University of Southern California - El Rodeo Yearbook

“Rising Above The Chaos We had all heard the rumors for years; about the special privileges athletes get; about the fact that they never go to class. Some felt this supposed practice would come crashing down upon us, and it did last summer when the Pac 10 announced that this university ' s football team would be banned from post season play and that the track team would lose its 1978 national championship as well as the eligibility of world-class runner Billy Mullins. We were not alone. Four other univer- sities were forbidden from bowl play; Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, and cross-town rival UCLA. Reactions were mixed, but the viola- tions and subsequent penalties did not come as much of a surprise. Rich Bonin, a writer for the DAILY TROJAN, had al- ready uncovered the discrepancies ear- lier in the year. There was a positive result of the fias- co; use continued to energetically up- grade its academic image not wanting to be considered a " football school. " With a new president we were on the road to a new image. Athletics was shaping up along with the rest of the university. Above: A BREAK TO STVDY—Paiiwla Denise McGee, basketball team member, studied in Heritage Hall. .^\ > M - < TK < ^. I ' ^ ' CXr ' *^ ' *;^ J-il*, .•(«»•.— ' ««ia(»t«-.«3B*»W« ' Above: PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE— Fooffw// players continued to diligently workout despite no chance for a hozvl game. Opening ”