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While where on police blotters....
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1862402

Possible starting DE for LSU faces charges.

"Oliver remains in good standing with LSU football coach Nick Saban, who has not been loath to suspend and remove players from his teams in the past. "That [Oliver's legal situation] is something that we want to make sure that we handle correctly," Saban said Tuesday when asked about Oliver. "But unless he gets convicted of some kind of felony ... ."

Saban has shown no reluctance in the past to suspend key players -- notably starting safety Damien James in the middle of the 2002 season for repeated rules violations."

And we wonder what is wrong with college football?
 
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http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/sports/9427282.htm

Things look great in USCland, errr

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<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr><td width="100%"> </td><td> </td><td nowrap="nowrap"> email this </td><td> </td><td nowrap="nowrap"> print this </td></tr></tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td width="15" rowspan="2">
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</td><td class="v1">Posted on Tue, Aug. 17, 2004</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tbody><tr><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="250"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td align="left" class="adlabel"> <script language="JavaScript1.1"> _krdDartInc++; document.write('<SCRIPT LANGUAGE=\"JavaScript1.1\" SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/centredaily.sports/sports;kw=center6;c2=sports_homepage:wink2:os=center6;group=rectangle;tile='+_krdDartInc+';ord='+_krdDartOrd+'?"><\/SCRIPT>'); </script><script language=\"JavaScript1.1\" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/centredaily.sports/sports;kw=center6;c2=sports_homepage:wink2:os=center6;group=rectangle;tile=2;ord=1092935390827?"></script>
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Carroll, champion Trojans had eventful offseason

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[size=-1]KEN PETERS[/size]
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[size=-1]Associated Press[/size]
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<!-- begin body-content --> LOS ANGELES - Coach Pete Carroll and the defending national champion USC Trojans have had an eventful offseason, with All-American wide receiver Mike Williams' failed attempt to join the NFL among the off-the-field episodes.

While the school awaits word from the NCAA on whether Williams will be reinstated for his junior season, several other prominent underclassmen on the team that went 12-1 last year definitely won't be available.

All-American defensive end Kenechi Udeze passed up his senior season to enter the NFL draft, going to Minnesota in the first round. Wide receiver Whitney Lewis and tailback Chauncey Washington, who were counted on to add depth, aren't eligible because of academics.

Tight end Gregg Guenther - with Carroll's blessing - is concentrating on basketball, and backup Dominique Byrd is out with a leg injury.

Winston Justice, a two-year starter at offensive tackle, won't play for a quite different reason. He was suspended from school for two quarters for allegedly pulling a pellet gun last February on a fellow student.

"You began to wonder what was going to happen next," quarterback Matt Leinart said recently.

There was another possible cloud over the team on Tuesday, when police confirmed that at least one player is under investigation for sexual assault.

The assault allegedly occurred Monday morning, according to Officer Esther Reyes, a Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman.

She said the rape special section of the LAPD's robbery division has begun an investigation into the allegations "that may involve a member or members of the USC football team."

Reyes declined to elaborate. Neither she nor the university would identify the player or players being investigated.

Carroll said after Tuesday's afternoon practice that the university is cooperating fully with the investigators.

"It's clearly inappropriate to talk about it," the coach told reporters. "I don't have a lot of information right now, so to speak in any direction is just not right.

"Whatever this (the assault investigation) becomes, Mike Williams, the No. 1 rankings, issues that have happened to us, there's always stuff you have to deal with. We just have to take things as they come and make sure that we're very well informed and know to do the very right thing for the situation, and we'll do that."

The Trojans still appear loaded and are No. 1 in the preseason poll.

Carroll had few player problems his first three years at USC, then a string of them popped up.

"With that many people, stuff is going to happen. You're going to have to deal with some issues," the coach said heading into fall practice, referring to the 100 or so players on the squad.

"For the most part over the past couple of years, it has seemed like we have not had that many issues. I know that we've dealt with everything that's come up, and I think we've handled it well," he said.

Williams' situation is rather unique. A sophomore who finished sixth in the Heisman voting last season, he hired an agent and left school in the spring after a court ruling appeared to clear the way for Ohio State sophomore Maurice Clarett to enter the NFL draft.

That ruling, however, was stayed and an appeals court decided that the NFL has the right to determine who can play in the league, thus upholding the ban on players like Clarett and Williams who haven't been out of high school for at least three years.

"Mike's thing is so extraordinary, so far off the charts. How could you ever anticipate?" Carroll said recently. "Hopefully we can continue to minimize the issues and the concerns and have good fortune in managing our way through them."

While the Trojans took some personnel hits during the offseason, they also stocked up. Their recruiting class was widely considered to be the best in the country.

Then there's Leinart, who finished fourth in the Heisman voting as a redshirt sophomore last year after starting the season without having thrown a pass in a college game. The left-hander had some tendinitis in his left elbow over the summer, but appears to be completely recovered. If he's not, sophomore John David Booty can come on.

The Trojans' running game should be well-balanced - and dangerous. Junior Hershel Dennis is steady, if not spectacular; Reggie Bush is a slashing runner, and fellow sophomore LenDale White runs with bruising power.

