Point Shaving in the WCC

USD president supports athletic director, coach

USD President Mary Lyons on Friday expressed "unwavering support" for Athletic Director Ky Snyder and basketball coach Bill Grier in the wake of a sports bribery scandal involving two former Toreros players and one ex-assistant coach.

Speaking at a campus news conference, Lyons said Snyder and Grier also had the support of the school's board of trustees.

"We're extremely disappointed in these allegations and the questions of integrity it raises in our intercollegiate program. It is not who we are," Snyder said.

Snyder said he learned of the federal investigation at 7 a.m. Monday from Grier, who said he was visited by two FBI agents at 6:30 a.m. Monday.

Former University of San Diego players Brandon Johnson and Brandon Dowdy, along with ex-assistant coach Thaddeus "T.J." Brown, were among 10 people charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit sports bribery, to operate an illegal sports bookmaking service and to distribute marijuana.

Snyder said the school was cooperating with the investigation and "will not be commenting on the investigation."

"I remain fully committed to Coach Grier and this team," Snyder said.

Said Grier: "If the allegations are true, I am deeply disappointed and feel betrayed."

Asked if he feared the allegations could hurt the program's reputation and recruiting, Snyder said, "The reputation of the university and the way we conduct ourselves will win out over time. In the short term, I think everybody is going to have questions."

Grier said he had not heard from any current Toreros players that they were interested in transferring.

DaTruRochin wrote:I guess we learned no players are interested in transferring...yet.