Does USC get a free pass on discipline?

[E.T.]

Does USC get a free pass on discipline?

In the words of the great Barry Switzer, "Just win, baby."

Over the years, many successful programs have gotten a black-eye for their off-the-field conduct, despite their on-the-field success. Miami, Florida State, Penn State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, LSU, Tennessee and others have hoisted trophies on Saturday, only to make the wrong kind of headlines by Sunday morning. It's a reputation that keeps on giving, often staining reputations for decades to come.

But not so for Southern Cal and Head Coach Pete Carroll.

Despite a long and distinguished list of arrests and transgressions in the few short years that Carroll has been on campus, the Teflon Trojans maintain a sterling reputation.

While Bruins Nations is nice enough (wink) to maintain a more exacting USC "rap sheet", I'm just going to hit the highlights of the Pete Carroll era.

Let's examine:

2001 - Pete Carroll hired by USC.

2003 - USC OT Winston Justice plead no contest to solicitation of a prostitute.

2004 - USC OT Winston Justice was arrested on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon - plead no contest.

2004 - USC RB Hershel Dennis investigated for an alleged sexual assault. Suspended for "breaking team rules".

2005 - USC CB Eric Wright was arrested for investigation of sexual assault.

2005 - USC CB Eric Wright suspended three semesters after police found 136 Ecstasy pills in his apartment

2005 - USC TE Dominique Bird gets a broken jaw in a fight with WR Steve Smith

2005 - USC DE Frostee Rucker investigated for spousal battery

2005 - 10 USC players investigated for hazing QB Mark Sanchez

2005 - Several players investigated for damage to dorms following a fight among players

2005 - USC RB LenDale White simulates suicide by throwing a tackling dummy off a building in view of the team as a "prank" devised by White & Carroll

2005 - USC players accused of pushing Washington State Head Coach Bill Doba before halftime

2005 - USC LB Rey Maualuga arrested for misdemeanor battery after punching a man at an off-campus Halloween party

2005 - USC QB Matt Leinart is ruled ineligible briefly by the NCAA after an ESPN TV promotion

2006 - Football team investigated for recruiting violations in visits to Papadakis Taverna

2006 - USC QB Matt Leinart was cited by the Pac-10 for illegal workouts at USC

2006 - USC DE Frostee Rucker charged with two misdemeanor counts of spousal battery and two counts of vandalism from the 2005 beating of his girlfriend

2006 - USC RB Reggie Bush and his family investigated for improper gifts and benefits

2006 - USC QB Mark Sanchez was arrested for investigation of sexual assault

2006 - USC WR Dwayne Jarrett investigated on NCAA violation for failing to pay $5,352 in rent.

2006 - USC DBs Brandon & Ryan Ting quit the team under allegations of steroid use

2007 - A federal investigation revealed tapes regarding USC RB Reggie Bush and his family allegedly extorting $280,000 in cash, rent and gifts while he was playing football for USC.

2007 - USC LB Clay Matthews created a racist Facebook group called "White Nation". The group was joined by USC players David Buehler, Brian Cushing, Dan Deckas and Dallas Sartz.

2007 - USC compliance officials investigate illegal recruiting of RB Joe McKnight.

Which brings us to the latest arrest:

2007 - USC junior safety Josh Pinkard arrested May 18 on the suspicion of drunk driving.

And the latest rumors (UNCONFIRMED as of yet - mind you!) of another pending arrest and a loose confirmation at WeAreSC.com:

An arrest warrant has been issued for USC Linebacker Kulaka Maiava. Maiava, according to several witnesses, trespassed onto the campus of Baldwin High School in Wailuku Tuesday and began a heated discussion with a 17 year old female student. Maiava, according to witnesses then assaulted the student causing a blackened eye, broken nose and forcing her to be hospitalized over night with a concussion. Maiava then assaulted the student's boyfriend who tried to intervene. Both students are scheduled to graduate later this week."

Now, these are the "headliner" type actions and allegations - roughly 25 in the past six seasons. That works out to... what... four none-to-pretty headlines per season?

What say you - does USC have a dirty program? Is USC getting a free pass? Just win, baby?

:GoBulls

[Bull Dozer]

That whole "Just win baby!" thing was started by this man. 

[smazza]

Does USC get a free pass on discipline?

