USC Trojans

Letter from Barry Markowitz to Mark Emmert

President Mark Emmert 12/24/12
NCAA
PO Box 6222
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206

Aloha Honorable President Emmert,

My best to your family and staff for the holidays.

We last met on the field in 2007 pre-game of the University of Washington vs Hawaii Football Game at Aloha Stadium. My son Abe Markowitz (Punahou School, Honolulu) was recruited by UW. Abe and I met that morning with the UW staff (led by Coach Chris Tormey) at the Ihilani Hotel for a formal presentation.

Respectfully I seek your input and beg relief for a situation that eludes any element of fairness and timely resolution. Time is critical.

Due to unique specialized academic programs, my son entered USC in 2008 as a student/athlete (walk on for football and track.) My son turned down Div 1 scholarship offers from Michigan State, University of Buffalo, Portland State, Miami Ohio, etc, and financial aid opportunities to Brown University, Occidental College and others. This May, my son graduated with an undergraduate degree in Policy, Planning & Development. He has just completed his first semester at the USC Grollier Graduate School of Education.

Because of NCAA sanctions/APR/early entry waiver rules, my son a USC starter (co-starter) cannot apply for an NCAA Medical Hardship 6th year through his own university. Apparently, Abe cannot apply through USC because if my son is successful in his appeal, the Trojans would have to provide a scholarship that they may not have due to current NCAA imposed scholarship limitation sanctions. This is a definitive "Catch 22" unfair situation.

Another NCAA Div 1 member school can apply on behalf of my son for a 6th year. But is that fair to that member school to apply for a student athlete currently under scholarship at another university? How do other member schools justify the expense of recruiting my son when there is no absolute guarantee that my son is eligible for a 6th year, even though USC has kindly allowed a release to many other universities?

Our family financial resources are limited as I am permanently partially disabled. I informed my son that I would sell our home to finish his education and football eligibility at USC.

If allowed a 6th year, my son is not permitted by the NCAA to return to the 2013 USC Football Team as a walk on. Is that fair that an impeccable character NCAA role model two sport student athlete cannot return to his beloved university despite his personal and our family commitment and sacrifice?

How does my son, who requested an NFL Evaluation make an informed decision whether to stay in college or turn professional when there is no mechanism for Abe to immediately submit his request directly to the NCAA for a 6th year? Does he lose an opportunity for a professional livelihood while he awaits for another university to undertake the time and costs of submitting his Medical Hardship appeal? Does he have to go to the NFL prematurely because the options to seek a 6th year are just too unfairly elusive?

My son has honored his obligations to USC and the NCAA. I beg you for relief so that my son has an avenue to negotiate for completion of his collegiate opportunities.

I request the following, Sir:

1) Please allow my son to request a Medical Hardship 6th year directly to the NCAA, immediately. His personal letter, timeline, and medical records can be provided as soon as you allow. They are ready for submission.

2) Please allow my son, if he receives his approval for a 6th year to continue under scholarship at his current university. Punishing a walk on who earned a scholarship and achieved status as a starter cannot be what the NCAA intended when it authorized punishment to his university. I sincerely request you allow USC to reinstate one football scholarship for 2013-2014, if and only if it is used for Abraham Markowitz on approval of his 6th year of eligibility, by the NCAA.

3) Please allow Abraham Markowitz, if granted his 6th year of eligibility, to return to his former walk on status if no scholarship can be provided.

I would hope that the NCAA would concur, that these circumstances commanding my son to seek a transfer to continue his education and eligibility are not what the founding members of the NCAA intended. It is counter to every principle the NCAA seeks to uphold.

Thank you in advance for your kindness in promptly considering my requests. University registration requirements and NFL declaration deadlines require immediate action.

A righteous resolution would be for my son to remain where he is at, under scholarship, with eligibility.

Mahalo,

Barry Markowitz

Over the course of the next two weeks, NCAA president Mark Emmert will likely be attending several bowl games and corporate events leading up to the Discover BCS Championship Game.

For Abe Markowitz’s sake, let’s hope Emmert finds time to devote a few minutes to helping a student-athlete who needs assistance unsnarling the NCAA’s web of bureaucracy.

Markowitz is finishing up his fifth season at USC this week while playing in the Sun Bowl but wants to apply for a sixth year of eligibility, in part to continue his football career but also to complete his master’s degree in education. His main problem, however, is that USC cannot apply for a sixth year for Markowitz due to issues that would arise due to NCAA sanctions, the APR and early entry waiver rules.

