More Troubles Ahead for USC: On and Off the Field

Well, as if things couldn't have gotten any worse for USC after the monumental upset 24-23 loss last Saturday to Stanford. It appears as though the problems off the field are catching up to the school as well.

Reports are flying that one of the sports marketers that was involved in the Reggie Bush payment scandal is set to head into court in San Diego County to file a civil lawsuit to regain funds given to Bush and his family in 2005 to purchase a local San Diego area home.

Lloyd Lake, who along with Michael Michaels founded New Era Sports and Entertainment, claimed that the agency gave Bush and his family more than $50,000 in funds to purchase a home in exchange for Bush signing with their firm to represent him as an NFL player.

Bush, now in his second season with the NFL's New Orleans Saints, has denied any wrongdoing throughout the ordeal and claims that all business done with Lake and Michaels were done legally and were not in violation.

Of course, the NCAA could see this differently. If the NCAA, who plans to meet with Lake sometime soon concerning their ongoing investigation of Bush and these supposed funds, find that he received these benefits, the school could face sanctions including forfeits of games. If the NCAA determines that the school was involved or knew about these payments, they could face even more sanction, including but not limited to suspensions, probation, and loss of scholarships.

No matter the outcome of this matter, it has to be disappointing for a program that was at the top of the college football work as recently as last week. The loss to Stanford on the field dropped the program to 10^th overall in the polls, and with tough games ahead on the schedule, the loss to Stanford might not be the only blemish on their record.

On the field, the schedule does not get easier. They still have road games against top 15 teams in conference: at No. 9 Oregon in three weeks on October 27, at No. 2 Cal on November 10, and at No. 14 Arizona State on November 22. These are all games that could see the Trojans vulnerable to another setback on their once bright National Championship hopes.