2009 Bowl Games

In the midst of yet another scandal involving USC football, many are left to wonder what has happened to a once honorable sports program. No longer does USC embody the famous “tradition,” “glory,” or “family spirit” for which it famously proclaims itself to symbolize year after year. Instead, the current USC Trojan sports program is juggling three potential instances of illegal benefits, which makes five such occurrences in the past four years.

First of all, I don’t think that USC is run differently than any other university in the country, but I do believe that their geographic location puts them at a significant disadvantage in being able to provide “institutional control.” A search on the NFL Players Association website for certified agents listed in California illicit 109 results, by far the most of any other state. This does not even include the abundance of marketing agencies in and around the Los Angeles area.

The solution? USC needs to do away with their open-door policy of allowing full access to various agents and marketing representatives. Yahoo Sports’ investigation of the Reggie Bush case showed that in years past, agents and their representatives were actually allowed in the USC locker room and on the sidelines at practices and games. Pete Carroll uses this as a recruiting tool, knowing full well that high-profile high school players want to be put in the spotlight and given every advantage to maximize their exposure. This philosophy, however, has backfired and it’s now time for a major shift within the athletic department.