Pastides must miss opening day for hearings
It’s no secret that USC President Harris Pastides is a baseball fan.
This past Halloween Pastides dressed up as a catcher, with a helmet and full uniform, to greet people outside of his home on the Horeshoe. In Pastides’ office is a case of baseballs that he asks distinguished visitors to sign when they come to campus. When ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen came to campus on Feb. 1, the two talked about baseball.
Naturally, one of the biggest days of the year for any baseball fan is Opening Day, but it will be one that Pastides will have to miss as he and 10 other representatives of the South Carolina’s athletics program will appear Friday before the NCAA Committee on Infractions for the school’s NCAA violations.
“Sometimes crap happens, you just have to deal with it,” USC football coach Steve Spurrier said. “Find out who was at fault or if anybody was at fault, that’s what we’re trying to search for.”
In a response to the NCAA’s notice of allegations, South Carolina forfeited six football scholarships over the course of three years, imposed a three year probatory period and a fine of $18,500, as well as other punitive measures.
“I’m expecting that we will present a strong case,” Pastides said. “The case of a university always wanting to do the right thing, always wanting to do better. We have prepared for it and will continue to prepare for it. I’m confident for a fair hearing and deliberation, and I’m hopeful for a fair and just and positive outcome.”
Joining Pastides will be Athletics Director Eric Hyman, Spurrier, assistant football coach G.A. Mangus, track coach Curtis Frye, assistant men’s basketball coach Michael Boynton Jr. as well as five other officals from the athletics department including newly-named Compliance Director Chris Rogers, who was hired from Ohio State. At Ohio State, Rogers had experience with the NCAA Committee on Infractions, as Ohio State had violations surrounding improper benefits.
Though Hyman would not speak directly on the upcoming hearing, he did speak to the recent hiring of Rogers.
“Chris became highly recommended,” Hyman said. “We got rave reviews about him. And it’s an advantage that he’s seen inside how it works.”
The trip to Los Angeles will be a bittersweet one for Pastides: Though he’s not looking forward to going before the NCAA and missing baseball’s Opening Day, it will be a chance to visit his daughter, who’s expecting his first grandchild, in Santa Monica, Calif.