USC and Pat Haden react to unsealed documents in Todd McNair case

USC and Athletic Director Pat Haden reacted Wednesday to documents that were unsealed and released Tuesday in Todd McNair’s defamation lawsuit against the NCAA.

Members of the NCAA infractions committee that handed USC some of the most severe penalties in college sports history compared the evidence in the scandal to the Oklahoma City bombing, mocked the university’s response to the matter and derided the hiring of Lane Kiffin.

“After an initial review of this first set of documents unsealed by the court in the McNair v. NCAA lawsuit, it is evident that the content confirms bias against McNair and USC by and on behalf of the NCAA and its Committee on Infractions,” USC said in a statement. “We are extremely disappointed and dismayed at the way the NCAA investigated, judged and penalized our university throughout this process. USC hopes that the transparency in this case will ultimately lead to review and changes so that all member institutions receive the fair and impartial treatment they deserve.

“It seems likely that there are additional documents that will come to light. Once USC has had the opportunity to review all of the documents unsealed by the court, we will determine what further action is appropriate.”

Haden said in a statement the documents “confirm what we’ve believed all along, that we were treated unfairly in this investigation and its penalties.”

“I think these documents are cause for concern about the NCAA’s own institutional controls,” Haden said.

“It should be concerning to all schools that the NCAA didn’t appear to follow its own rules.”