In the words of the great Barry Switzer, "Just win, baby."

Over the years, many successful programs have gotten a black-eye for their off-the-field conduct, despite their on-the-field success. Miami, Florida State, Penn State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, LSU, Tennessee and others have hoisted trophies on Saturday, only to make the wrong kind of headlines by Sunday morning. It's a reputation that keeps on giving, often staining reputations for decades to come.

But not so for Southern Cal and Head Coach Pete Carroll.

Despite a long and distinguished list of arrests and transgressions in the few short years that Carroll has been on campus, the Teflon Trojans maintain a sterling reputation.

While Bruins Nations is nice enough (wink) to maintain a more exacting USC "rap sheet", I'm just going to hit the highlights of the Pete Carroll era.

Let's examine:

2001 - Pete Carroll hired by USC.

2003 - USC OT Winston Justice plead no contest to solicitation of a prostitute.

2004 - USC OT Winston Justice was arrested on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon - plead no contest.

2004 - USC RB Hershel Dennis investigated for an alleged sexual assault. Suspended for "breaking team rules".

2005 - USC CB Eric Wright was arrested for investigation of sexual assault.

2005 - USC CB Eric Wright suspended three semesters after police found 136 Ecstasy pills in his apartment

2005 - USC TE Dominique Bird gets a broken jaw in a fight with WR Steve Smith

2005 - USC DE Frostee Rucker investigated for spousal battery

2005 - 10 USC players investigated for hazing QB Mark Sanchez

2005 - Several players investigated for damage to dorms following a fight among players

2005 - USC RB LenDale White simulates suicide by throwing a tackling dummy off a building in view of the team as a "prank" devised by White & Carroll

2005 - USC players accused of pushing Washington State Head Coach Bill Doba before halftime

2005 - USC LB Rey Maualuga arrested for misdemeanor battery after punching a man at an off-campus Halloween party

2005 - USC QB Matt Leinart is ruled ineligible briefly by the NCAA after an ESPN TV promotion

2006 - Football team investigated for recruiting violations in visits to Papadakis Taverna

2006 - USC QB Matt Leinart was cited by the Pac-10 for illegal workouts at USC

2006 - USC DE Frostee Rucker charged with two misdemeanor counts of spousal battery and two counts of vandalism from the 2005 beating of his girlfriend

2006 - USC RB Reggie Bush and his family investigated for improper gifts and benefits

2006 - USC QB Mark Sanchez was arrested for investigation of sexual assault

2006 - USC WR Dwayne Jarrett investigated on NCAA violation for failing to pay $5,352 in rent.

2006 - USC DBs Brandon & Ryan Ting quit the team under allegations of steroid use

2007 - A federal investigation revealed tapes regarding USC RB Reggie Bush and his family allegedly extorting $280,000 in cash, rent and gifts while he was playing football for USC.

2007 - USC LB Clay Matthews created a racist Facebook group called "White Nation". The group was joined by USC players David Buehler, Brian Cushing, Dan Deckas and Dallas Sartz.

2007 - USC compliance officials investigate illegal recruiting of RB Joe McKnight.

Which brings us to the latest arrest:

2007 - USC junior safety Josh Pinkard arrested May 18 on the suspicion of drunk driving.

And the latest rumors (UNCONFIRMED as of yet - mind you!) of another pending arrest and a loose confirmation at WeAreSC.com:

An arrest warrant has been issued for USC Linebacker Kulaka Maiava. Maiava, according to several witnesses, trespassed onto the campus of Baldwin High School in Wailuku Tuesday and began a heated discussion with a 17 year old female student. Maiava, according to witnesses then assaulted the student causing a blackened eye, broken nose and forcing her to be hospitalized over night with a concussion. Maiava then assaulted the student's boyfriend who tried to intervene. Both students are scheduled to graduate later this week."

Now, these are the "headliner" type actions and allegations - roughly 25 in the past six seasons. That works out to... what... four none-to-pretty headlines per season?

What say you - does USC have a dirty program? Is USC getting a free pass? Just win, baby?

:GoBulls

most are chickenchit stuff

not many convictions or findings of fact/law against usc

they are the best run program  in usa

alphabetically usf is right above the real usc

usc has 10 all american rbs on roster

what a fun team to watch

they make game entertaining

running a pro style offense is fun for fans and players