UPDATED: USC bans reporter from practice, next home game then takes it back
*** UPDATED: L.A. Daily news reporter Scott Wolf tweeted that he had been reinstated following talks with USC athletic director Pat Haden.
***
USC coach Lane Kiffin is once again having a little trouble with the media.
According to the L.A. Times, USC has suspended L.A. Daily News reporter Scott Wolf from two weeks of practices and revoked his credential for the Sept. 22 home game against Cal.
Why?
Because Wolf reported an injury, which is against USC's policy.
In August, USC issued a policy telling media that it was not to report on injuries or strategy during in-season practices. But on Sunday, Wolf wrote this:
USC kicker Andre Heidari underwent surgery last week to repair a torn meniscus in his knee and will be sidelined about three weeks.
Heidari suffered the injury in the season opener against Hawaii and did not accompany USC to its game against Syracuse on Saturday. Walk-on Alex Wood filled in for Heidari and kicked six extra points.
Coach Lane Kiffin does not discuss injuries and has not said what sidelined Heidari or when he will return.
Granted, this doesn't appear to be something that was practice-related, but rather something Wolf got from a source or maybe even another player. Regardless, USC said it violated the policy and made an example out of Wolf.
[Week 2 Winners and Losers: Pac-12 comes up roses with three upset wins]
Gene Warnick, sports editor for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, which includes the Daily News told the Times that he thought the suspension was unwarranted and that he planned to speak with USC athletic director Pat Haden on Wednesday.
"From our standpoint, Scott was doing his job," Warnick said. "This wasn't something that was part of practice. We were just trying to report the news."
Most universities have a policy about media reporting on injuries. Remember Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen's hissy fit when asked about injuries? UCLA coach Jim Mora has a similar policy with his media. But this might be the first time a university has actually banned a media member from practices and a game for violating the policy.
The Trojans play at Stanford this week and USC can't ban Wolf from an opposing press box, which is why he's banned for the next home game.
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