A "flat-out brawl" broke out in USC's football locker room after the Trojans' 21-7 loss to Georgia Tech in the Sun Bowl, multiple sources have told ESPN.The altercation, initially reported by the Los Angeles Daily News, began when one of the team's younger players was "bad-mouthing Matt Barkley." The player questioned why the quarterback did not play and challenged USC's collective senior leadership.The Herd with Colin CowherdUSC QB Matt Barkley weighs in on Chip Kelly, the incident that occurred following the Trojans' loss in the Sun Bowl, Lane Kiffin, Marqise Lee and more.More Podcasts »Several other upperclassmen, including senior safety T.J. McDonald, came to Barkley's defense, the sources said. A security guard confirmed only that "tempers flared," but other sources told ESPN that "it was haymakers."According to the Daily News, freshman offensive tackle Zach Banner would not discuss the incident but did say, "It's going to be a whole new family atmosphere next season and you can quote me on that. For the seniors, it's terrible."Coach Lane Kiffin could not be reached for comment by the Daily News.Barkley, a one-time Heisman Trophy contender, did not play in the bowl game because of an injury to his shoulder. He was ruled out by the team's medical staff and previously missed USC's regular-season finale against Notre Dame after suffering the injury in the Nov. 17 game vs. UCLA.Barkley's absence was one thread in a season full of disappointment for USC. The Trojans were the top-ranked team in the preseason but struggled mightily, finishing 7-6 overall and 5-4 in the Pac-12. Several players in USC's 2013 recruiting class -- ranked No. 6 by ESPN.com after once being ranked No. 1 -- also decommitted, including Max Redfield, the No. 2 athlete in the ESPN 150, wide receivers Eldridge Massington and Sebastian LaRue, and defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes, ranked No. 10 in the ESPN 150.
My first prediction for 2013 is that Lane Kiffin is fired. http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/college-football/story/_/id/8849887/usc-trojans-scuffle-post-bowl-defeat-sources-say
Heard some report today that a recruit and his dad are pissed with Kiffy after the kid did what he had to do to finish and enroll early...then Lane says, "Not so fast my friend."
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