can’t trust Bruins Nation to accurately detail every offense made at USC, who can you trust?
On the other hand, I believe every bad thing I read about tOSU at mgoblog.com
Worst transgression on the list.
/I agree USC > tOSU
as you should
can’t we all just agree that osu and usc are a bunch of cheating fucks who wouldn’t win shit* if they didn’t continueslly break the rules?
/* probably not true
i think you’re all fah go’s for sticking up for USC.
you should all be ashamed of yourselves. especially you paris, seeing as you root for a team that finished tied with indiana for the worst record in the big 10.
/fucking michigan fags…
//im about to break out the ban hammer
You’re funny today. New meds or something?
I quit reading after the 34th time I read “no charges were filed.”
/love your work spence but this is the biggest piece of crap I have read on MLJ
Do you have such authority? Hef, can we get a ruling here?
You kidding? I fucking hate USC. Only slightly more than I hate tOSU. Fuck Michigan too.
/big baby
spencer, it’s not so much defending USC, but you can’t use this list to condemn them. Most of the shit was either garbage, or had charges dropped.
I’m not sticking up for USC. I hate USC and Rape University.
You and I both know he forgot where he put it. Stoners…
The only thing you really needed to list was:
1) Bought a house for Reggie Bush.
If we’re going to go after every football player who does something racist, Notre Dame would never field a team.
Except that was an agent and not a booster and actually hurt the program instead of benefiting it.
i certainly can. it’s clear that there was a gross lack of institutional control. there was documented evidence regarding what reggie bush did. there was academic fraud and recruiting bullshit.
it’s a total package and it all adds up.
tho i do agree it was stupid to put shit like the pranks and bangin’s in there, that was bruin nation’s choice, not mine.
There would never be any “bangin’s” on the OSU list because all their players are fags.
/piling on
//doesn’t give a shit about minor league football
that’s the key statement in all of this IMO.
Jesus christ how stoned did you get last night? Everyone knows USC is dirty, why do you think Mike Riley turned them down to stay at OSU? But like the other esteemed commenters have said, most this list is crap and could be compliled for every big time football or basketball program. This one is my favorite:
100% Hateraid.
That’s because you root for ASU.
ASU poon >>> OSU poon
/facts are facts
very.
ok…so if you agree that USC is dirty, how is a list of dirty things they’ve done stupid? ive already said the shit about the pranks and hazing is dumb, but some of that shit can’t be ignored. and if it wasn’t such a big deal, why would the NCAA be circling?
aaaaahhhh…the ol’ cut and paste. no wonder this post sucked nuts, it was written by bruins.
preseason champs!!!
I agree with the premise that they are a dirty program, but this is like arguing whether a pitcher is good or not based on wins and losses, or wheter a QB is good or not based on QB rating, etc… You list that a guy over slept while in the pro’s, someone getting in a fight while in the pro’s, someone had some weed, or someone was caught with steriods, (which really just shows how stupid the guy since he’s part of the .01% that actually get caught.)
i also list academic fraud, multiple recruiting violations, a house bought by an agent and numerous assaults and other crimes.
this is like arguing whether or not a pitcher is good with all statistics and observational information available.
I look at the list Paris pasted and I think pot meet kettle. But I get what you’re saying.
that’s funny, i look at the list paris posted and all i think is that he’s jealous that his team is OSU’s bitch.
True. Seems to be a lot of program envy going around today.
could you at least cut all the crap that the ncaa wouldn’t and shouldn’t care about then including shit that happened when a player was in the pros and having children out of wedlock? you lose credibility with that crap. even if you didn’t write it.
im the guy who wrote “trent dilfer is a necrophiliac.”
needless to say credibility isn’t on my list of important things. im all about quantity over quality.
Congratulations?
I’m the one who wished AIDS upon JP Losman. I obviously care about quantity and quality.
what do you have against jp losman?
Not jealous, just disappointed. As for USC being dirtier than tosu…
It was after he turned the ball over three times last year. The loss prevented the Pats from making the playoffs…don’t you know your MLJ history?
Wasn’t JP Losman a powerhouse in that league where every team had a teal uniform?
Rucker was charged in Colorado with sexual assault and indecent exposure
go figure it happened in colorado.
by the way nice piece spence.
Girl Scouts?
speaking of that…where DID you go to law school?
/taps chin
My counsel has advised me against answering that.