Floyd quit his job yesterday, sending this one-paragraph resignation letter to USC's athletic director and to the Jackson Clarion Ledger.

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."

So what happened to his enthusiasm? Probably the accusations that he gave $1,000 cash to an "associate" of former Trojan O.J. Mayo. That will usually do it. You will also notice that he "intends" to tell his coaches and players how much they mean to them. I guess they don't mean enough for him to have to told them in person that he was no longer their boss. According to ESPN, Floyd didn't even call USC. They found out by reading it on the Clarion-Ledger's website and by then, Floyd, had already turned off his cellphone.

Two months ago, Floyd actually had a chance to leave USC for another job—both Arizona and Memphis were interested in him—but he turned them down to stay at the program he had (mostly) rebuilt. Now he's fishing in Mississippi and the Trojans have to pick up the pieces.

Miss. native Floyd resigns as Southern Cal coach [Jackson Clarion-Ledger]
Floyd's action speaks volumes [Yahoo]
USC Trojans coach Tim Floyd submits resignation [ESPN]
Filth Flarn Floyd… [Rush The Court]

Yahoo Sports (again) is reporting that basketball coach Tim Floyd gave $1,000 cash to Rodney Guillory, a member of O.J. Mayo's inner circle, who presumably used that cash to "lavish improver benefits" on Mayo. Gross. The payments took place in 2007, after Mayo had committed to play for USC, but before he "enrolled" in school—presumably as a thank you to guillory for helping deliver Mayo to the programl.

Guillory previously was investigated in 2000 for his involvement with former USC basketball player Jeff Trepagnier and former Fresno State basketball player Tito Maddox. USC briefly suspended Trepagnier for his involvement with Guillory in 2000, but Trepagnier later was cleared of any charges. However, the NCAA found that Guillory had broken NCAA rules by purchasing airfare for Maddox. Later, Maddox painted Guillory as the go-between who helped arrange delivery of cars and cash payments – some payments coming directly from Guillory, according to published reports.

Multiple sources told Yahoo! Sports that Guillory is under investigation by the FBI, IRS and U.S. Attorney's Office for his alleged dealings with Mayo.

Trepagnier does it again. Southern Cal's football and basketball programs are already under NCAA investigation for that whole "Reggie Bush was a professional athlete" thing, so if this true ... well, who knows what will happen? The NCAA misplaced its own banhammer years ago. But Floyd already raised eyebrows earlier this year when he rescinded the scholarship offer to Renardo Sidney, a kid who moved from Mississippi to L.A. in order to be closer to the limelight. USC and UCLA both backed off him when people started wondering how a poor kid from Mississippi ended up living in million-dollar suburban homes. What admirable restraint.

Anyway, Sidney eventually signed with Mississippi State, Mayo is toiling in the NBA, Reggie Bush became a celebrity vampire and Tim Floyd probably wishes he'd taken that Arizona job right about now.

Source: Floyd gave cash to Mayo handler [Yahoo]
O.J. Mayo: The Gift That Keeps On Giving [Rush The Court]

It's becoming even more apparent that the kid was manipulated, but how complicit he was in the whole ordeal remains to be seen. Unless, you count this little nugget from ESPN's follow-up coverage of their "Outside The Lines" report:

Mayo, who talked to ESPN.com using the same cell phone number that Guillory had provided for him (according to T-Mobile phone records and independent verification by "Outside The Lines"), said he didn't speak with anyone from USC on Sunday and reiterated that he had no knowledge of money going from BDA to him. Attempts by ESPN.com to reach USC were unsuccessful Sunday.

That's right: He called ESPN from one of the illicit phones.

Yeah, maybe O.J. Mayo would benefit from a couple more years of college. Or junior high school, really. Also, it's probably time USC imposed a school-wide "No O.J.'s" rule for for their athletic programs.

By the way, Pro Football Talk points out that Gregg Doyel has been all over this for a while.

Mayo denies ex-confidant's claims of gifts, including tv, cash [ESPN.com]
O.J. Mayo , Agents, and basketball [True Hoop]

Reached for comment, Scooby Doo said, "Ruh-roh, Raggy."

Louis Johnson, who was a part of Mayo's inner circle until recently, said Mayo accepted around $30,000 in cash and gifts during the past four years from Rodney Guillory, a 43-year-old Los Angeles event promoter. In addition to cash, the gifts included a flat-screen television for Mayo's dorm room, cell phone service, a hotel room, clothes, meals and airline tickets for Mayo's friends and a relative, according to Johnson, others with knowledge of the gifts and store receipts.

Mayo responded to the report with the following:

In a statement, Mayo said: "I am focusing on the process of making my dream come true, which is to play professional basketball. I will not allow these allegations to become a distraction to me and my family. I have been through investigations by the NCAA, the Pac Ten and USC before I attended school and during the time I have been here. I have not engaged in any wrongdoing. If these claims were true I would suspect they would have been discovered by one of these organizations."

Of Guillory, Mayo said in his statement: "Rodney has been a positive influence on me as well as a strong African-American male presence in my life. Recently, my mother had the opportunity to spend time with Rodney as well, and has shared her appreciation for the way he has always treated me like I was family when I was so far away from home. I have nothing but respect for Rodney."

With an investigation already ongoing with regard to reports that Reggie Bush reaped financial benefits worth more than $100,000 from marketing agents while at USC, it should be interesting to see what sanctions the school might face if both reports bear out.

So the OJ Mayo era at USC ends with a first-round tournament loss to the other heralded freshman. You may remember the famous tale of Mayo calling coach Tim Floyd to inform he was coming to USC even though the two had never chatted. Many felt that it was a dangerous precedent, allowing the players to pretty much run amok in the name of big recruiting splashes.

And what did the Trojans gets out of it? A first-round playoff exit and, so far, four years of Lil Romeo. On scholarship. At least it's better than what Indiana got out of Eric Gordon.

OJ Mayo's End Of An Era [Rush The Court]

So on Saturday night, incoming star freshman O.J. Mayo, who was no longer in trouble over that marijuana business, played his final game as a high school player. How's it go? Well, he earned a technical foul and was thrown out of the game.

Considering how much he was cheered for it, it's difficult to argue it wasn't worth it. We guess.

OJ Mayo Ends High School Career With Dunk, Technical [AOL Fanhouse]

Are we sure that he didn't commit to play for Bob Huggins at Kansas State? For some reason, as I read the news report, it just keeps popping up in the back of my mind, "Bob Huggins, Bob Huggins, Bob Huggins." Is that wrong?

OJ and some pals were pulled over last night in a Cadillac that police deemed suspicious (a Cadillac with at least one tall black man inside in Huntington, WV, seen by police as suspicious? You don't say). The marijuana was found inside of a shoe in the back of the vehicle. Someone really should tell him about these.

Incoming USC PG OJ Mayo Busted for Marijuana Charges [Larry Brown Sports]
Police: O.J. Mayo cited on marijuana charge [WANE-TV]

We've been hearing all week about video of prep star O.J. Mayo's "incident," in which he supposedly knocked a referee over. Mayo claimed the ref was "vengeful" and that he pulled a soccer-type flop, for whatever reason.

Well, we finally found the video, thanks to Complete Sports, and we have to say, we understand why Mayo's suspension was appealed. That ref, whatever his deal is, should play for Italy.

OJ Mayo Incident [Complete Sports]