Here are highlights from what is being said about USC's dismissal of a student manager for deflating footballs during the Trojans-Ducks game last week in Los Angeles, a tactic that could have given USC an advantage.

USC says game officials discovered some of the underinflated footballs before the game and others at halftime, fixing the balls before the second half.

Quite simply, and as you might think, a slightly deflated football is easier to grip. As a result, a football that's easier to grip is easier to throw, catch and hold. A football that's easier to throw, catch and hold is often a football that ends up getting spiked in the end zone.

USC is bigger than this. It used to be the flagship program of the Pacific Rim. It did not need trickery to succeed. The Trojans have access to the finest players in the country and play in a historic venue dedicated to gladiators. For USC to become USC again it needs to ditch the sophomoric approach and find some senior leadership. How about deflating an opposing team by making a tackle?

It is the latest controversy in a season during which USC has forbidden teams from doing stadium walkthroughs, a reporter was banned from practice for reporting on an injury and a USC player switched jerseys during a game. Kiffin is expected to address the deflated balls situation after practice.

All of these scandals are comparatively minor -- especially when you consider what he got away with at Tennessee -- but when you combine them all they do reflect upon Kiffin's coaching character. This is a guy who is smart enough and competitive enough to know the exact rules, and dumb enough to go just a bit beyond them even when he gains a minor competitive benefit at best. Kiffin will do whatever it takes to make the rules into his favor. Along the way he'll lie and cheat. Then get caught lying and cheating and claim that it's all just a big misunderstanding.

Chip Kelly told @SiriusXMCollege he heard after game USC deflated balls. "This story means absolutely nothing to Oregon Ducks" — Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 8, 2012

RT @NateCosta7: QBs may prefer deflated ball. I'd say most don't. Deflated=Overgripping=Inaccuracy. Easier to catch: http://t.co/epckHo3E — Ken Goe (@KenGoe) November 8, 2012

RT @JenBeyrle: RE USC deflating footballs: source telling me UO program was aware of situation going in to the game and "prepared" for it. — Ken Goe (@KenGoe) November 8, 2012

Kiffin said he didn't know why it was done. It was done in plain sight on Oregon sideline. Compliance investigated. — Ryan Abraham (@insidetroy) November 8, 2012