This unique situation puts Markowitz in a bind at a time when he needs to make serious decisions about his future. USC has released him to other schools but, with no guarantee that he will have a sixth year of eligibility, will another school make an application for a sixth year while Markowitz is currently on scholarship at USC?

It’s a Catch-22 situation, and with spring semesters starting soon at the schools in question, it means time is of the essence -- and so far Markowitz hasn’t received much help in sorting through the red tape.

For an organization such as the NCAA that is supposed to be there for the student-athlete, the Markowitz case offers a clear opportunity to step up and do the right thing.

This is a young man who turned down scholarships at other schools in order to walk-on at USC. After eventually earning a scholarship, Markowitz subsequently suffered two separate foot injuries which basically cost him two seasons on the field. He came back this year to become a co-starter along the offensive line but, of what should be of greater importance to the NCAA, he also completed his first semester of graduate work this fall after receiving his undergrad degree last May.

As anyone who has ever tried to navigate through a bureaucracy knows, it can be a frustrating process, and Barry Markowitz, Abe’s father, has taken the step of appealing to Emmert directly in an effort to help expedite the process. It remains to be seen if a father’s plea will be heard or if the NCAA folks will be too busy over the next few weeks to pay attention.

Whether it is at USC or another school, it seems reasonable that Markowitz should be given the opportunity to play another season of football and ultimately get his graduate degree. If it is at USC, there is an added bonus, as USC's season opener next season will be at Hawaii -- Markowitz's home state.

Hopefully with the New Year coming up, Markowitz will get a chance to see his wish come true.

Read Barry Markowitz's letter to Mark Emmert here.

LOS ANGELES -- Here's a look at everything else that happened with the USC Trojans this week, including their first two bowl practices, an early trip to El Paso and more:

Defensive coordinator plans

USC coach Lane Kiffin won't begin the formal process of searching for a new defensive coordinator until after the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31.

Kiffin's father, Monte, resigned as assistant head coach and de facto defensive coordinator following a disappointing 7-5 season. Kiffin says he plans to hire a true defensive coordinator to replace him, despite defensive line coach Ed Orgeron holding that title this season.

"We'll take our time and make sure that we get the right fit," Lane Kiffin said on Wednesday after the Trojans' first bowl practice.

Kiffin did indicate he will begin the process of sorting out candidates before the bowl game.

"I think you can kind of start it in your head," Kiffin said.

Kiffin is not afraid of a mid-January hire hurting his program in recruiting, even with signing day on Feb. 6. He pointed out that he was hired on Jan. 12 in 2010 and still signed a top recruiting class.

"It's not as quick as you think," Kiffin said of the time between the end of the bowl game and signing day. "One assistant coach isn't gonna be a big deal, and we still have over a month after the game until signing day."

Barkley back

Quarterback Matt Barkley missed Wednesday's practice while in New York for an awards banquet and walked into the Trojans' Friday session midway through, wearing sweats but no shoulder sling.

He has not practiced since suffering a sprained throwing shoulder Nov. 17, but he's still on track to start on Dec. 31.

Kiffin told reporters in El Paso on Thursday that Barkley "obviously wouldn't have been able to play if it had been an earlier [bowl] game."

USC's other bowl-game date possibilities were Dec. 22 and Dec. 27.

(Read full post)

LOS ANGELES -- After over a week away from action, the Trojans went back to work on Wednesday, and with Brian Kennedy/Howard Jones Field having recently been re-sodded, the team took part in a rare practice in the Coliseum. It was a loose and notably high-spirited workout that USC head coach Lane Kiffin said had "great energy," even going as far as to call it "probably the best practice we've had since maybe the first day of training camp."

With quarterback Matt Barkley still in New York after receiving a scholar-athlete award from the National Football Foundation, and Marqise Lee in Orlando as a finalist for the Biletnikoff award that will be handed out Thursday, Wednesday's practice centered around the development of some of the more inexperienced Trojans players, while Kiffin and Co. also tinkered around with a couple of position moves.

"Good to get back out on the practice field -- a luxury we haven't had the last two off-seasons -- to get some extra practices," Kiffin said. "Our early bowl week practices, we focus a lot on younger guys, our backups, and moving some guys around at times."

One of those players who spent time at a different position on Wednesday was Josh Shaw, who moved over to his original safety spot after playing a majority of the season at cornerback.

