Rey Maualuga dances with Erin Andrews*

*Editor's Note: This post previously contained a video showing the USC linebacker and ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews. A reference in the post described his actions on the Rose Bowl sideline as "dancing" with Andrews. Maualuga later apologized to Andrews. The video has since been removed once it was deemed inappropriate based on Times standards and practices, and should not have been posted.

The most brutal on-field clip was obviously Taylor Mays' brain-rattling hit on Penn State's Jordan Norwood and Kevin Thomas, his own teammate. Ouch. College football experts have been raving about Mays for a couple of years, but he flew under the pop-culture radar because he wasn't a YouTube sensation like Maualuga. Of course, Mays didn't get many opportunities -- most teams were probably afraid to put the ball anywhere near him.

We've got a number of USC and Penn State news conference videos available on latimes.com (go to the video player and find the sports tab) and on the L.A. Times YouTube account. I've been a little slow to post because I caught the stomach bug/food poisoning that went around the press corps. I'll try to get some photos and final thoughts (including the "stay classy" issue) posted this weekend. If there's anything you want to see or questions you want answered, feel free to leave a comment and I'll make sure to respond.

-- Adam Rose

Comments

[Adam Rose]

Again, I think the rape comments are a bit out of line. As another commenter said, it's demeaning to actual rape victims to invoke such strong language here. I generally encourage thoughtful and intelligent dialogue as well as funny and entertaining discussion. Different people have interpreted this topic both ways, but I'm not sure that think throwing around the word "rape" fits either.

Anyway, just to clarify ... the dance/boogie line is actually a reference to a rap album. The group (Westside Connection, along with many other groups who have referenced the line) happens to say a lot about the society we live in -- though perhaps aspects that many are afraid to acknowledge or understand. In that context, it the line has dual interpretation, and implied that Maualuga was out of line just as much as it implied a free pass. (Hopefully I'm not being to esoteric -- I figured those who didn't get the reference wouldn't latch onto it, either.)

Bottom line, both ways of looking at this have a lot of valid points.

[Anon2]

Both anon and Adam sound like dullards but I'd rather hang out with Adam. At least he gets that there can be two viewpoints.

anon, you're either stupid or too ignorant to pull your head out of your ___. Either way, it's obvious you're a shrill _____ (who worked as a 1600s schoolmarm in a previous life).

[pk-in-the-mesa]

Oh Silverlake and anon(we know it's you Nestor)

You fools have got understand why they will not hire you to run the UCLA blog at the times. It is because you have no objectivity and would turn it into BN and only comments you like (that don't disagree with your opinion) which is not reality.

Oh and BTW you guys can have Randle Carroll he has no hands and is basically a track star.

[Sin Amos]

Wow, the obvious envy of USC perpetrated by sensitive nipples is a joke. It was all in good fun and anyone that calls those dance moves sexual acts is a self-loathing prude with confidence problems. Life is too short for all the whining. Let's enjoy life.

[pk-in-the-mesa]

ANON, TIM AND SILVERLAKE

Get a clue how can you intrepid this as an act of anything but silly and you people need to craw back under your rocks. Maybe the next time you come out whatever Ray was doing it will a crime punished by ? You people are just plain stupid.

[steve warr]

it was disrespectful and not funny at all. that wasn't dancing. he's a jerk.

[keith]

When a student puts on the USC uniform, he/she is a representative of the university, and should act in a manner appropriate as a representative of the university. If I were to do a similar dance to a female colleague, I would be immediately dismissed. At the very least, Mr. Maualuga owes Ms. Andrews a public apology. If I were the coach of this team, I would suspend the kid, and make sure that he understands why he cannot behave in such a way, and make sure all of his peers understand why they cannot behave in such a way.

[Mitch]

This is the year 2009, things have changed. Men don't ask girlfriends parents for permission to marry anymore, dancing no longer means the usual holding hands swaying left to right. What Ray did was 100% done at the wrong place, wrong time... But there is nothing sexual about it, and has no hidden sexual content at all. It was simply a re-enactment of Chris Pontious (Partyboy) from mtv's show "Jackass". Times have changed, some probably dont agree or understand this behavior. But then again, if that's true, his actions most likely upset you. Welcome to 2009, where boys will be boys...

[Rob]

Immature, yes. Inappropriate? Depends on the context. Was his clowning a friend? Lot of you are standing up for her and you don't even know how she felt. But to compare this to rape ... wow. Kind of protesting too much, isn't it?

If there's anything in this society we can be sure of, it's that sanctimonious, non-productive NPR types will blow every little thing out of proportion to prove how pure they are. Some of you need to get a life and get to know more people in the real world outside of your safe little circles. Whoever cited the existence of "infantile institutional manifestations" is not a football fan, just a jaded academic type with an overactive vocabulary who's looking for a hug. Where I'm from, we'd give you an infantile institutional wedgie for being such a little putz. To answer your question, if someone air grinded behind me in a video, I wouldn't blow it up into a bigger thing by whining and bringing more attention to it, just like you don't encourage your silly little nephew by chasing him everything he does something to get attention. Novel concept, I know.

[andrew]

usc has no class. pete carrol is disgrace to college fooball. it is awesome to see USC lose a game every year because with their talent they should not get beat by teams like Oregon State.

[Steve]

pk-in-the-mesa must be a USC grad. His writing skills are typical of a trOJan. I'm still trying to understand what he wrote. lol

[Michael]

Sheesh you guys are sensitive. Just another day in the politically correct world.

[americanidiot]

Judging from this hilarious video, USC players probably don't know the difference between a prank and, well, let's not use the R word again ;)

http://www.faniq.com/blog/Video-USC-Players-Dont-Know-Who-Joe-Biden-Is-Blog-17077

Maybe they don't know any better?