Trojans review recruiting

A recruiting tool regularly used by Southern California’s top-ranked football program is under review by the school for possible NCAA violations after trips to a Los Angeles-area restaurant owned by a former Trojans player were detailed by separate news organizations this past week.

A story in the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram and a Thursday report on CBS SportsLine.com centered on visits by USC recruits to Papadakis Taverna, a Greek restaurant in San Pedro, Calif., owned by former USC linebacker John Papadakis.

Papadakis is a central part of the restaurant’s standard entertainment, which includes Greek belly dancers, traditional Greek dances and the customary breaking of plates. Athletic prospects, the stories reveal, are subject to impassioned speeches by Papadakis, who as a former player is considered a “representative of athletics interests” by the NCAA and is prohibited from speaking to recruits about the Trojans.

The eatery is 25 miles from the USC campus and prices for entrees are as high as $59.95. The combination of distance and expense appear to go beyond the NCAA stipulation that a recruit’s meals should reflect those comparable to normal college life.

Miami players weren’t unconscious

The two Miami players injured in the brawl after LSU’s 40-3 win over Miami in the Peach Bowl Friday night at Atlanta were not knocked unconscious, contrary to what Miami coach Larry Coker said after the game.

Miami wide receiver Khalil Jones was taken to a local hospital after the team returned to its hotel after the game for tests that took about two hours, Miami assistant athletic director for communication Mark Pray said Saturday morning.

“He is fine. … But he was knocked pretty silly for sure,” Pray said.

Miami offensive lineman Andrew Bain was clearly in a daze as he was led away from the fight, but he was not taken to the hospital.

Notes

Tulsa defensive coordinator Todd Graham said he’s been offered the coaching job at Rice but hasn’t decided whether to accept the position.

Rice has scheduled a news conference for this afternoon regarding the head coaching position, said school spokesman Bill Cousins, who refused further comment.

•Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson was guarded by a state trooper during a home football against Kansas State last month after investigators determined a credible threat – apparently stemming from a newspaper column – had been made against him and his family.

•North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams said he will likely leave school early and enter the NFL draft.