Vehitike Returns

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USC linebacker Simione Vehikite returned to practice Wednesday after getting released from jail earlier this week. Vehitike served more than three months for leaving the scene of a car accident and driving with an .08% blood-alcohol level and causing injury.
He was actually sentenced to a year back in May for the two felony counts.
USC coach Lane Kiffin did not announce Vehitike’s return but it might explain why walk-on linebacker Will Andrew is no longer on scholarship.

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  • Unconditional Sanctions Coming

    Wow, its “win at all costs” now for Lame-O. No game suspensions coming here because its going to be handled internally, RIGHT Lane? A few extra laps should do it. Funny how he just magically sprang from the slammer right before the season begins. How embarrassing…

    Karma is a b!tch. Cheat On!

  • ThaiMex

    Actions speak louder than words.
    Fit on Torgan!

  • SoCalMAB

    Dear Unconditional: Did you know that early release is rather common these days with regard to jail sentences? Why are you posting on USC’s blog if you are really an SC hater? And just because this guy is a football player is he not entitled to a second chance at life? Who knows what will happen, or what really occurred to cause his early release? PS: Wasn’t Lindsay Lohan sentenced to several months at one point and just served a few hours due to overcrowding? And look at what she did. Just saying.

  • INawe

    There is no such thing as proper student conduct anyways. He did his time. They will just use him while they can before he gets caught for something else and goes to jail again. Fight on.

  • Trojanfan

    Unconditional is a fuckin idiot…just saying

  • The Monopoly is Over Here 2.0

    CryMex is an unconditional idiot. What a crybaby…

  • Jethro G. Sabbath

    Smells like Bucket here

  • ELTROJ

    Hey Bruin Fans “Unconditional” and “ThaiMex”,
    Ever heard of guy named Justin Medlock? UCLA’s Kicker in 2005? He left his girlfriend in a DUI accident at the scene dying in 2005. (go ahead and Google Justin Medlock arrest) Your coach Karl Dorrell at the time, didn’t suspend him either. Gave him a few laps as punishment. How hypocritical do you feel now?

    Simione Vehikite paid his dues to society. You think Kiffin is Don Corleone and has judges in his back pocket to let him out early?

    Good luck staying out of the cellar! 12 out of the last 13 years. Hahahahahahaha!

    SCOREBOARD!

  • Son of CharIie Bucket

    Jezro, i suspect it’s likely when someone cuts you off on the freeway, you roll down your window and yell “damn you Bucket, i know it’s you!!!”

    but seriously, Jezro, what do you think of this highly anticipated new blog format?? and why does everyone say you can comment anonymously? and why are they saying in the new format we have to identify ourselves??

    i mean, i don’t think even you trOXans want NOBS knowing their real info, if you know what i mean!! he’d be posting your facepage and family members names and ages…no es bueno!

  • ftfo2009
  • Jethro G. Sabbath

    Bucket,

    Come on now, nobody is dreading thae changes as much as you. With only one screen name to post by, how will you have those conversations with yourself?
    It also seems that you have unveiled a couple new ones recently just to get them in under the wire.
    Enjoy it while you can!!!!

  • ftfo2009

    My favorite is the Yoda who doesn’t know anything at all about Star Wars. What ever happened to him?

  • LovetheCapper

    I think Kiff should run all decisions past Scott first.

    Scott, any injuries in practice today?

  • ProbationU

    @fifo…thanks for the link. Mednick was suspended for 4 months and the sentence was lighter than this kid.

    The point everyone is missing is not that he is welcomed back to the team, he did serve his time and kids deserve a second chance. All valid points. The BIG question is, should Kiffin have taken a scholarship away from Will Andrews in order to make room for Vehitike?

    Anyone have thoughts on that part of the decision?

  • ftfo2009

    Medlock was suspended for the Sun Bowl dude. Not really a big deal.

    They are similar positions, and one seems to be a much better performer on the field than the other. I assume there may be other, more intimate details that Kiffin isn’t telling Wolf (who would?). Perhaps Kiffin is taking the same stance that if the SEC doesn’t take arrests seriously (players suspended for 1/2 a game against FCS opponents), why should we if we’re expected to compete at the same level?

    That being said, let’s just suspend him for Hawaii. Deal?

  • How does Scott Wolf keep his job?

    ProbationU -

    Scholarships are awarded on an annual basis. Will Andrew attended USC and joined the football team as a walk-on. Therefore, nothing was taken away from Will Andrew. He was fortunate to have received a scholarship last season, which was likely never guaranteed at any point during his time before or at USC.

    I doubt there is anyone that would not have wanted him to receive a scholarship this season; however, one of Kiffin’s jobs is to win football games. If he believes the best opportunity to do so is by awarding a scholarship to Vehitike and not Andrew, that is his decision. Will Andrew seems to have handled the news in a very professional manner. He’ll be fine.

  • ProbationU

    If he hasn’t been practicing, unlikely he will be ready to go by Hawaii…or anytime soon. As @fifo said…none of us know what Kiffin knows. Can’t help but feel bad for the kid that lost out…that’s a pretty expensive decision for his family.

