USC Footballer Quits, Calls Coach Racist

Steve Sarkisian has yet to coach a single football game at USC, but the new head coach is having a seriously awful preseason. Just after a star player fabricated a hero tale about himself, Trojans senior Anthony Brown has quit the team and taken to social media to call Sarkisian a "racist," reports NBC Sports. "It was like a slave master talking to his slave," Brown tells TMZ of a meeting with the coach. "Couldn't play for a racist man!!!!!!!!!!! #FightOn," Brown posted to Facebook, with similar comments appearing on Instagram and Twitter. The posts were later deleted, reports ESPN.

A "shocked" Sarkisian says Brown's claims are "ridiculous," reports Scout.com. He says Brown got injured in training camp, and the team moved him from cornerback to running back at his request. "I wanted him to come back and play and he chose not to," Sarkisian says. The coach is getting support from at least one member of his team. "Coach Sark is a great person/Coach! Please disregard comments that have been made by someone," player Antwaun Woods tweeted yesterday. (More USC Trojans stories.)