(Read full post)

USC senior offensive lineman Abe Markowitz has petitioned the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility, a source has told WeAreSC.

Markowitz -- a former walk-on who earned a scholarship prior to the 2010 season -- suffered season-ending foot injuries in both 2010 and 2011 but came back this year to start two games and was a versatile reserve at both guard and center.

If the petition is granted, Markowitz could compete for the open spot at center in 2013 when Khaled Holmes is gone. It would also give Markowitz a chance to play in his home state as the Trojans open next season in Hawaii. Markowitz attended Honolulu Punahou but was forced to miss USC's game in Hawaii in 2010 because of the foot injury.

Markowitz, who has also competed in the shot put for the USC track team, is working toward a master's degree in education.

USC and quarterback Matt Barkley started the season as the toasts of college football. Or the hated front-runners, depending on how you respond to the Rorschach test that the Trojans are across the nation.

But a loss at Stanford and middling numbers from Barkley have doused much of the hype and knocked them off the college football radar. National championships and Heisman Trophies are no longer associated with the program in 2012, and more than a few seem eager to stick the dreaded "overrated" label on the team and player.

"I'm good at blocking all that stuff out," Barkley said. "I know what's significant to us. I know what people who know football are seeing, not just the media and what they are writing. It doesn't get to me or our offense. We've just got to keep our heads down and work for every yard we get."

USC off the radar? Trojans coach Lane Kiffin isn't buying it.

"I don't think at SC you're ever off the radar," he said. "I think that shows in the ratings of games. Even when you're not No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3, all the conversations are about SC and you're always everybody's biggest game. I don't think you ever really come off the radar here."

Backing him up is Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. To him, as well as the Utes fan base, it's a big deal that No. 13 USC is coming to Salt Lake City to play inside Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday night (9 p.m. ET on ESPN).

"Without a doubt," Whittingham said. "It's been many, many years since USC was here."

Many years is right. The Trojans' previous visit was in 1917 -- a 51-0 victory.

Still, in the preseason this looked like a game with far more national juice. Most so-called pundits projected this as a likely battle of ranked, unbeaten teams, a game with significance for the Pac-12 South Division as well as the national picture. It was seen as one of just a few potential stumbling blocks for USC as it fired up its engines for a run at the national title game.

Instead, we have USC getting beaten at the line of scrimmage in 21-14 loss to the Cardinal, and Utah getting whipped every which way in a 37-7 humbling at Arizona State.

Both teams are coming off a bye week. The Trojans already had a bounce-back game in their solid 29-7 win over California. The Utes spent the extra week trying to correct the myriad issues exposed by the Sun Devils -- blocking, in particular.

"The offensive line play has been an ongoing project for us. Obviously a priority," Whittingham said. "We had plenty to work on."

The Utes must get the running game going against USC. They need running back John White to be fully healthy after an ankle injury -- he didn't look at that way at Arizona State -- because the Trojans have produced a potent pass rush this season (four sacks a game), which could make for a long night for quarterback Jon Hays if his play-action fakes aren't working.

The Trojans also have issues on the offensive line, most particularly the health of center Khaled Holmes. He's likely out of the game, which means fifth-year senior Abe Markowitz will be eyeballing Utah's 325-pound nose tackle Star Lotulelei. In last year's meeting, Holmes, probably the best center in the Pac-12, if not the nation, mostly fought Lotulelei to a stalemate. It's difficult to imagine Markowitz won't need a lot of help from his guards.

Utah's hope rests on being able to slow the Trojans' running game and get pressure on Barkley without resorting to a lot of blitzes. While the Utes pride themselves on their man-to-man coverage in the secondary, it's likely they will use a lot of the Cover 2 to help keep Trojans receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee in check. That's what Stanford did, and such schemes have kept Barkley's numbers down because opposing defenses are willing to take chances with alignments that invite Barkley to check into running plays.

"If teams are going to play Cover 2 and just send safeties over the top and double-team both outside receivers, you're going to be forced to run the ball where they can't support the run," Barkley said.

Sure, Barkley would like to go deep every other play, but, he added, "I'm not really worried about being flashy and all that if we're moving the ball."

The problem is the Trojans have been hot and cold moving the ball, through the air or on the ground. They are fifth in the Pac-12 in scoring and pass efficiency, and sixth in total offense, rushing and passing yards. They are 11th in third-down percentage.

Those numbers suggest mediocrity, not the offensive greatness most projected for Barkley and company in the preseason.