    I don’t have enough facts to critique the decision one way or the other…don’t like Kiffin so I would lean toward not trusting him based upon his track record and not sure if this Vehitike will even be ready to play until later in the year. Suspension is meaningless if he has spent 3 months in jail..he has paid his price.

  • ProbationU

    Classy response from the kid…surprised that Wolf didn’t report it!

    http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/usc/post/_/id/14017/andrew-it-didnt-go-my-way

    Usually one needs to go to Westwood to find this much class!

  • LovetheCapper

    PU, here’s an idea: why don’t you and wealthy Bill pay Andrew’s tuition?

    BTW moron, the AD makes the decision on scholarships, not the HC. The HC can recommend, not determine.

  • Trojsteve5

    It was based on the total of 75 maximum so a trade off was needed, not up to the AD in any case. Haden and staff only there to evaluate the transcripts for eligibility to gain entrance to the university or qualify to return to school. Andrews has been there for two or three years so able to pay his own way by whatever means. This came out of the blue or better yet cardinal at the last moment which seems harsh unless he was notified of possibility awhile ago not made for the general public.

  • LovetheCapper

    T5, you are full of crap. You REALLY think Pat doesn’t sign off on all those issues? That the coaches do it? You are stupid. In fact, go ask Patty Boy.

  • marvgoux

    ELTROJ, the fucla player Medlock killed his girlfriend? How horrible!

  • ftfo2009

    ProbU:

    “Usually one needs to go to Westwood to find this much class!”

    http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/ncf/story/_/id/8253684/ucla-bruins-coach-jim-mora-says-murders-one-block-our-campus

    But agreed that Wolf sucks at his job.

  • bushwhite

    Not much we can say. Wrong move by USC. the kid was driving drunk and left the scene of an accident. He needs to straighten himself out not be playing football.

    I realize we are thin at LB but this isn’t the answer.

    Thi sis not Notre Dame where M Floyd regularly drives around drunk and gets pulled over and T Rees beats up police officers and they get a wrist slap.

    We look bad enough already after the sanctions and loss of NC and we really need to clean our image up.
    MB was doing a good job with his missionary work and good attitude adn this kind of deflates the whole thing.

  • LovetheCapper

    Go see the AD about it if you don’t like it. You all want to jump up and down kissing his @$$ and The Greek’s. Can’t blame this one on Garrett OR Kiff. It’s the AD’s decision!

  • schammer47

    bushwhite

    Great post !!! Every student attending USC should be committed each day to bring honor and acclaim to their university. Didn’t happen, Mr. Vehikite, under your watch.

    Vehikite should be permanently expelled for his lawless life threatening behavior. Our University should hold dear the highest Moral and Ethical standards, across the board. All on campus Criminals and Habitual Liars should be expelled and denied reinstatement.

    Find another college, Mr. Vehikite, if you so desire.

    BEAT THE PACIFIC ISLANDERS !!!

    and f.u.c.l.a

  • usc50ucla0

    it’s an unfortunate reality… when life hits you in the guts UCLA guys bemoan and feel life is over. Dang, just look at these posts from the UCLA fan base. They’ve given up on the guy. Sadly, we can all see how it mirrors their lives.

    Trojans will just FIGHT ON. Carry on. Pick ourselves up and move forward. It takes courage to put out a hand and even more to accept it.

    Personally, I hope UCLA goes 10-0 before the crosstown rivalry. Beating a 6-8 team is no fun… unless you’re a 4-8 team. In the meantime, we get to gloat over a 50-0 victory. Live with it.

    usc50ucla0

  • ELTROJ

    @marvgoux,
    He left her there dying and didn’t call an ambulance and tried to escape and was caught a few miles away. She ended up living. Barely. But who leaves their girlfriend in an accident to save their own skin for their f up?

  • ELTROJ

    @marvgoux,
    She suffered a fracture vertebrae in her neck.

  • Trojanfan

    Allen Pinkett approves this move!

  • NJ Trojan

    @ELTROJ: Ted Kennedy. His girlfriend did die.

  • http://www.yahoo.com Bruin Rob is my idol

    I had to copy and paste, I saw this on another site, but it is so effing true, I just had to steal it: “So, SUC gives the scholarship to the ex-con who drove drunk, hit someone with his car, fled the scene of the crime & stole his ID, and was summarily kicked off the team, and took away the scholarship of a walk on kid who was busting his hump, so as to make room for the felon. Sounds like the moves of an imoral coach determined to make sure his university remains nothing more than a football factory?

    @ELTROJ, a.k.a. CPEM, don’t confuse the Justin Medlock case with this one. Justin Medlock was guilty of a simple DUI. According to Medlock he left his car to go seek help for his GF who had been injured, whether it’s true or false I don’t know, but the judge sure seemed to buy his story, as Medlock was found guilty of a DUI only…it should also be noted that UCLA suspended Medlock for the Sun Bowl…and furthermore, Medlock only spent a night in jail while he sobered up, don’t confuse Medlock with this felon that was sentensed for a year…if you’re going to inlude DUIs, for “prisoners” after their arrests than the list just grew 10-fold for USC, Josh Pinkard alone had two arrests for DUIs, I don’t consider him a criminal/felon, just a drunk kid that had bad judgement.