Reggie the Contrite?

UPDATE: Haden changes tune.

The phrase "mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa" is a favorite of mine.

Maybe it is a product of my obsession with Latin, maybe it is my Catholic upbringing shining though but the phrase has always seemed more meaningful than a simple "I'm sorry."

It comes from the Roman Catholic prayer for confession of sinfulness and literally means "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault."

And it was the first thing that came to mind when I saw news of Reggie Bush's apparent apology to USC AD Pat Haden:

"He's really contrite," Haden said of the 2005 Heisman winner. "He knows he made a series of mistakes. It wasn't just one mistake. It was a series of mistakes.

"He told me, 'If I could turn the clock back, I would. If I could give the Heisman Trophy back, I would.' "

Bush will likely never be able to completely repair the damage he has done to USC but his mea culpa (albeit one relayed second hand) is a very positive first step. 

And it is not because he said sorry. Or said he would give his Heisman back. It is because he admitted fault. At least by Haden's assessment, he confessed that his mistakes caused this mess.

The gesture was small and much more is needed.  But for now I'll take it. Because every reconciliation has to start somewhere.

Just call him Sheriff Kiffin

Pete Carroll may have had big balls, but Lane Kiffin is a hard ass. And I love it.

One of the biggest criticisms many had for the final year of the Carroll era was an apparent lack of discipline.

I think it's safe to say we will not be dealing with a similar problem as the Kiffin era begins.

Freshmen phenom Dillon Baxter now knows that better than anyone.

After two days of sideline punishment, Baxter was officially suspended for USC's season opener against Hawaii on Sept. 2 for violating team rules.

Presumably the suspension stems from an incident early Tuesday morning when the young running back allegedly  broke curfew and reeked of a "controlled substance."

Kiffin had this to say:

"I think this is an extremely strong message and a very severe punishment for a player that may potentially be the most-skilled player on our whole roster," Kiffin said. "Hopefully that message not only helps him but helps our team and especially our freshman class."

The punishment is harsh for certain, but it sets a much needed standard for how Trojan players are expected to behave under this new regime. It started with more disciplined practices and laps or other punitive exercises for screwing up on the field. It has now extended to off-field behavior.

No player is safe from that standard. Not even the best young player on the team.

Interestingly enough, it was new AD Pat Haden's response to the situation the shed the most light on the suspension:

"Dillon's a high-profile athlete, like we've had some other ones around here, and he wasn't doing things he was supposed to be doing, Haden said. "And so when I say Lane gets it, I think he does.

"We can't just allow this kind of behavior, particularly for a freshman when they're just getting started, so I think he's done absolutely the right thing."

"Dillon's a high-profile athlete." Did you hear that Paul Dee?

Hopefully Baxter, and every other "high-profile" athlete at USC, heard it loud and clear because the spotlights are on and the microscopes are out. They may call him the next Reggie Bush on the field, but they will not tolerate Reggie Bush-like trouble off of it.