Yet, it's still early. A lot can -- and likely will -- happen over the second half of the season. Neither of these teams have permanently set a trajectory for how things will go in 2012.

An upset victory for Utah would be monumental for the program in its second year of Pac-12 play. And an impressive performance by USC could land it back on the national radar.

LOS ANGELES -- USC coach Lane Kiffin was elated with the play of left guard Abe Markowitz in Saturday's win over Cal and plans to keep playing the fifth-year senior the rest of this season.

Kiffin said he couldn't commit to Markowitz continuing to start, but said he will probably figure into the Trojans' offensive line alignment going forward regardless.

"I know that we'd like to keep playing him regardless of who's starting and who's up or who's down," Kiffin said.

Sophomore Marcus Martin has been USC's starter at left guard since this time last season. Kiffin said over the weekend that the reason he did not play until the fourth quarter against Cal was "not because of his play," so he could re-assume the starting role at left guard.

And if Khaled Holmes is healthy, he'll be USC's No. 1 center.

Markowitz said Tuesday that he thought for most of last week that he'd be stepping in for Holmes against Cal, until he found out Holmes would in fact be returning from an injury he appeared to suffer against Syracuse earlier this month.

"At the beginning of the week, I thought I'd be playing center," Markowitz said. "Then I had to play guard by the end of the week."

Quarterback Matt Barkley thought Markowitz did a "pretty good job" in his starting debut for the Trojans.

"I mean, there were times that you could've asked for more from him," Barkley said Tuesday. "But for his first full game like that, I thought he did well."

Markowitz was all smiles after USC's Tuesday practice, saying he was grateful for the opportunity to finally start in his fifth collegiate season.

He just had one minor critique of the Trojans' offense.

"There were a couple series when we out there and just did three straight passes and I was like, 'Ah, we should've ran the ball,' " Markowitz said. "And then the next drive we pounded it, ran the ball and drove down the field."

LOS ANGELES -- The Trojans were in shorts, shoulder pads and helmets on Tuesday morning for the first practice of the bye week.

The first noticeable thing at practice was that it was just a little bit quieter out on the field than it normally is. But it didn’t take long to figure out why -- defensive line coach Ed Orgeron and his booming voice were nowhere to be seen. Orgeron, wide receiver coach Tee Martin and offensive line coach James Cregg were all absent to focus their time and efforts on the recruiting trail -- one of the bonuses that comes with no game to prepare for this Saturday.

“A lot of our guys are not here right now,” said Kiffin. “We want to make sure that we maintain the level that we’ve been recruiting at, and that nationally, players understand the importance of our future. So guys are in and out, and a lot of guys left Sunday, and they’ll be back tomorrow.”

Kiffin also noted the added time a bye week gives to the injured players to rest up and get healthy, as well as the extra reps that it allows the backups in practice.

“This gives us a little more time to focus on [the backups], in all three phases of the game,” Kiffin said. “It’s going to be critical down the stretch, because we know injuries are going to happen, and we’re going to need those guys.”

As practice started, it was evident that Matt Barkley wasn’t about to let up, bye or no bye. Leading the quarterbacks through their individual drills, he was just as determined and focused as ever.

There was a physical early half-line drill with offensive linemen Abe Markowitz and Jeremy Galten both drawing praise for their performances, while Lamar Dawson, Morgan Breslin, George Uko and Leonard Williams all stood out on the defensive side with big plays of their own.

(Read full post)

LOS ANGELES -- Lane Kiffin reviewed the Trojans’ 27-9 win over California Golden Bears and looked ahead to the bye week in a Sunday evening conference call with reporters:

Turning a corner?

Kiffin seemed genuine Sunday in talking about his goals for his team this season, indicating that he's tried to become a little less stats conscious and more aware of his players' thoughts and feelings after comfortable, but not dominant wins.

Saturday's win was a good example. He didn't say it outright, but Kiffin seems to have made an effort to focus on positive results from the Cal win and less so on the negative aspects.

"I know a lot of people would like 50-0 type games, but I think this game was really good for this team," he said. "I think that we all know that we can throw the ball when teams allow us to, so I think it was more critical for this team to build confidence in its running game and defense. And that's exactly what happened in this game."

He said he is unconcerned about "Heisman races or records" -- two things he has still certainly been concerned about in his two previous seasons at USC, often mentioning them in his opening statement at postgame press conferences.

"It's not about getting numbers for certain guys," Kiffin said. "It's about doing the best thing to win."

