Leinart-Jarrett Controversy
Weekend reports about the living arrangement between Matt Leinart and Dwayne Jarrett were the latest controversy to envelop the program. Leinart's father, Bob, claimed he's been told Jarrett might owe him $10,000 because its not known whether it was legal for Bob Leinart to pay a portion of their rent.
Bob Leinart claimed the rent was about $3,800 and that his son and Jarrett each paid $650.
USC's compliance office is investigating the manner, however, unlike the issues regarding Reggie Bush, the university seems prepared to ``fight back'' on this one, according to several sources.
``This is ridiculous,'' a source said. ``Bob Leinart jumped the gun and went public when there's been no proof of wrongdoing.''
It would be interesting to see on what grounds USC "fights back."
The only possible way I can see is if Leinart and Jarret's relationship existed before Matt Leinart became a scholarship athlete at USC, and at no time prior to that relationship did Bob Leinart do anything to become a "athletics representative" (aka Booster), including owning USC season tickets, donating to any USC clubs, etc. AND that such prior relationship included Bob Leinart paying some of Jarret's expenses.
Another way to squeeze out of this might be that USC will claim Jarrett paid "fair rent," suggesting that he only used one small room at the apartment, and such room use only warranted $625/mo. This is almost laughable on its face, but if the NCAA is looking for a way to be nice to USC, they could give this credence and look the other way.
Let's cover some issues:
Can parents of fellow student-athletes help out their roomies when their roomies are also scholarship student-athletes?
The NCAA rules seem clear that a parent of a scholarship student athlete is an "Athletics Representative." The definition of "athletics representative" (aka Booster) is ridiculously broad. Almost anyone reading this is a booster of some sort (alumnus, season ticket holder, donor, advocate of a school's athletic endeavors, etc.)
The NCAA rules are also clear that subsidized rent or discounted ANYTHING is against the rules.
Example: Richard Jefferson of Arizona had to pay restitution and miss one game because his roommate's dad paid for plane fare and gave him a ticket to an NBA game. The value of all this was less than $400.
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Can scholarship student-athletes get in trouble for rent-sharing arrangements with roommates?
Sure. UCLA's Kristee Porter was suspended for HALF A SEASON for receiving extra benefits as a result of an expense-sharing arrangement with a roommate, which was apparently deemed not appropriately equal. Articles suggest that her roommate was not a UCLA student, was not a UCLA "athletics representative / booster" and was not connected in any way to an agent or other interested party.
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Are some NCAA rules silly?
Sure.
While it seems to an average person that they did nothing wrong and morally I dont think they did anything wrong the NCAA rulebook might say otherwise. This one isnt nearly as bad as what Bush and his family did but everything is just piling up this week. Hopefully this issue will blow over but USC should erase Bush from the record books now and forfeit all of the games last season before anything else happens.
The sad thing is that Bob's decision to immediately go on the defensive had to have been a knee-jerk reaction to the deadly silence coming from the Bush camp. I found his comment re: having checks and money orders from Jarrett particularly telling - no one was suggested Jarrett had paid nothing. Regardless, you'll note no one from the Bush family is offering to show any checks...
Does anyone remember who Richard Jeffesrson's roommate was? It was none other than Luke Walton, yes, the son of Bill Walton.
Why is this all coming out "from under the woodwork" now?
When are you going to address your screw up on the Lendale story?