Papadakis' USC Dinners Under Investigation

San Pedro restaurant-owner John Papadakis must be wondering which of his legacies may leave a greater blemish on the University of Southern California football program--siring Fox Sports commentator Petros Papadakis, captain of the worst team in Trojan history, or causing an investigation into recruiting violations just as the Trojans enter the most important three-game stretch in recent memory.

According to the L.A. Daily News, university compliance officials are following up on a December 2005 report in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that During recuiting dinners at his Papadakis Taverna, the 1970's-era football player would give an impassioned speech about the importance of the Cardinal and Gold and implore recruits to declare, "I want to be a Trojan."

Now, as the team prepares for what amounts to three "playoff" games against Cal, Notre Dame and UCLA, Trojan players are being asked to sit for interviews with university officials to discuss what they recall from the dinners which took place before they even enrolled at the school.