Joe Mcknight

Joe McKnight, star tailback of USC's football team, has been driving a sport utility vehicle owned by a Santa Monica businessman, an arrangement the school is investigating and which may be in violation of NCAA rules. The NCAA prohibits student-athletes from accepting benefits from marketing representatives or agents or "extra benefits" based on their athletic ability. For several weeks, McKnight has been seen driving a well-kept 2006 Land Rover that, according to California Department of Motor Vehicles records, is registered to Scott Schenter.

Greater San Diego has been fertile recruiting ground for USC, producing Heisman Trophy-winning running backs Marcus Allen and Reggie Bush . Now comes freshman Dillon Baxter . It's too soon, of course, to know how Baxter's Trojans career will play out. But the early enrollee put on a show during USC's scrimmage on Saturday, scoring on a spectacular 50-yard run that left several defensive players on the ground grasping helplessly...

Joe McKnight would like nothing more than a repeat performance. Two years ago, in a 20-13 victory over Arizona at the Coliseum, McKnight set up the go-ahead touchdown with a dazzling punt return. He followed with a long run from scrimmage to set up an insurance field goal. It was a coming out of sorts for McKnight, a freshman at the time who had been plagued by fumbles. "I remember being surprised to get in the game at that time," McKnight said Thursday. "I was surprised that Coach [ Pete ]

I presume the only holdup now is Uncle Pete trying to figure out a way to take his wannabe son Matt Barkley to Seattle. Hey, what's one more NCAA infraction? We sort of said our goodbyes Saturday, texting Pete Carroll to say, "It won't be as much fun sparring with you in Seattle," and Uncle Pete replying, "always love the sparring." Haven't run into much better in this business, "always compete" his obsessive mantra with an eye on fun, and that included formal news conferences or private chats.

USC has already installed its game plan for Saturday's game against Boston College in the Emerald Bowl. In question is which tailbacks actually will be part of the plan when the Trojans take the field Saturday at AT&T Park. Joe McKnight's status is uncertain. USC, which resumes practice today before leaving for San Francisco, is investigating the junior's use of a sport utility vehicle that is registered to a Santa Monica businessman. It may constitute a violation of NCAA rules that prohibit student-athletes from accepting benefits from marketing representatives or agents, or "extra benefits" from anyone based on athletic ability.

USC tailback Joe McKnight, who has been the subject of a USC compliance investigation for more than a week, did not suit up for Saturday's 24-13 victory over Boston College in the Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park. McKnight, USC's leading rusher, was held out of the game by USC officials as they continue to explore the junior's relationship with a Santa Monica businessman who owns a sport utility vehicle that McKnight has been observed driving on campus. Coach Pete Carroll said the school was ready to clear McKnight, "if the information came in, but cooperation wasn't exactly what we needed from the other side, not Joe, the other people."

Joe McKnight returned to practice Thursday, but it's still not known whether USC's leading rusher will be allowed to play against Boston College in Saturday's Emerald Bowl. USC has been investigating McKnight's relationship with Santa Monica businessman Scott Schenter. The Times reported last week that McKnight had been observed driving a 2006 Land Rover registered to Schenter, who has marketing connections and previously created a web domain 4joemcknight.com and ojaymayo.com. NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes from accepting benefits from marketing representatives or agents, or "extra benefits" from anyone based on athletic ability.

Joe McKnight's chances of playing for USC in the Emerald Bowl appeared to dim Monday when the junior tailback did not accompany the Trojans to the Bay Area for the start of practices and activities leading into Saturday's game against Boston College. USC is investigating McKnight's use of a sport utility vehicle that is owned by a Santa Monica businessman. It may constitute a violation of NCAA rules that prohibit student-athletes from accepting benefits from marketing representatives or agents, or "extra benefits" from anyone based on athletic ability.

Pete Carroll 's announcement Tuesday that tailback Joe McKnight would start Saturday's opener against San Jose State did not come as a shock. But the timing spoke volumes. In three previous seasons with the current stable of running backs, Carroll never made a declaration so early in the week before the opener. It is a clear sign that Carroll and new play-caller Jeremy Bates plan to give McKnight an opportunity to earn a larger share of the carries and touches this season.

The noise from a record Ohio Stadium crowd could not deter him. The weight of carrying his team's national title hopes on his young shoulders did not make him sweat. Matt Barkley, USC's freshman quarterback, etched his name into Trojan lore Saturday night, leading a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter as third-ranked USC defeated eighth-ranked Ohio State, 18-15. In only his second game, the true freshman overcame a first-half interception and mid-game struggles to keep alive USC's hopes for a national title.

