As first reported by The Clarion-Ledger, University of Southern California head basketball coach Tim Floyd submitted his resignation today amid allegations he paid $1,000 to an outside source to help steer current NBA-player O.J. Mayo to the Trojans.

Floyd submitted a one paragraph letter of resignation to USC athletic director Mike Garrett, which read:

“As of 1 p.m. today, I am resigning as head basketball coach at the University of Souithern California. I deeply appreciate the opportunity afforded me by the university, as well as the chance to know and work with some of the finest young men in college athletics. Unfortunately, I no longer feel I can offer the level of enthusiasm to my duties that is deserved by the university, my coaching staff, my players, their families, and the supporters of Southern Cal. I always promised my self and my family that if I ever felt I could no longer give my full enthusiasm to a job, that I should leave it to others who could. I intend to contact my coaching staff and my players in coming days and weeks to tell them how much each of them means to me. I wish the best to USC and to my successor.”

On May 12, Yahoo! Sports reported that one-time Mayo confidant Louis Johnson said Floyd had made a cash payment to Rodney Guillory, a “runner” for sports agent Bill Duffy, who steered Mayo to the Bill Duffy Sports Agency after Mayo left USC.

Such a payment would be a major violation of NCAA rules. And violations are not uncommon at USC. Former running back Reggie Bush is still under scrutiny from accepting improper benefits from a prospective sports agent.

Twitterers responded rather cynically to this sudden resignation handed in by Floyd:

1. 
   jpn122071 Oh Tim Floyd, Tim Floyd…Was OJ Mayo really worth it???? 10 Jun 2009 from web
2. 
   thisishowe tim floyd=pete bell. 10 Jun 2009 from txt
3. 
   anzola33 Tim floyd resigns as head coach of USC after that oj mayo thing… He should just come out and yell “ya I gave him an escalade so what!?” 10 Jun 2009 from UberTwitter
4. 
   TheLSF Does Tim Floyd’s resignation at USC basically say, “guilty for paying for Mayo”? 10 Jun 2009 from mobile web
5. 
   mronederful1911 Never trust a guy with two first names. Tim Floyd – - Coincidence? I don’t think so. 10 Jun 2009 from web
6. 
   j_lloyd is very glad that the University of Memphis did not hire Tim Floyd 10 Jun 2009 from web
   
   

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