USC Suspends Four Starters For Saturday’s Game Against Cal

Four USC starters who swapped their football cleats for apparel were suspended Monday for one game.

Defensive tackle Darrell Russell, linebacker Sammy Knight, safety Brian Kelly and wide receiver Larry Parker will miss the 17th-ranked Trojans’ game against California on Saturday at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

An investigation by USC revealed the players exchanged their team-issued playing shoes for “apparel for personal use,” according to a statement issued by the university.

“We view violating the NCAA’s ‘extra benefit’ rule as a serious incident,” athletic director Mike Garrett said. “These players have been suspended and required to make restitution.

“We are self-reporting this violation to the NCAA and then will petition the NCAA for the restoration of their eligibility.”

The Trojans’ football program has been marred by suspensions the past two seasons.

Running back Delon Washington was suspended for the first three games of this season for lying to Pac-10 officials during an investigation. Shawn Walters, another tailback, was suspended for the equivalent of one full season, beginning after the third game of last year, for accepting money from a sports agent.

Washington returned to play in the Trojans’ last game, Sept. 21 at Houston.

Walters also was given NCAA clearance to play in that game, but the university has been withholding him while it investigates new allegations that he violated NCAA rules.