The Fall of Troy?

The USC Trojans football program has been placed on a 2 year postseason ban by NCAA, and if any of you feel the least bit sorry for them I'll punch you in the mouth.

The allegations which led to the ban were brought upon by improper payments to former Trojan standout Reggie Bush. *cough*surprise, surprise*cough* According to the NCAA findings, Bush and his family accepted illegal payments from sports marketers and other shady businessmen.

The findings also resulted in 30 lost scholarships over the next 3 seasons, 4 years probation, and USC must vacate all wins from the 2004 season. Bush may also have to forfeit his Heisman Trophy.

What angers me is that the current Trojans are paying dearly for the sins of those who came before them. Guys that were recruited after Reggie Bush was into his NFL career are missing out on the chance to play in Pasadena, Glendale, or San Francisco because Bush made some dumb choices. Innocent people are being punished, while no one guilty is.

Right. Right. One guilty party is paying dearly. Back when the violations were committed in 2004, Lane Kiffin was Offensive and Recruiting Coordinator for one of the best offenses of our generation that included Matt Leinart, LenDale White, Dwayne Jarrett, Steve Smith, and the aforementioned Reggie Bush. They were dynamic. They were sexy. They were SoCal. And so was Kiffin. He was the son of NFL defensive guru Monte Kiffin, and at the top of most Athletic Director's lists with head coaching vacancies...aannnnddd one NFL owner's.

Kiffin, to no one's surprise, was hired as a head coach in early 2007. Kiffin, to everyone's surprise, was hired by the Oakland Raiders. Kiffin spent a little over one full season in Oakland before Al Davis fired him 4 games into his second season. A few months later Kiffin was hired on as the replacement to Tennessee legend Philip Fulmer. Kiffin spent a full year in Tennessee before shafting them a month before National Signing Day and resigning to replace his former boss, Trojan head coach Pete Carroll, who bolted to the Seattle Seahawks amid the NCAA investigations.

So we've come full circle. And in Kiffin's first few years at the helm he'll be paying for his sins of years ago. Go ahead and laugh Vol fans, because I'm laughing with you.