Back in June, when the NCAA hit USC with some of its harshest sanctions, Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke posed the question on everyone’s mind, “With his protector [president] Steve Sample gone, can [athletic director Mike] Garrett be far behind?”

The answer, as many expected and hoped for, is no.

Garrett will, in fact, exit the very same day as Sample, who has defended Garrett through the investigation and sanctions process. Garrett started at USC not long after Sample, and many speculate that their relationship is one of the only reasons Garrett lasted as long as he did.

Which is why it’s no surprise to see change afoot in the athletic department as president-elect C. L. Max Nikias prepares to take the helm.

If Sample had fired Garrett in June, as many said needed to happen, it would have raised questions as to why Garrett lasted even that long. (Granted, those questions have already been raised to some extent.) By that point, Sample had hung on to Garrett for so long that to let him go in June would’ve been admitting that he made a mistake, which is probably not how Sample, who has had an otherwise brilliant career at USC, wants to exit.

So instead, the announcement of a change in the athletic department comes from Nikias, who takes over on Aug. 3. The 9-page announcement, which makes no mention of the sanctions, simply says that the change in administration offered USC a prime opportunity to reorganize the athletics department.
Pat Haden, a former Trojan quarterback and member of the Board of Trustees, will run the athletics department as of Aug. 3. The university is also creating several positions to deal with compliance.

Simply put, the announcement and its timing are brilliant. Nikias is already being lauded for his decision, which is certainly a good way to start his presidency, and most Trojan fans will be so happy with the news that they’ll forget how long Sample refused to believe that something was wrong in the athletic department. Sample will get out without letting the athletic scandals tarnish his stellar record, and Garrett will likely take advantage of the university’s retirement package, which at this point, is the best he could’ve hoped for.

Questions about Garrett (and his unusually high pay) will stop. Scrutiny of the university’s decisions will stop. All remnants of the controversial era are gone, and USC will be able to turn over a new leaf.

It may be years before the sting of the sanctions wears off, but now that Garrett is out, at least fans can trust that their team, and their school, is back on the right path.   

To reach reporter Alexandra Tilsley, click here.