With college football only just starting for the season, USC is already in turmoil as former senior running back Anthony Brown said he quit the team last week because coach Steve Sarkisian is a racist.
Brown took to his Instagram page and other social media sites on Thursday morning letting his followers know why he was done with the team, ESPN reports. In the now-deleted post, he wrote, "Sark treated me like a slave in his Office...Can't play for a racist MAN!!!!!"
He left the team last Thursday, which the head coach acknowledged, but said he was shocked by Brown's comments. "As far as what [Brown] said on Twitter, I think it's ridiculous," Sarkisian told reporters. "Any of you guys that know me and if you ask anybody in our building, any of our players -- feel free too -- that's about the furthest thing from the truth."
Brown, who deleted the posts blasting his former head coach not long after posting them, has not explained why he was accusing Sarkisian of racism.
Sarkisian previously said Brown quit the team as he was working his back from an injury he suffered in training camp. He said he tried to talk the running back out of quitting, but Brown wouldn't change his mind.
The racism claims come as the team is already reeling from the news that senior cornerback Josh Shaw lied about spraining his ankles. He originally told the team he suffered the injuries after jumping down to the pool area from the second floor because his 7-year-old cousin was drowning.
Shaw, who was named team captain this season, later came clean and the team suspended him indefinitely. On Thursday, Sarkisian left the door open for the possibility of the defensive player's return down the road.