Answer Wednesday! (Part 7)
An Oregon question surfaces here.
Q: tom_floyd said:
You have described the style of president-elect Nikias as abrasive. What effect will his new status have on the athletic department in general and MG in particular?
A: That is the key question. I think there is going to be a lot more scrutiny and accountability and I think that is what people in the athletic dept. believe. So everyone is kind of trying to dig a foxhole and find a comfortable spot to hide.
Q: gilligan said:
Mr. Wolf, I have a non-USC question, what are your thoughts about the punishments by Coach Kelly to both James and Masoli? I am very surprised that James only received one game considering his action is very disturbing (brought back an image of Lawrence Phillips) and Masoli was suspended the entire season. Thank you in advance.
A: Kelly said he suspended Masoli for lying to him instead of the crime. But I think things got so out of control up there and Kelly got criticized so the administration decided he needed to make a strong stand. Prior to that, it seemed like everything goes in Eugene. So they finally buckled to public opinion. Which in the end, is good.
SW, same goes for reporters (sic). Start digging.
So Masoli was suspended for lying about stealing? Nice. Just another in a long line of incidents where the cover-up is worse than the "crime" itself. Others:
Rick Neuhiesal lied to his boss, Wash AD Barbara Hedges, about visting with the 49ers, and later the NCAA pool. It cost him his job (he won the lawsuit though).
Jim Harrick filed a false expense report, where he failed to disclose that he paid for his current players' meals while dining with recruits, a minor violation. He asked his assistant coach to lie for him. It cost him his job, too.
Watergate.
The Steriod denial gang (Clemens, Bonds, McGuire, Palmero, Tejeda, etc.).
And now Masoli.
Quick note on LaMichael James, if you read the court records and see the actual complaint against him, the incident isn't nearly as bad as the charges sound. It seems like cops on the scene overcharged him a bit and the court sorted it out. Given his age, he could probably use some conflict resolution counseling, but that is about it. Give it a read and the last thing you will think of is Lawrence Phillips.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/28271575/LaMichael-James-Sentencing-Memorandum
Coach Tim Davis, Coach Tim Davis, why couldn't kiff have tried harder to get Tim Davis back here at SC? He is a difference maker like Orgeron & Baxter. Somebady put up a big poster of Tim Davis right next to the entrance of Kiff's office. Maybe he will get a clue!
Sounds like LaMichael got the short end of the stick as far as public opinion goes.
I can't really say I blame him for anything he did:
Removing her from his doorstep.
Being angry when she ripped off his necklace.
Chasing her to retrieve the keys she had pulled from his ignition.
The question I would have, is why would the male be the only one arrested when in this case, the female did as much if not more to initiate and escalate the conflict?
Seems kind of unfair to me.
@ Evil Robot, Thanks for the information and clarification.
@Sureshot, the end result of political correctness and women being a "protected class."