Admittance to USC football team practices on campus will be restricted to pre-approved guests who submit requests 24 hours in advance, according to a policy released today by the USC athletic department.
Those eligible to attend practices if pre-approved are parents, guardians, spouses and siblings of current players, as well as a limited number of guests escorted by certain USC administrators. Additional limited exceptions (such as other relatives of players) may be made with the pre-authorization of a Senior Associate Athletic Director.
Those who are pre-authorized to attend practices may only have contact with coaches and athletic department personnel.
Among those not permitted access to practice are agents (such as athlete agents, marketing agents or financial advisors to athletes) or their employees, representatives or affiliates.
Those eligible to attend practices if pre-approved are parents, guardians, spouses and siblings of current players, as well as a limited number of guests escorted by certain USC administrators. Additional limited exceptions (such as other relatives of players) may be made with the pre-authorization of a Senior Associate Athletic Director.
Those who are pre-authorized to attend practices may only have contact with coaches and athletic department personnel.
Among those not permitted access to practice are agents (such as athlete agents, marketing agents or financial advisors to athletes) or their employees, representatives or affiliates.
I'm not surprised at this I guess if your an alumnus, student or just a regular fan don't bother asking. My advice to Kiffin, Mike Garrett and anyone else in on this new policy is don't ever print or publish another practice schedule again because the bottom line is you're not welcome.
As an alumnus of USC how appalling this new Coach Lane Kiffin and coaching staff is. I just saw on ESPN Sports Center "Lock In" with a security guard. Come on Mike Garrett wake up it is time to run Kiffin & Co. out of Dodge-USC before we have no team. We need to bring whatever it takes money-wise to bring Coach Pete Carroll back where the players will feel at ease. Coach Pete Carroll can get them disciplined. The players interviewed looked nervous - it is going to be a looooonnnngggg.year for the Trojans. How many more Trojans will quit - one quit already. This is ridiculous the first day and then you have to be approved 24 hours in advance what a joke! Coach Lane Kiffin go back to Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders that's where you belong - you are going to ruin the Mighty Trojans! Fight on Trojan players as best you can! Come on fellow alumni we need to get Kiffin & Co. out of our USC....
I guess I can cancel my trip to USC to watch the team practice on Saturday. Really a terrific new policy for those of us who are really true SC fans. Why did an open practice work with Pete for the last several years. Congratulations
What about students? Are we not allowed in at all?
I am not surprised either. With the recent alleged episodes involving Bush, McKnight and Mayo, the NCAA is looking up our behinds to see if we have control over our players. Unfortunately, it's the very few agent-types who have possible access to the athletes at an open practice who have spoiled it for us all. How the athletic department now handles the requests and access to the 99% of us who attend practice for all the right reasons will be a telling sign in how Kiffin really treats his new Trojan Family. Dont blow this one Coach.
This is to avoid sanctions. This is the administration. This has nothing to do with Kiffin. Open practice with Pete led to this investigation because it was a prime spot for agents and their affiliates to meet players. Notice the last sentence. Pretty much tells you why practices are semi-closed.
I think that the powers that be have gone to the extreme here. In this life balance is what's important and what we have here is just the opposite. I requested an alumni card last year after years of attending practice because it would help getting into practice last season. I guess I won't be needing it anymore for football practice! To limit who goes in makes it exclusive to only a select few what it comes down to who you know. Too bad the only person I knew was Pete Carroll so guess that leaves me out!
Nothing last forever and change is the only thing that's constant in life. I feel for the devoted group of alumni, the USC students and all the kids who relished the moment they got to meet the guys on the team.
It was very disappointing to hear about the closed practices. To shut out alumni and students is bad public relations Lane. Come on, we are the ones who ultimately keep the program going through our donations and tuition.
My kids and I have made a family tradition over the years, coming to practices. Coach you are not getting off to a good start. Keep staff, alumni and students happy.
Really sad day - this is the school running scared from the NCAA. Pete would not have cut the fans off just to save face in front of the NCAA. I probably won't even open the next letter I get from the Athletic department asking for financial support....
Totally ridiculous. Frankly Kiffin or administration needs to recognise that Kiffin doesn't have the best reputation coming over here. Bluntly most love his staff but not him. This alienates the fans whom you need to win over.
Simple solution don't donate to athletics and avoid the first home game and maybe they will get the message.
While I am not overly excited by this move, I completely understand why they did it. I don't think they wanted to I think they had to. With the NCAA looking into USC, any attempt by the school to limit players to the public helps the cause. I rather not be attending practices than not attending games.
IMO, all this outrage should be directed at the "agents" and other leeches who have put SC in this position over the past few years. When you have the success that SC has had there are the inevitable low-lifes who want to take advantage of impressionable kids. I'm sad that it has come to this but also get that Kiffin and team are under a microscope. Hopefully its temporary and a better long term solution can be worked out later this year.
The pulling of the rug from under our collective feet is complete. I guess the "I'm In" sign the team hung over the doorway didn't extend to alumni, students and fans. A guard is posted at the gate to the "clubhouse"?! WOW! I shudder to think what further "change" the football program will install to ban us from participating in. The way I see it, true fans attended the practices for the pure enjoyment of the shared experience, not for bending bending or breaking the NCAA's rules.As a matter of fact, the activities that led to current allegations occurred OFF of the practice field.
I hear it's lonely at the top, I suspect it's about to get lonlier, right Mike & Lane?!
Lane in 2010 is a Coach Woody Hayes of the 1970's. We DO NOT need this at our USC today. The players will be do nervous, etc. That they will make mistakes. We will see what happens come the "real" games of the 2010 football season with Lane at the helm. Lane was an assistant coach under Pete when Pete was coaching Heisman Trophy winners, BCS championships and Rose Bowls why such a coaching turnaround now? The NCAA has always been around Lane!
I have heard that a lot people were admitted to practice yesterday despite it being said that only the "parents of the players, recruits and the media (who shouldn't be allowed in) were the only ones who could attend. But today I heard if you are a brown-noser/kiss-asses got in yesterday - NOW do you call that fair Coach Lane Woody Kiffin? My suggestion is CLOSE practice to EVERYONE only have the players and coaches! Being an alumnus I am ashamed of USC - Pete had a good system and produced quite a few men that are in the NFL today! Good luck to Pete in Seattle!