USC Puts Tony Bland On Leave

Here’s one from Mike Blanton, USC vice president for compliance:

“This morning we were surprised to learn of the FBI investigation and arrest of USC Basketball assistant coach Tony Bland. After learning of these allegations Bland was placed on immediate administrative leave.

 “USC places the highest priority on athletic compliance and is taking this situation very seriously. Accordingly, we have hired former FBI director Louis J. Freeh, and his firm, Freeh Group International Solutions, to work with us in conducting an internal investigation into this matter so that we can take action quickly and appropriately.

“This morning, we reached out proactively to both the NCAA and the FBI to pledge our full cooperation and to learn more details. Everyone associated with the program will cooperate fully with these investigations and will assist authorities as needed.”

Louis Freeh? He has had his own controversy in the past.

And of course, now let’s here from Larry Scott:

Statement from Pac-12 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott

“As Commissioner of the Pac-12 Conference, I am deeply troubled by the charges filed in federal court today against a number of individuals involved in college basketball, including two assistant coaches employed by member institutions of our Conference. Protection of our student-athletes, and of the integrity of competition, is the
Conference’s top priority. I have been in contact with the leadership of both universities and it is clear they also take this matter very seriously. We are still learning the facts of this matter, but these allegations, if true, are profoundly upsetting to me. They strike at the heart of the integrity of our programs, and of the game that so many people love and play the right way.”

54 thoughts on “USC Puts Tony Bland On Leave

  1. When the Feds are involved then it’s pretty much a slam dunk case. Unlike the keystone cops, a.k.a. the NCAA, they usually have some inside info or someone has flipped, or both. Like another person posted earlier, this may be the tip of the iceberg. Bland better get himself a good lawyer.

    • It will get worse once these guys start making deals with the FBI to save their fanny, then it will really get bad. And then the Keystone Kops will get involved and drag this out for a few years.

        • There will be more, Bland would be smart to get a lawyer and start singing if he knows anything

      • We need Nikias and Swann to clean house immediately instead of waiting for the slow drip drip drip of allegations and deals made with prosecutors.

  2. Looks like Bland is getting thrown under the bus to cover up for the entire program. Didn’t Lloyd Lake teach you guys anything? I’m guessing his court testimony will bring down Enfeld, Swan and probably reveal football corruption as well. Hello Death Penalty. Long time coming.

      • yeah, the Ncaa is just going to let this slide. Or, now someone with subpoena power will be leading the investigation. Feds will turn it all over. Maybe you guys can rent your little arena to Nickelodeon since you don’t need it for basketball anymore.

        • If you’re interested in the facts (I’m guessing you aren’t), read the complaint. This begins and ends with Bland and there’s not even a remote suggestion that anyone else in the USC athletic department is involved.

          • As I mentioned before, nobody knows all the facts yet. We know what was mentioned in the complaint. That may just be the beginning. Assistant Coaches could roll over on Head Coaches and/or ADs in order to make a deal. Adidas employees could roll over. This could lead anywhere.

          • This thing with the Adidas rep is really baffling. Both Arizona and USC are Nike schools. Why would they be dealing with an Adidas rep?

          • It was about delivering kids to an agent. It just so happened to be an Adidas rep who probably wanted to sign the kids when they went to the NBA.

            As far as the 2 Adidas schools, they paid even bigger money to deliver them to an Adidas school, reportedly Louisville and Miami.

          • I wouldn’t mind if they sacrificed Andy and put the basketball program on 3 year NCAA probation as long as they leave football alone.

          • I don’t think this has anything to do with football unless they decide to punish the entire athletic department, which I think is highly unlikely unless there is wrongdoing there.

            In this case, you have 2 dirty programs in Louisville and Miami that should provide SC some cover so to speak. As the old joke goes, you don’t need to outrun the bear, you just have to outrun the other school.

          • Again the rules–the head coach is responsible for the program—no matter if he knows about it or not!

      • That explains why the NCAA bailed on the rumored investigation- they felt too sorry for f uccla!

        • goop, you pathetic loser. Once again, bozo u botched cheating 101 and shoots itself in the foot.

          The Republicans and bozo u, loser birds of a feather.

  3. Louis Freeh ? Waco ? Ruby Ridge ? Couldn’t USC do better than this guy ? Oh wait, he’s the former FBI director, maybe he’s still got some juice at the Bureau to lessen the blow here, nevermind.

    • RubyRidge and Waco were under the auspices of the grizzled Janet Reno.

      but in any case, hiring Freeh was a good move….i’m positive Swaney dint think that one up on his own.

      #TooManyConcussions

        • i just said she called the shots, not that she was a G-man. she personally ordered the hit on Waco compound….which led to Ruby Ridge.

        • Cortez the Hack: The Attorney General is nominally the FBI Director’s superior. The FBI Director doesn’t order the AG to prosecute a case; but, the FBI Director investigates at the AG’s will.

    • In 2000, the editorial staff of Business Week called for the resignation of Freeh, citing the alleged Waco cover up.

  4. Larry Scott, stick it in your ear you no good bum. Scheduling football games on Thursday and Friday nights, you suck. You could give a rat’s a#s about the coaches. u suck.

    • this I agree with you about!!! TV rules about the Friday, Thursday and sat nite games suck! Blame the Presidents, AD’s and the schools for bending over at the expense of season ticket holders—can’t plan for more than one week in advance about game times!

    • The WSU-USC battle of two unbeatens would be the game of the week normally on Saturday night at 5PM ….but NOOOOOOOOOO!

      • goop, you poor thing. Your side is striking out at an alarming rate. I’m thinking once “Donnie Boy” is impeached, bozo u could hire Donnie as Univ. Chancellor.

  5. LOL, bozo u gets caught payola cheating again…..Somethings just never change.

    Poor Sammy, I’m sorry he had to find out that the crummy bozo u/Andyain’twinning basketball program had to buy players to compete with real BB programs.

    • There are 6 schools involved for now. If it is this wide spread many more schools are going to get swept up. Start with every school those arrested have worked and the head coaches they worked for. This could kill basketball or finally start cleaning up college sports.

      • UCLA is not a AAU favorite; so don’t hold your breathe. The AAU does favor Andyain’twinning and the bozo u BB program.

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