The Pac 12 has suspended USC junior safety T.J. McDonald for one half of USC's next game (Friday, at Colorado) as a punishment for a hit on a defenseless opponent against Stanford.
McDonald's hit to the head on Stanford's Chris Owusu may sideline the receiver with concussion symptoms. McDonald was flagged for a personal foul with the hit, which extended Stanford's touchdown drive against the Trojans.
“While Mr. McDonald was appropriately penalized on the field, I have deemed it necessary to add a half-game suspension,” said Pac 12 commissioner Larry Scott in a release by the conference. “This process was part of our weekly review of all targeting and unnecessary roughness hits.”
The Pac 12 confirmed that McDonald had been informed of his hits before, making this measure a necessary move.
“Mr. McDonald had been previously warned about illegal hits above the shoulders on defenseless opponents. In order to protect our student-athletes, it is imperative that we enforce these penalties for the safety of the game,” added Scott. NCAA rules specifically call for video review by the appropriate conferences to review possible suspensions for penalties resulting from hits on the head and neck area of a defenseless opponent that does not already result in an ejection from a game.
USC head coach Lane Kiffin was also fined $10,000 for his comments criticizing Pac 12 officials. Kiffin was upset with the officials for not getting a timeout near the end of regulation against Stanford to set up a potential game-winning field goal as time expired. Officials claimed that time had run out when USC wide receiver Robert Woods was tackled. Kiffin also disputed the spot of a football when Stanford was on offense after a penalty on Stanford's possession in the second overtime.
“The Pac-12 has specific rules that prohibit our coaches from making public comments about officiating, and this prohibition specifically includes comments that create doubts about the credibility of the Conference’s officiating program,” stated Scott. “The Conference expects each Pac-12 coach to adhere to our standards of conduct and to conduct himself or herself in a manner which will reflect credit on the institution and the Conference.”
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