New Old Info
The allegation that Tim Floyd paid Rodney Guillory is not new but apparently just came to the NCAA's attention. Anthony Salerno, the attorney for Louis Johnson, said Johnson told federal authorities about the allegation last May but did not tell the NCAA investigators.
The NCAA contacted Johnson's attorneys last week to discuss the alleged incident for the first time.
Even though this is still a "he said, she said" case, USC should still do a better PR job than relying on the usual "no comment" and "ongoing investigation" lines. It might have worked in defusing the Bush allegations (four years, much ado about nothing) but this new problem is much more glaring in the public eye. Floyd should at the very least issue a denial today. It's troubling that the NCAA wrapped the investigation into a LOIC; the football program seemed to have recovered from the Bush issue but the basketball program has had rumor after rumor. At some point, Floyd needs to be held responsible for the constant negative attention (Mayo, Lil Romeo, Sidney). As much as I like USC, where there's smoke...
Worst case scenario: the NCAA comes down on USC for LOIC. However, they have nothing on the football program (it's been four years and there still isn't anything more than a mad former agent and hearsay). Assuming basketball gets slammed, what would the possible repercussion be for the football program considering the lack of tangible evidence pertaining to the Bush allegations?
I predict NCAA comes down on USC for LOIC, and subsequently gives the death penalty to softball and men's soccer.
Haha, +1 to you good sir!