This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
USC football has suffered another black-eye, as running back Hershel Dennis is the focus of a sexual assault case that may involve several other members of the Trojan football squad. USC Head Coach Pete Carroll has suspended Dennis indefinitely. While USC has enough talent to weather pretty much any loss, including Dennis, LAist is still concerned about off-the-field problems with Trojan football. Dennis could be the fifth Trojan arrested since winning the national championship. The most notable among the group was Winston Justice, who Carroll had the temerity to suspend for this season.
USC Football is on top of the world again for the first time in a long time. But with great talent, comes responsibility. There is absolutely no reason why USC needs to mimic the off-the-field problems of teams like Florida State. Fortunately, it appears Carroll has more integrity than Congressman Tom Osborne who let the troubled Lawrence Phillips off the hook with in retrospect few life lessons learned while coaching Nebraska. Hopefully USC players will get the message.
