The days leading up to the football season-opener are supposed to be reserved for team-bonding activities, alumni excitement, school pride, etc. Unfortunately for the University of Southern California, the opening of the 2014 season has been from celebratory.
Following the odd revelation of a falsified story from Trojans CB Josh Shaw, one that drew a suspension from first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian, the program has found itself under the national spotlight again, and for all the wrong reasons.
Running back Anthony Brown abruptly quit the team on Thursday and proceeded to provide the country with a very powerful message on Instagram, a post that has since been deleted:
The departure comes just two days before USC is scheduled to play Fresno State at home. Brown, a would-be senior who switched from defensive back earlier this summer, has been injured with a hyperextended elbow, forcing him to miss nearly all of training camp.
Sarkisian addressed the controversy and was clearly furious with Brown’s comments:
I think it’s ridiculous. Any of you guys that know me and if you ask anybody in our building, any of our players–feel free to–that’s about the furthest thing from the truth. Quite honestly, I’m shocked.
Regardless of the outcome of the situation, these accusations are the last thing the embattled football program wanted as they begin a new era.
[genericon icon=twitter] Follow Andrew Doughty on Twitter @Adoughty88
[ESPN]
