A Los Angeles County judge ordered USC to stay its expulsion of Bryce Dixon on Wednesday morning, the reversal clearing the path for the sophomore tight end to return to the school and, furthermore, the football team.
A source close to the athletic program said it appears to be a "foregone conclusion" that Dixon will be fully reinstated to both the school and team. He intimated the athletic department has been supporting Dixon's efforts to return to school.
"This wasn't random," the source said of the recent turn of events.
Dixon is being represented by noted criminal defense attorney Mark Hathaway, who won a Title IX case just a couple months ago involving a UC San Diego student.
"He's a Trojan," a source close to Dixon said immediately after the ruling.
USC released the following statement Wednesday afternoon: "The university stands by its student disciplinary processes that were conducted in compliance with state and federal regulations and its decisions in this case. We will carefully evaluate the judge’s written order once it is issued in order to determine our next steps."
Dixon can be reinstated effective immediately. The stay will remain in effect until another ruling is made on Dixon's petition, which could take up to about a year.
The stronghold associated with Title IX laws initially made Dixon's chances seem nonexistent. That the ruling came down in favor of Dixon generated shock within the university, a source within the athletic department indicated. Unless a person's right are being violated, "typically judges will say, be hands off with private institutions. It's very rare that courts do that."
Dixon was expelled from USC this past spring after being accused of sexual assault by a female student. He was not allowed to participate in spring practice while unsuccessfully appealing his dismissal.
One potential hiccup he faces in being deemed eligible to play this season is that he was not given credit for the classes he took during the spring semester. Dixon completed his coursework to ensure eligibility in the event that he won his appeal but was dismissed just before the semester ended.
The athletic program does not have a say in the university's course of action, although sources suggest Dixon will be allowed back on the team should he be reinstated.
"We're all just waiting to hear what the president's going to do and what the university's going to do," a source inside the program said.
A source close to the athletic program said it appears to be a "foregone conclusion" that Dixon will be fully reinstated to both the school and team. He intimated the athletic department has been supporting Dixon's efforts to return to school.
"This wasn't random," the source said of the recent turn of events.
Dixon is being represented by noted criminal defense attorney Mark Hathaway, who won a Title IX case just a couple months ago involving a UC San Diego student.
"He's a Trojan," a source close to Dixon said immediately after the ruling.
USC released the following statement Wednesday afternoon: "The university stands by its student disciplinary processes that were conducted in compliance with state and federal regulations and its decisions in this case. We will carefully evaluate the judge’s written order once it is issued in order to determine our next steps."
Dixon can be reinstated effective immediately. The stay will remain in effect until another ruling is made on Dixon's petition, which could take up to about a year.
The stronghold associated with Title IX laws initially made Dixon's chances seem nonexistent. That the ruling came down in favor of Dixon generated shock within the university, a source within the athletic department indicated. Unless a person's right are being violated, "typically judges will say, be hands off with private institutions. It's very rare that courts do that."
Dixon was expelled from USC this past spring after being accused of sexual assault by a female student. He was not allowed to participate in spring practice while unsuccessfully appealing his dismissal.
One potential hiccup he faces in being deemed eligible to play this season is that he was not given credit for the classes he took during the spring semester. Dixon completed his coursework to ensure eligibility in the event that he won his appeal but was dismissed just before the semester ended.
The athletic program does not have a say in the university's course of action, although sources suggest Dixon will be allowed back on the team should he be reinstated.
"We're all just waiting to hear what the president's going to do and what the university's going to do," a source inside the program said.
