USC Fight...Surgery Required

[IrishMoore1]

LOS ANGELES -- USC cornerback T.J. Bryant underwent surgery on his cheekbone Thursday as a result of a fight with fullback Stanley Havili.

The fight broke out near the end of a players-only workout last Friday, Trojans coach Lane Kiffin said. The players were finishing a relay drill when an argument escalated into a physical confrontation. Bryant, who was competing for a starting job this fall, is expected to miss three to four weeks. The Trojans open their season in Hawaii on Sept. 2.

Havili, a fifth-year senior, was USC's fourth-leading rusher and No. 4 receiver last season.

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"It's very out of character. Sometimes, people show leadership in the wrong ways," Kiffin said. "This was a situation where Stanley tried to step in to get guys to finish without the coaches being there. He was showing leadership to get guys to finish at a level he's used to. My understanding is there was a back-and-forth and some pushing. Obviously, it didn't end well."

The incident is reminiscent of a 2005 fight at USC between receiver Steve Smith and tight end Dominique Byrd that ended in Byrd's missing spring practice because of a broken jaw. That fight erupted while the two were playing a video game.

Kiffin said he's still gathering facts about the incident, which he did not witness. Havili practiced Thursday, USC's second day of fall camp, but Kiffin said he could still be punished for the incident.

"We were all fired up. It was the last workout of the year, emotions were high. You know when emotions are high, intelligence is down," Havili said. "I let it get the best of me and I feel bad about it."

Havili wouldn't comment on whether he threw a punch. He said he and Bryant will address the incident together after Bryant recovers from surgery.

It has been a long string of bad news for USC's program since January, when coach Pete Carroll announced he was bolting for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. The Trojans are playing this season under severe sanctions by the NCAA, including a two-year bowl ban.

"We stay strong," quarterback Matt Barkley said. "You guys didn't even know about [the fight] and wouldn't even have noticed anything with our team. It's just a little thing and nothing's going to get in the way of our goals."

USC Trojans' T.J. Bryant injured, has facial surgery following fight with Stanley Havili - ESPN Los Angeles

I love how Kiffin said it was misguided leadership that caused the fight. WOW

 

[johnnykillz]

Kiffen is introducing the wisdom of a drug lord to USC...

 

[BGIF]

...

I love how Kiffin said it was misguided leadership that caused the fight. WOW

When asked to comment on the situation, Orgeron tore off two shirts.

 

[IrishInFl]

NO! T.J.! Say it ain't so!

Maybe he should have transferred to USF?

 

[PatsandBostonfan1975]

Matt Barkley should have tried to break it up.

 

[WabashFalcon]

Matt Barkley should have tried to break it up.

*coff*


I SECOND THAT FREAKING MOTION!!!

 

[We_Are_ND]

Can we move this to "Other college football"? Sorry I'm anal. Still love the story though

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Nice. He is still practicing

 

[Bubba]

Havili put it best, "...intelligence is down."

 

[Old Man Mike]

I suppose that the guys on this list that played football on a college level are intimately aware that fights happen all the time on the practice field and in the locker-room before or after practice. My brother who played defensive tackle for ECU said that there were regularly incidents where "intelligence was down", and that he had to knock out somebody about every third week. Since he was the powerlifting record holder in both North Carolina and West Virginia, he survived these low-intelligence moments relatively unscathed. Other high-testosterone people seem to have less sense. Boys will be boys?

 

[johnnykillz]

I agree, OMM, but the way it's been addressed by Kiffen is what disturbs me. I've seen many an ass whippin' put on some really tough people, and seldom do they "require surgery," unless someone got booted in the face while down.

Anyone watch UFC (not USC) fights? How many of those knockouts require surgery? Not many, and those guys would eat Stan Havili for breakfast.

Taking boots (cleats) to the face while down is how surgery is required for a fight. Thugs I tell you. I am assuming, but I'd bet ten bucks to a dollar that I'm onto something here.

 

[fitz_bu47]

I agree JohnnyK, I played ball in college and got in fights w/ some of my best buddies at practice and afterwards we were fine.....None of our fights ever never ended w/ surgery however.

 

[Old Man Mike]

To Johnny and Fitz, you're probably right. My brothers told me that even when they had to knock the guy clean out, he woke up fairly quickly with just a sore jaw and a quieter demeanor. In their bar fights it was a different story. Maybe that's why you're on to something vis-a-vis the relative violence. Surgery and four weeks out of football does seem a lot. One of my brothers, while "entertaining" a recruit [with multi-dollars supplied by the coaching staff] had that recruit "take offense" at someone at the frat party and mow through a dozen or more of him and his friends sending 6 or 8 to the hospital and him to the jail and an awkward meeting [brother included] with the head coach. The recruit was still shaking with adrenaline when the coach showed up to get him released. Obviously not a RKG.

 

[ND_HAS_RISEN]

Fights between players is inevitable. There is so much adrenaline rushing that even the slightest thing can set it off. Breaking a cheekbone really isn't that hard to do with a flush punch. Kid will be fine, fights happen, MOVE ON!!!

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

I saw a guy get hit in the face where it ended up requiring surgery. However, it was a bar fight and the guy that threw the punch had a roll of quarters in his hand. I agree with Johnny that there is more to the story than is being told. Some sort of "extracurricular activity" probably took place in the altercation to cause such severe injury.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Matt Barkley should have tried to break it up.