As he has multiple times during the last couple months, Kiffin brought up an offseason conversation with Tim Tebow, mentioning that the former Florida quarterback stressed to him the importance of having fun during a season replete with such high expectations.

"I told myself this offseason that I'm not going to worry about that," Kiffin said, referring to statistics. "I'm going to celebrate these wins with these kids and make sure they feel good about them."

(Read full post)

LOS ANGELES -- Some selected quotes from head coach Lane Kiffin's Sunday night conference call following the Trojans’ 27-9 victory over California.

OPEN:

“Really, the story of the game was the line of scrimmage.”

“You know, you just look at the nine sacks to one -- and really Matt’s, he was stepped on by the guard -- and rushing yards, 296 to 77.”

“I know a lot of people would like 50-0 type games or higher-scoring games in general, but I think this game was really good for this team. I think that we all know that we can throw the ball well when teams allow us to, and that we have the great skill players in the receiving game to be able to do that. So I think it was more critical for this team to build confidence in its offensive line, running backs, and running game and defense. And that’s exactly what happened in this game.”

“The bye comes at a very good time. Hopefully not only will we get some guys back that are out, but also some guys that aren’t playing at 100 percent will get better with this extra time.”

Injury update:

“Two guys that will be out for the season, Scott Starr and David Garness, Scott Starr with a neck issue, and David Garness had to have back surgery.”

On whether Starr will be able to apply for a medical redshirt:

“Yes, we believe that he can, because of this happening before the last game. So we think that he will get that.”

On Andre Heidari’s performance:

“I think that’s a pretty big deal, to come off of that surgery and not just kick, but to be that effective and kick well. It says a lot about his rehab and his competitiveness.”

On the play of Matt Barkley against California:

“I don’t think there’s any way to fault Matt for his tipped interception. That’s a play where we are supposed to cut the defensive end with the tailback, and that didn’t happen. There’s no way that you can fault him for that. And the other one was just a little bit off with those two guys, Robert [Woods] and Matt -- who have obviously connected for a ton of completions. And you know, the defensive players are on scholarship too, and they make some plays sometimes.”

“And also, as that game was going, the way we were playing on defense, I thought it was critical to manage the game -- not have a lot of negative plays -- and I thought Matt did that.”

On the performance of Abe Markowitz:

“I thought Abe played great. He did a really good job with his pad-leverage, especially in the run-game. While I was watching it, I couldn’t help but think about him being in the game last week -- if he would have been cleared a week ago -- and the difference that would have made.”

On his confidence in Markowitz’s ability to play at either guard or center:

“We have a lot of confidence in him at all three of those spots -- both guards and the center. A lot of credit to Abe, I walked by the offensive line meeting room at 10 p.m. the other night -- that’s pretty late, considering these guys are here at 5:30 in the morning to start their day -- and he was here by himself watching film.”

On the status of George Farmer:

“George was not medically cleared to play in that game Saturday -- he didn’t even dress out. Hopefully he’ll be back this week.”

On T.J. McDonald’s performance against California:

“I think our defensive coaches, first off, did a great job coming up with a package where he’s basically a defensive end in it, and moves around and causes people some issues. And that’s really good for him for the next level, seeing him that close to the line of scrimmage doing things will just make him more valuable. He is playing great, and he plays on our special teams too. He’s a great Trojan.”

On Aundrey Walker’s performance against California:

“I thought that Aundrey played his best game of the year. He really responded to his partial demotion or whatever you want to call it. As coaches, that’s what we tell our players, ‘That’s what we want to see.’ We’re not trying to be critical, we’re trying to make our players better and challenge them. So he really stepped up and played his best game, and played really well in the run game. The goal for him is to keep improving, and we’ll keep bringing Max Tuerk along as well.“

On whether the competition at the left tackle position is open or closed:

“We’ll keep it going. Max did some good things, and like all true freshmen, made some mistakes -- got beat on a critical fourth down early -- and that stuff is going to happen with all of your true freshmen. It was good to get him in there some, and we’ll keep trying to do that.”

Note: There were also a couple of changes made in the official statistical numbers from USC’s victory over California that were brought up in the call:

USC has been credited with two additional sacks to bring the overall team total in the game to nine. George Uko is being credited with one of the sacks, while Antwaun Woods and Morgan Breslin combined for the other sack.

Additionally, California is now being credited with a team sack for a play on which Matt Barkley tripped and fell behind the line of scrimmage.