USC Holding Together: The Shockingly Quiet Post-Sanction Personnel Moves

Well, for anyone keeping tabs, the personnel changes at USC following the surprising sanctions have been pretty minimal.

So far, USC has lost Jordan Campbell, who despite being a highly-touted linebacker, never really found a spot where he fit in on USC's roster. Heck, Lane Kiffin even suspended him for violating the substance abuse policy.

Campbell's departure looks like one less headache.

There was also the news over the weekend that Todd McNair, USC's running back coach, who was named in the NCAA report, would not have his contract renewed. Despite his prowess as a coach, this looks like a pretty standard and straightforward house cleaning procedure on the part of USC.

Lane Kiffin refused to offer additional comments on that situation.

One must assume that such measurements of self-regulation will help USC in their appeals process with the NCAA.

There is also the lingering annoyance of Seantrel Henderson's semi-committal attitude, as he now appears to be ready to sign on with Miami, or something.

While everyone at USC wishes Henderson the best, he has been nothing but a colossal showboat coming out of high school. While most everyone in the country would love to sign an offensive lineman so highly rated, and while he was definitely the best player in the incoming USC recruiting class, he isn't worth crying over too much.

The fact remains, even without him, USC tied down one of the best classes in the nation.

As usual.

I am shocked that more haven't started pulling out. That means that Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron are doing one heck of a job with recruiting.

Granted, not every player was flirted with by as many schools as Seantrel Henderson, but if the bleeding stops there, then Troy has a lot to celebrate.

USC isn't an over recruiting institution. The school, unlike most SEC schools, focuses heavily on the recruitment and development of all-star players, and makes a commitment to working to develop them as students, athletes, and most importantly, people.

That is evident in the school's low signing rates, which over the past four years were only beaten by Northwestern University.

While USC brought in fewer than 80 players, a school like Auburn, representative of the SEC, signed about 120 in the same time frame, and when those players failed to develop, they pulled their scholarships.

Athletes are aware of the fact that USC has a proven track record of putting players in the NFL, as well as giving them an education that other schools simply cannot. That is the benefit of being in the heart of Los Angeles.

Even if the players could leave for schools elsewhere, would they really want to sacrifice the commitment that USC has made to them, with its track record of low recruiting numbers (low chances of losing a scholarship), as well as placing high volumes of athletes in the NFL?

USC is still the dream institution for players who want to make it in football.

Look how many successful careers have been launched out of USC in the past decade.

Four USC quarterbacks from the last ten years are now starters in the NFL. And Matt Barkley, now a sophomore, figures to join them.

If that number seems impossible with the traditional understanding of how many years a quarterback who is NFL caliber needs to play college ball, it's because it essentially is. USC only accomplished the feat because one of their backups, Matt Cassel, made it as well.

That's right, a backup from USC has a better chance of making it in the NFL than a starter from most schools in the country at the NFL's most recognized position.

All of the draws of the institution are surely holding the wounds together, as mostly everyone seems to be staying to ride the sanctions wave.

Of course, there is still some time to go, but Trojan fans really couldn't be much happier with the results.