He was going to, but he couldn't get anyone to hold his purse.









F - USC! I hope we beat the crap out of those guys this year!!!

 

[HawaiianIrish]

Screw U$C. Let them all kill each other for all i care. Go Irish

 

[tko]

Pat Hayden, welcome to your alma mater.

 

[jason_h537]

Nothing says leadership like breaking a teammates cheekbone.

Gotta love the Kiffen era

 

[NDinLA is a TROLL]

Heard on the radio from Petros on Hartman and Friends that TJ Bryant could not get his helmet on during practice on wed due to swelling so they made him take x rays and the doctor recommended surgery.

 

[GreatGolson]

Ok just a recap of how our enemies have been doing this summer,
USC Not allowed to be ranked
USC School heisman returned
USC No bowls for 2 Years
USC Recruits leave/players transfer
USC Infighting
USC AD replacement
MICH Tate Forcier looses even more respect for being a prick
MICH/Rich Rod Violations at former school
If theres anything im missing PLEASE ADD ON!

 

[jakerbluegold]

Does Romanowski have any eligibility remaining?

 

[IrishAddiction]

Bahaha! Didnt get online yesterday d/t work, but seen this today and it has just made today... well... great so far. We should make shirts.... "USC~Intelligence is down" or "TJ~ You got knocked the **** out!"

 

[ACamp1900]

Matt Barkley should have tried to break it up.

*coff*


I SECOND THAT FREAKING MOTION!!!

Excuse me but Matt Barkley is a true Christian Hero who has done everything according to God's plan who lives his entire life by a high moral standard and gives all the glory where it rightully belongs.... hence why he chose to play for U.S.C??????........

Did I mention he's a fucking moron?... yeah he's that too.

Hearing him praise God and talk about morals and ethics after wins is not to far off hearing Tyson say he's gonna eat people's children.... praise be to Allah.

 

[IrishMoore1]

LOS ANGELES -- USC fullback Stanley Havili's indefinite suspension from the team for breaking the left cheekbone of cornerback T.J. Bryant during a fight a week ago lasted all of one day before coach Lane Kiffin reinstated him Saturday.

"I talked to Stanley and a number of our players who came to me including T.J. who were there with the situation and saw everything and really felt that Stanley should be back and part of the team and basically begged me to bring him back," Kiffin said. "I know after talking with Stanley, the way he feels and how hurt he was by what happened and the attention brought to it. The biggest thing for me was T.J. explaining to me this thing was done eight days ago right after it happened. Stanley apologized to him, they had moved on."

Bryant, who returned to practice wearing sunglasses as he watched the team from the sidelines, underwent surgery Thursday and is expected to miss three to four weeks.

According to Kiffin, Havili punched Bryant near the end of a players-only workout after Havili and Bryant exchanged words during a conditioning drill.

While Havili returned to practice, he was only active during the first 45 minutes as he continued to recover from a tweaked hamstring he suffered during practice Thursday. When asked about the perception of suspending Havili for only one practice he might have missed anyway due to his injury Kiffin said, "I think you guys that know me know I don't really concern myself with the perception of people outside of our program."

"We could have kept him out today and said we were keeping him out longer to please people outside of our program if we wanted to because he really didn't do anything today anyway after individual [workouts]," said Kiffin, who doesn't forsee further discipline for Havili. "But we didn't, he's back with us. His hamstring is sore and he couldn't play if we were going to play today anyway."

Havili, a fifth-year senior who was USC's fourth-leading rusher and No. 4 receiver last season, walked off the practice field with Bryant and addressed the media after both players huddled up with USC sports information director Tim Tessalone.

"It was tough to sit at home while the guys were out here," Havili said. "I realized I made a mistake out there and I did let my emotions get the best of me."

Bryant said his face doesn't hurt and actually didn't know he needed surgery until he was forced to undergo a physical before the start of camp. He hopes to practice before the season opener against Hawaii on Sept. 2.

"Emotions just got the best of us and some things happened but that's old news," Bryant said. "That happened a week ago and we made up that day. Everything's been fine ever since then."

Bryant said he pleaded with Kiffin to allow Havili to return to the team because they both had put the situation behind him and were both to blame for the incident.

"Nobody needs to miss practice," Bryant said. "We were both at fault, we both made a bad decision. The team needs everybody right now. We all need to come together and just be as one. Somebody sitting at home just doesn't make sense to me. We're all grown and we learn. The time that he sat out was too much for me. I just wanted him back. The team needs him."

Despite putting the situation behind them, Bryant cracked a smile when he was asked if he would look to give Havili an extra hard hit when he returned to practice.

"Stanley plays offense and I try to kill all the offensive players," he said. "It's nothing personal but if I'm not looking to kill him my energy's not there. I'm looking to kill everyone out there."

Havili, who said he was surprised his suspension didn't last longer, did at least find a silver lining in the situation as he stood besides Bryant in the middle of the practice field, surrounded by a dozen reporters.

"I feel like we had a bonding moment," Havili said, smiling at Bryant. "I do feel like me and T.J. are cool towards each other and it's a good experience to learn from."

USC Trojans' Stanley Havili back at practice after fighting ban - ESPN Los Angeles

I'd really like to know how much USC pays Havili, and I'm wondering if Kiffin's tenure will last as long as Havili's indefinite suspension