USC reinstates Josh Shaw after 10-game suspension
USC has reinstated cornerback Josh Shaw following a 10-game suspension, the school announced Tuesday afternoon.
"For several months, local authorities have been investigating the August 23 incident involving Josh Shaw,” USC athletic director Pat Haden said in a statement. “They have now concluded that investigation and determined that no action will be taken against him. USC also conducted its own internal investigation of Josh, evaluating both athletic department code of conduct and potential NCAA compliance issues. Based on these investigations and their conclusions, and the 10-game suspension Josh has served for code of conduct violations, we have made the decision to reinstate him. The role Josh will have in any remaining games is now in the hands of Coach Sarkisian."
The Los Angeles district attorney’s office said Monday that it would not press charges against Shaw, who was the subject of a domestic violence investigation. However, the school had concerns after Shaw lied about the details that prompted the investigation.
Shaw, a senior and a former team captain, showed up at the USC facilities nursing two sprained ankles. He told USC that he suffered the injuries while jumping from a balcony to save his 7-year-old nephew, who was drowning in a pool. He later confessed the story was false and was promptly suspended.
On Tuesday, coach Steve Sarkisian told media that while it would be nice for Shaw to play during his senior year, the Trojans had already played 10 games without him and had developed chemistry.
Sarkisian didn’t stray too much from those words in the statement released by the school.
"I've welcomed Josh Shaw back to the team,” Sarkisian said. “I'm now in the process of evaluating how Josh can contribute to the team's success."
USC plays UCLA this weekend in its final conference game that could decide the Pac-12 South champion.
For more USC news, visit TrojanSports.com.
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