Marshall Faulk on College Players Taking Money: I Would, Too

Former St. Louis Rams star and future Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk answered a few questions about Pete Carroll and the USC sanctions recently at the Jim Mora Celebrity Golf Tournament.  He raised what I think is a valid point when talking about how penalties like the ones USC is facing have a huge effect on the school’s players but the coaches get to walk away with nothing but a hit to their legacy.  Here’s what Faulk had to say, courtesy of Pro Football Talk via SeattlePI.com:

I love Pete, and I’m not quite sure how they’re gonna turn out, but I’m sick and tired of seeing programs get in trouble, and coaches can move on, but the players at USC can’t go to bowl games,” Faulk told Jim Moore of SeattlePI.com.  “There’s got to be some accountability and responsibility.  I’m not just blaming Pete; I’m talking about guys in that situation. . . .

Couldn’t agree with Faulk more here.  While Pete Carroll is raking in millions in Seattle for however long he lasts, the players who committed to USC either have to alter their plans dramatically and change schools, or accept the fact that they can’t play in a bowl game.  What’s the worst that can happen to Carroll?  He gets called a cheater and everyone moves on.

Another interesting topic Faulk hit on was the concept of players like Reggie Bush and O.J. Mayo accepting money while they’re in college.

Heck yeah, I would have taken it,” Faulk told Moore.  “I’m not gonna lie to you, there’s no doubt about it.”

“Nah, I went to San Diego State,” Faulk said. “Other than good weather, they didn’t have much to offer me, unfortunately. I wish I’d gone to a bigger program and had them slide me some cash to take care of my family, but that wasn’t the case.”

While it’s certainly not morally correct, Faulk is being honest and you can’t blame him for that.  These are 17, 18, and 19-year-old kids who for the most part have never had any type of significant money in their pockets.  When someone you trust with your future says take this money, you don’t question it.

Sources:
Marshall Faulk says he would have taken money in college [Pro Football Talk]
Mora has moved on from Seahawks, hits the links [SeattlePI.com]