Salt City Sooner
7/20/2010, 02:39 PM
USC will replace athletic director Mike Garrett with former Trojans quarterback Pat Haden and return the Heisman Trophy won by Reggie Bush in 1995, university president-elect C.L. Max Nikias announced Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Times first reported Haden would succeed Garrett on Aug. 3.
Garrett has been under fire since USC was hit with numerous NCAA sanctions and a finding of "lack of institutional control" after lengthy investigations into benefits received by Bush and former basketball player O.J. Mayo.
Nikias also announced a number of changes within and related to the athletic department, naming new officials in charge of compliance with NCAA rules. And he said the university would take down murals featuring Bush and Mayo at the Galen Center, Heritage Hall and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
"The Trojan Family honors and respects the USC sporting careers of those persons whose actions did not compromise their athletic program or the opportunities of future USC student-athletes," Nikias said.
He said USC would return the Heisman won by Bush in 2005 to the Heisman Trophy Trust next month.
USC football faces a two-year bowl ban, loss of scholarships and the vacating of wins. The university has appealed several of the sanctions, saying they were "too severe" and "inconsistent with precedent." In the meantime, the program has lost a number of highly-sought recruits, who were allowed to leave when the sanctions were imposed.
The basketball program, in a series of self-imposed sanctions, vacated wins, gave back NCAA tournament earnings and banned itself from postseason play last season.
Hailing USC's athletic heritage as an important part of the school's history and student life, Nikias said the university is determined to strengthen that heritage. "USC ... will seek to excel in the coming years in a manner that is consistent with the highest values of the academy," he said.
He also thanked Garrett for his 17 years of service, calling him "a tireless advocate of USC athletics." Garrett had his own highly successful career as a Trojans running back, earning All-American honors two seasons and winning the Heisman Trophy in 1965.
"He will always be held in the highest esteem by all Trojans, not only for his exploits on the playing field but as a leader, mentor, teacher and a driving force behind USC's student-athletics," Nikias said.
Haden is currently an analyst for Notre Dame football on NBC. A Rhodes Scholar, he quarterbacked the Trojans to three Rose Bowls before playing in the NFL for the Rams from 1976-81. He is also a general partner in Riordan, Lewis & Haden, a private equity firm.
Haden will step down from the USC Board of Trustees to accept the appointment and will report directly to the president's office. Nikias said. He will also be appointed to the faculty of the school's business and communications schools.
Nikias also named David M. Roberts as vice president for athletic compliance and promoted Ellen Ferris, formerly the associate provoist for athletic compliance, to associate vice president for athletic compliance.
"There will be a close collaboration" between the compliance office, the provost's office and the atheltic department, Nikias said.
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/ncf/news/story?id=5395550
The Los Angeles Times first reported Haden would succeed Garrett on Aug. 3.
Garrett has been under fire since USC was hit with numerous NCAA sanctions and a finding of "lack of institutional control" after lengthy investigations into benefits received by Bush and former basketball player O.J. Mayo.
Nikias also announced a number of changes within and related to the athletic department, naming new officials in charge of compliance with NCAA rules. And he said the university would take down murals featuring Bush and Mayo at the Galen Center, Heritage Hall and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
"The Trojan Family honors and respects the USC sporting careers of those persons whose actions did not compromise their athletic program or the opportunities of future USC student-athletes," Nikias said.
He said USC would return the Heisman won by Bush in 2005 to the Heisman Trophy Trust next month.
USC football faces a two-year bowl ban, loss of scholarships and the vacating of wins. The university has appealed several of the sanctions, saying they were "too severe" and "inconsistent with precedent." In the meantime, the program has lost a number of highly-sought recruits, who were allowed to leave when the sanctions were imposed.
The basketball program, in a series of self-imposed sanctions, vacated wins, gave back NCAA tournament earnings and banned itself from postseason play last season.
Hailing USC's athletic heritage as an important part of the school's history and student life, Nikias said the university is determined to strengthen that heritage. "USC ... will seek to excel in the coming years in a manner that is consistent with the highest values of the academy," he said.
He also thanked Garrett for his 17 years of service, calling him "a tireless advocate of USC athletics." Garrett had his own highly successful career as a Trojans running back, earning All-American honors two seasons and winning the Heisman Trophy in 1965.
"He will always be held in the highest esteem by all Trojans, not only for his exploits on the playing field but as a leader, mentor, teacher and a driving force behind USC's student-athletics," Nikias said.
Haden is currently an analyst for Notre Dame football on NBC. A Rhodes Scholar, he quarterbacked the Trojans to three Rose Bowls before playing in the NFL for the Rams from 1976-81. He is also a general partner in Riordan, Lewis & Haden, a private equity firm.
Haden will step down from the USC Board of Trustees to accept the appointment and will report directly to the president's office. Nikias said. He will also be appointed to the faculty of the school's business and communications schools.
Nikias also named David M. Roberts as vice president for athletic compliance and promoted Ellen Ferris, formerly the associate provoist for athletic compliance, to associate vice president for athletic compliance.
"There will be a close collaboration" between the compliance office, the provost's office and the atheltic department, Nikias said.
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/ncf/news/story?id=5395550