USC football: Players attempt to clarify meeting after Saturday’s loss

All-American receiver Marqise Lee and senior linebacker Devon Kennard spent part of Wednesday morning on social media clarifying whether Trojans players held a meeting without coaches Sunday, the day after they suffered a 10-7 loss to Washington State.

After Saturday’s defeat, Lee told reporters that players intended to meet the next day without coaches.

“We’re not supposed to come in tomorrow, but we’re all coming in tomorrow to talk about it as a team,” Lee said.

During a teleconference with reporters Sunday night, Coach Lane Kiffin could not confirm that the meeting had taken place.

“I don’t think that ever works,” he said. “That’s why we meet with them. We show them how the film is broken down and exactly what happened.”

On Tuesday after practice, Lee confirmed that players met without coaches. “We talked amongst ourselves,” Lee said. “Just something we had to do within, not necessarily with the coaches…. Just keep that positive mindset as a team. Make sure we’re all moving forward from this point.”

On Wednesday morning, Lee posted on his Twitter feed: “There was not a ‘players only meeting.’ Just regular get-together with a few players about staying positive and moving forward #FightOn!”

Kennard tweeted: “If there was a ‘players only’ meeting I wasn’t there.... Every coach and player we have is focused on one goal and that’s winning this week!”

In subsequent tweets Kennard wrote, “A couple of guys got together and talked about how we need to bounce back and move forward from last weeks loss, was not the whole team.”

He added: “It was not a formal meeting.... Everyone is on the same page and focused on Saturday.”

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