University of Southern California had previously warned of improper contact, benefits for student atheletes
Following the recent and significant NCAA sanctions levelled against their athletic department, the University of Southern California isn’t taking any chances. The Trojans’ football program, which is currently in its first year of a two-bowl ban and four
years of probation overall, was quick to suspend running back Dillon Baxter for his solicitation of a golf cart ride on the university’s campus last week.
But, according to a recent report from ESPNLosAngeles.com, the freshman tailback was not permitted to play in Saturday’s 36-7 loss to Oregon State because the school deemed the ride an extra benefit and in violation of the NCAA’s policies. In a strange twist,
school officials said that they had previously met with Teague Egan, the CEO of 1st Round Enterprises (and driver of the cart), and informed him that any such activity would not be in accordance with NCAA regulations.
“Approximately one week [before Baxter’s golf cart ride], USC officials saw Egan in a golf cart on campus and met with him to inquire into his contacts with USC student-athletes,” David Roberts, the university’s vice president for athletic compliance, told
ESPNLosAngeles.com. “At that time, Egan was asked not to provide any transportation or other benefits to student-athletes.”
Although Egan would not comment on any previous contact with USC officials, he insisted that Baxter committed no wrongdoing, and that providing the ride was his [Egan’s] “mistake.”
Hoping to avoid any further infractions, the Trojans' head coach, Lane Kiffin, simply reiterated how important it is for his players to be aware of their surroundings. “You can’t even take a ride in a cart for a block across campus,” the first-year coach told
the media last week. “No matter who it is, whether it’s a student or something, you just really can’t do anything.”
Still, Egan, a 22-year-old undergraduate student at USC, questioned how ridiculous he finds the ruling to be. “To me, a golf cart ride wasn’t an extra benefit, since I give 15-20 rides a day to all my friends to and from class,” he said. “The question is would
they consider riding on the handle bars of a bicycle against the rules? Say we all wanted to go to the movies together, would we have to take separate cars, and the player ride by himself? I wouldn’t even buy a player’s ticket to that movie. But a ride?”
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