ESPN’s John Anderson: USC is a ‘clown college’

ESPN’s John Anderson said what a lot of people are thinking on Wednesday when senior cornerback Josh Shaw admitted he was lying about saving his 7-year-old nephew. The Trojans have dealt with a lot of distractions in recent years and rarely ever have a season of just football. Take it away, John.

“If you go back to Pete Carroll and the embarrassment of getting stripped of a national title, the Heisman Trophy that Reggie Bush got back, how they handled Lane Kiffin’s firing,” Anderson said Wednesday. “There was the probation. This is a clown college. How should I look at this place?”

When Anderson says “clown college,” I’m guessing he’s just referring to the football program. USC ranked 23rd in US News and World Report’s national university rankings this year, so we don’t want to insult the 18,000-plus students who study there.

As far as football is concerned, Anderson makes a good point. USC certainly botched the Lane Kiffin firing and there’s no denying the sanctions stemming from Carroll’s tenure were a major blemish. The fact that a senior captain got himself wrapped up in such an embarrassing lie doesn’t help.