On Thursday, USC’s football program lifted the suspension of access to Orange County Register and Southern California News Group reporter Luca Evans.

Following a story last Thursday, USC’s Director of Communications for football, Katie Ryan, informed editors at the Southern California News Group that Evans would be suspended for two weeks from access to the football team, citing what USC felt were multiple violations of its policy for media by the reporter who was on the beat for his first season.

The Southern California News Group, in a letter, asked football coach Lincoln Riley, and USC’s athletic department and campus leadership, to reconsider, contending that denying access was a clear overreaction. Athletic director Jennifer Cohen wrote back that the school, after careful consideration, stood behind the suspension of access.

SCNG editors sent Riley, Cohen and USC president Carol Folt another letter Wednesday morning seeking clarification about Riley’s comments about the situation and again requested that the suspension of access be rescinded.

On Wednesday night, USC arranged a phone call between Riley and Evans. After several conversations and messages, Riley informed Evans on Thursday that the suspension of access would be lifted. Riley released this statement:

“Last night, I received a call from Luca Evans, and we had very candid and productive conversation. We agreed that we both could have handled the situation differently. I appreciate Luca recognizing the policies we have in place to protect our student-athletes and acknowledging to adhere to those in the future. We welcome Luca back to practice and look forward to his continuing coverage of the Trojans.”

Evans was appreciative that the suspension was lifted.

“I had a long conversation with Lincoln Riley sharing our perspectives on the events that led to USC suspending my access,” Evans said.

“Riley made it clear his intent is to protect his players. I made it clear my intent has always been to tell compelling, honest stories on USC – I respect and understand the program’s outlined policies regarding media access, and any missteps came through the intent of doing my job and pursuing relationship-building and storytelling.

“I will continue the same reporting and writing with fairness, accuracy and depth, and we reached an agreement to lift the restriction on access.”

Riley also clarified his comment from Tuesday’s practice when he said, “the article in question was not accurate.” Riley said that comment didn’t refer to Evans’ story last Thursday about Quinten Joyner, but to stories by SCNG and other articles that Riley felt inaccurately portrayed the suspension as solely related to the Joyner piece.

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