Tailback Joe McKnight and Damian Williams, USC's star receiver, said Friday they would forgo their final season of college and make themselves available for the NFL draft. "It's my first healthy season, and it's time for me to go," McKnight, a junior, said in a brief telephone interview. Williams, a fourth-year junior, made his announcement in a news release sent out by USC. In it, he said, "The NFL has been a dream of mine since I can remember and I feel that it is my time to take this step to the next level.

Bill Plaschke is unfair to Pete Carroll. Pete doesn't get paid over $4 million a year to build character. He gets all that money for winning football games, and that requires that he hire the biggest and the best. But he has to do that on the sly, because the NCAA wants to perpetuate the myth that the game is amateur. FOR THE RECORD: Lava Man's trainer: A reader's letter in Saturday's Sports section took trainer Doug O'Neill to task for racing Lava Man after the horse had recovered from ankle injuries, accusing the trainer and Lava Man's handlers of greed as motivation for running the horse again.

USC tailback Joe McKnight, who has been the subject of a USC compliance investigation for more than a week, did not suit up for Saturday's 24-13 victory over Boston College in the Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park. McKnight, USC's leading rusher, was held out of the game by USC officials as they continue to explore the junior's relationship with a Santa Monica businessman who owns a sport utility vehicle that McKnight has been observed driving on campus. Coach Pete Carroll said the school was ready to clear McKnight, "if the information came in, but cooperation wasn't exactly what we needed from the other side, not Joe, the other people."

It wasn't so much a game as a deposition. On a muddy football field, through a winter mist, the USC football team finally, clearly addressed the ongoing NCAA investigation. In a statement sworn on the reputation of their star running back, the Trojans acknowledged they may have broken the NCAA law. Not that they actually said anything. Joe McKnight's absence said it all. McKnight was held out of Saturday's Emerald Bowl because of worries he had violated rules by driving a car owned by a businessman with former sports marketing ties.

What exactly is going on over there? Isn't anyone minding the ship? After what has happened with other star athletes there (i.e. Reggie Bush, O.J. Mayo), how come no one questioned Joe McKnight about what he was driving to practice? Even though he denies it, it is obvious what is going on there. I am a USC alum, but I certainly don't condone this kind of behavior. Come on Pete, do your job. And that is not just about X's and Os. Sherwyn Drucker Winnetka Nothing exposes the shabby state of Trojan athletics more than the attempt by some USC fans to find moral equivalency between Joe McKnight and Kai Maiava.

Joe McKnight returned to practice Thursday, but it's still not known whether USC's leading rusher will be allowed to play against Boston College in Saturday's Emerald Bowl. USC has been investigating McKnight's relationship with Santa Monica businessman Scott Schenter. The Times reported last week that McKnight had been observed driving a 2006 Land Rover registered to Schenter, who has marketing connections and previously created a web domain 4joemcknight.com and ojaymayo.com. NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes from accepting benefits from marketing representatives or agents, or "extra benefits" from anyone based on athletic ability.

Reggie Bush went from USC to New Orleans and the "next" Reggie is going from New Orleans to USC. Reverse direction, isn't that what the great tailbacks do? If this seems like tossing an expectations piano on the back of a kid days removed from his senior prom, well, 1) no one seems to mind and 2) maybe you haven't seen Joe McKnight's highlights on YouTube.

Once again, amid the kindling that has become the USC football program, "Fight On" is being drowned out by two other sounds. Cough, cough. More smoke here, strange smoke, scary smoke, stupid smoke, adding to a cloud that ensures the NCAA will keep looking for that illegal burn. Just some kid driving his girlfriend's car. Just another silly ember that could have been doused with a little more prudence and a little less arrogance. Is it really that hard to monitor some kid driving his girlfriend's car?

Allen Bradford would have preferred a more traditional ascent to the No. 1 spot on USC's tailback depth chart. Bradford went from No. 3 to No. 2 after senior Stafon Johnson suffered a season-ending throat injury in a freak weightlifting accident in September. On Tuesday, with Joe McKnight's status for the Emerald Bowl undetermined, Bradford rose to No. 1. For now. After a windy midday practice at City College of San Francisco, Coach Pete Carroll said Bradford was on track to start Saturday against Boston College.