Wide Array Of Topics

Q: USC basketball staff specifically instructed Davon Jefferson to NOT hire an agent and to test the NBA waters while keeping his eligibility in tact. From what I hear academic performance/grades was not an issue. Did DJ just really dislike playing for Coach Floyd that much? Or were the whispers in his ear just too loud and convincing? If UNC can get three players back, why couldn't USC and Davon communicate and devise a better draft strategy for all parties?
Who dropped the ball here?

A: The ball dropped was untimately dropped by Davon Jefferson. He left because he did not get along with Tim Floyd. They had several disagreements, including a huge argument up in the Bay Area, not to mention the many times Jefferson was suspended (rarely admitted by Floyd to the public).
But in some sense, Floyd is also responsible. He knew what he was getting into by taking Jefferson and ultimately, I believe it proved a failure because he stayed for only one season and did not really further the program with his inconsistent play and short stay. I said a year ago at this time that Jefferson was a raw player and took some criticism for it, but still think I was right about that.

Q: What is the source of the athletic dept.'s paranoia with current sorry state of the Song Girls and their aesthetically-deprived members? It seems as though there's a lot of secrecy in regards to the program and the athletic dept. seems to think it can control this website, angry alumni, dejected students, and confounded fans, by ignoring the problem. I mean what's wrong with posting pictures of Oregon and UCLA cheerleaders since they're actually hot and nice to look at. Do they think that if we don't see how good other cheer squads are, we won't know how aesthetically deprived the Song Girls are? Do they really think we are that stupid? How many threats have you received from the athletic dept.? Are they trying to intimidate you to stop reporting on the failure of the Song Girls to be attractive?

A: It's not that unique in many respects when you consider that it's an institution that does not want or appreciate any scrutiny or transparency. As the old saying goes, people in power are the last to ever give up power. So there are some in the athletic dept. that want to snuff out all debate and are monitoring the Open Forums precisely because they do not want people like you asking any more questions.

Q: Eric Sondheimer on Upland High quarterback Josh Nunes, 6/29/08: "His decision to choose Tennessee even though he has yet to visit the campus came because he likes the competition of SEC football and was convinced he could succeed after speaking to several ex-Tennessee quarterbacks, including the Clausen brothers , Casey and Rick." What are the rules regarding "undue influence" by former players?

A: Eric Sondheimer wrote something about a kid who wasn't from the Valley?
But I digress. There are rules about when former players can contact recruits but they can easily be manipulated. For example, if Casey Clausen were giving passing lessons, there's nothing that can stop him from telling a kid to go to Tennessee. But if he were on the sideline at a Tennessee game and told the kid during his recruiting visit, it's a different story.