USC athletic director Pat Haden is determined to stay on the NCAA's good side.
After finally getting off their two-year postseason ban in football and entering the season as the top-ranked team in the country, the USC Trojans program is again under fire concerning improper gifts to athletes, this time involving former tailback Joe McKnight. Former basketball player Davon Thompson is also mentioned as someone who received gifts.
Haden will investigate the Los Angeles Times report claiming the pair received gifts from an employee of the Los Angeles County assessor's office and, according to Conquest Chronicles, Haden's reaction falls right in line with what the AD is trying to do.
I am not going to get to worked up over this. If Haden and Co. informed the NCAA then we should let it play out.
Pat Haden is about to earn his money with his supposed fence mending with the NCAA.
Haden knows that the program he runs will continue to be under intense scrutiny, and trying to get out in front of the issues before they begin to look too similar to the recent past is the smart thing to do.
Stick with SB Nation Los Angeles for more on this story as it develops. For all things Trojans, Conquest Chronicles has you covered.