Although they lost four-year starter and career receiving leader Keary Colbert and could be without Williams, the Trojans may not drop off much at the position. Sophomore Steve Smith and freshmen Dwayne Jarrett and Fred Davis have the speed and skills to take up the slack.

The defense figures to be outstanding again, with a deep, talented group headed by senior defensive tackles Shaun Cody - who also may see some duty at defensive end - and Mike Patterson, plus senior linebacker Matt Grootegoed.

USC has one of the best punters in the country in Tom Malone, who wasn't called on often but averaged 49 yards a punt when he was. Also back is Ryan Killeen, who made 19-of-24 field goal tries and was 65-of-67 on PAT kicks.

The offensive line seems the Trojans' major question mark headed into the Aug. 28 opener against Virginia Tech in the Black Coaches Association Football Classic.

Three of last year's starters in the USC line graduated and Justice was the fourth. Fred Matua and John Drake, who have started at times, are back. The rest of the offensive linemen are short on experience.

Another challenge facing the Trojans is the fact that, since they're were national champions, they will be a marked team.

"It's good to have that pressure on you," Cody said. "We know teams are going to be gunning for us and we want that, because we want to be back on top of the mountain."

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Here are some updates for today, fellas. I highlighted new stuff for those not interested in the whole article


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http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~29583~2344010,00.html

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Quote: <HR>Sources: Dennis not yet queried



By Scott Wolf
Staff Writer


USC starting running back Hershel Dennis remained the focus of an alleged sexual assault investigation Wednesday, although he had not yet been questioned by police, sources said.
The alleged victim, a female friend of Dennis', told police Dennis was at the party but has not formally accused him of sexually assaulting her.


She also named two other players present at the apartment where the incident occurred but did not accuse them of wrongdoing, according to sources close to the investigation.

A Los Angeles police department spokesperson said Wednesday no charges have been filed and repeated a previous statement that police are "conducting an investigation into an allegation of sexual assault that may involve a member or members of the USC football team."

Dennis could not be reached for comment.

He remained on suspension from the football team Wednesday for disciplinary reasons, including breaking curfew the night of the incident. Coach Pete Carroll said he did not know how long it would last.

"It's indefinite," Carroll said. "That's a word that you would use in this case. I haven't really labeled it."

But sources said there's also a possibility Dennis' status could be reviewed by the end of the week and he possibly could be reinstated next week.

More details emerged Wednesday regarding the incident, which took place early Monday morning.

Sources said a small party involving fewer than 20 people -- mostly players and friends -- took place at the Cardinal Gardens apartment complex across the street from USC on Sunday night. The alleged victim arrived after 11 p.m., when players were supposed to be in bed.

Following the report of an alleged assault, the apartment was sealed off by police Monday morning, although everything appeared normal Wednesday, as students officially moved into the complex for the fall semester.

USC fullback Lee Webb, who is Dennis' best friend, lived with the running back back at the apartment during training camp. Webb said he has not spoken to Dennis since the suspension.

"He cut his phone off. I haven't talked to him," Webb said. "I think it's a big misunderstanding that will be cleared up shortly."


Carroll said Wednesday he had not heard anything new from the police.

Around 8 a.m. Wednesday, Carroll abruptly changed the time of practice from 3 p.m. to 10:15 a.m. It immediately produced speculation he made the switch to limit media and fan exposure to the team during practice.

But Carroll said he made the switch because he wanted to recreate pregame activities and hold a short walkthrough practice in the afternoon before taking the team to a downtown Los Angeles hotel Wednesday night.

The team will hold a mock game tonight at the Coliseum to simulate the evening start of next week's game with Virginia Tech.

Scott Wolf, (81<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8) -->
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However, there is an unconfirmed report that a radio station stated that the accuser said that no football players were involved in the assault

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Situation is too fluid to pin down.

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there won't be a couple of suspensions.....I bet the girl doesn't even press charges; just a hunch.


I've been meaning to ask, but don't want to start a thread on it...How have you guys looked so far? New QB? Ginn? Freeman?
 
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After listening to the media last year run with any negative story about OSU that they possibly could , I have become very skeptical about what they have to report. Especially because USC was a co-champ. Same story could happen elsewhere and the media might take the time to check the facts. But since it happened to a defending champ, they run the story. If there are players guilty, I hope they are punished accordingly. But, until there is more info, I say hold judgement.
 
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wstripes said:
I've been meaning to ask, but don't want to start a thread on it...How have you guys looked so far? New QB? Ginn? Freeman?
Practices are spirited because many spots are up for grabs. Coaches will grade each player after Saturday's Jersey Scrimmage to come up with an initial two deep.

Everyone with a practice report mentions being impressed by Ginn. He spends most practice periods at corner and a few on offense and with the return teams. Freeman will not red shirt and will probably be the #2 SAM. QB is unsettled. Zwick seems to get more first team reps. The scrimmage grades will count for a lot.

Also of note, Quinn Pitcock performed a 35" vertical jump at 286 lbs during the fitness test.
Senior linebacker Thomas Matthews
On the linebacker rotation:
"Everybody gets to rotate. We go real hard on defense and those extra bodies help a lot. It also helps the young guys because they get to learn. If we make a mistake the young guys can go out there and try to correct it."
 
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