McNair Out As USC Coach; Good Timing for Trojans in NCAA Appeal?

Half of the holdovers from Pete Carroll's regime were eliminated yesterday.

Running backs coach Todd McNair's contract was not renewed by USC following its expiration on June 30.

With the subtraction of McNair from USC's football staff, the Trojans removed the only tangible link that the NCAA used in their accusations of violations by the program.

According to a report from Scout.com, the university, in its press release, announced its decision not to renew McNair's contract, and also said that its (USC's) appeal to the NCAA also included an appeal of it's findings as related to McNair.

McNair, who was at the center of the NCAA's investigation and subsequent sanctions regarding the universities role in the improper gifts given to Reggie Bush and his family, had claimed all along that he had no knowledge of the improprieties.

USC has formally filed an appeal with the NCAA claiming that sanctions leveled against the Trojans were too harsh when compared with prior penalties for greater violations committed by other institutions.

From a coaching standpoint, McNair is very well regarded both as a position coach and also as a recruiter with ties to many southland high schools.

Which begs an impartial question.

If McNair truly had no knowledge of improper gifts given to Bush, which is the basis for the entire NCAA case against the Trojan football program, then why is he not being retained?

Certainly, McNair has not forgotten how to coach or recruit since the penalties were leveled against USC.

And from a standpoint of fairness, would USC really choose not to retain an innocent man, especially when that coach is a proven commodity?

Logically, only one of two scenarios fit the bill when answering why USC would turn their back on McNair.

Either he is guilty as charged, or USC will use the removal of McNair as bargaining chip in their appeal with the NCAA.

I'm betting on the latter.

In fact, it would come as no surprise if, even as you are reading this, negotiations are taking place between USC and the NCAA that may effect the appeal, which is to be heard sometime later in the summer.

When all is said and done, it may very well turn out that McNair is just a fall guy as USC attempts to reduce the severity of the recent sanctions against them.

If so, McNair will be just another victim caught in the cogs of a greater machine works, that being the Trojans football program as it seeks to get out from a debilitating set of punishments.

As to be expected, according to Scout.com, Lane Kiffin had no comment regarding the decision not to retain McNair, which now leaves only wide receivers coach John Morton as the last holdover from Carroll's staff.

If McNair is hired by another college football program, he will continue to be a good position coach and a fine recruiter who know's the Trojans backyard well.

And if McNair truly is innocent in the Bush case, it would be a fitting service of justice if USC's former coach stole some prospective recruits from them.

Karma has way of being a bitch like that.