Josh Shaw Stripped of USC Football Captaincy

Redshirt senior cornerback Josh Shaw had his suspension lifted by the USC athletic department on Tuesday afternoon. He joined the team for evening meetings at 5 p.m., according to head coach Steve Sarkisian.

But on the Trojans Live broadcast Tuesday night, Sarkisian also said Shaw had something else lifted -- the "C" off his jersey. Because of all the components that go into being a USC team captain, including leadership, Josh Shaw was stripped of his USC football captaincy.

Shaw is probably just happy to be back on the field and Sarkisian said as much saying he thought Shaw was taking his return in by just being thankful to be back.

"I think there’s a sense of relief," Sarkisian said.

Sarkisian also made it sound as if he was happy to have Shaw back as well.

"I think the reality of it is, we pride ourselves on being the Trojan family," Steve Sarkisian said, adding the Shaw had made a mistake, been punished for it and had been remorseful for his mistakes and family forgives when that happens.

But Josh Shaw isn't the only thing that's on the Trojans' minds this week.

"We’ve remained focused on the task at hand," Sarkisian said. "We’re welcoming him back, but it’s not the end all, be all."

Instead, the Trojans are focusing in on playing UCLA. How much or even if Josh Shaw will play is still something that won't be known until Saturday. Sarkisian said they would evaluate him once he's back on the practice field.

Sark said that #JoshShaw has been a really good leader on the team. Not difficult to reintegrate with the team. #USC

— Ryan Abraham (@insidetroy) November 19, 2014

Shaw is back on the practice field with his Trojan teammates, but what shape is he in? He may have been working out to stay in shape, but that's not exactly football conditioning. Nothing can really replicate playing in a football game.

As a redshirt senior, Shaw has seen about everything in the college game, so it shouldn't take him too long to get caught up with the game plan. But the conditioning will remain a question mark.

USC quarterback Cody Kessler, who is also a captain for the Trojans, said on the Trojans Live program the team had forgiven Shaw long ago.

"We’re excited. He’s always been apart of our family," Kessler said. "We couldn’t be more happy to have him back."

Here's the full Trojans Live interview with USC head coach Steve Sarkisian talking about Josh Shaw being reinstated: