One thing to remember while this whole “deflategate” soap opera continues to evolve over the next few days: Just a few years ago, the powerhouse USC football program admitted that someone related to the team had purposefully deflated the team’s game balls in order to help USC gain an advantage over its opponent.
But it wasn’t the head coach who supposedly conspired to deflate the footballs. Or the assistant coaches. Or the quarterback. Or the running back. After an investigation by USC, the school determined it was, of course, one of the student managers?
NCAA game officials discovered before a Nov. 2012 game against the Oregon Ducks that three of USC’s footballs were significantly deflated. At halftime, they discovered two more. A slightly under-inflated football can be easier to throw and catch.
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Ten months prior to the incident, the USC website posted a blog post entitled “Managers Needed.” The school described it as an opportunity for students to get as close to the action as possible.
“Being a Student Manager is the experience of a lifetime for any USC football fan,” the blog post stated. “You will be given the chance to work directly with players and coaches as they prepare for the highly anticipated 2012 season.”
It added: “There is no way to get closer to the program than this!”
