USC Defends Record for Minority Athletes

Regarding the statement made by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Glenn Dickey, which appeared in Morning Briefing on Feb. 28--”In recent years, USC has not been able to get the quality and quantity of black athletes it once did, and there have been rumors that black athletes do not get the support once in school they did in the past”--please note:

--Eleven of USC’s 14 football recruits this spring, including five prep All-Americans, are African-American, as are all six of the fall signees in men’s and women’s basketball.

--According to the most recent NCAA report, 80% of USC’s African-American football players graduated (since the report was published, that rate has increased to 90%).

--The staff and budget for USC’s Student-Athlete Academic Services office have doubled in the past five years.

--A 1991 USA Today survey of minority representation in key positions in Division I-A athletic departments ranked USC sixth in the nation.

USC has, and continues to have, a proud heritage on and off the field with its student-athletes, including African-Americans.

TIM TESSALONE

USC Sports Information Director