USC Football: Is Josh Shaw Lying?

Whenever dramatic stories of heroism and bravery result in tragic injury break out to this degree, the question is fair to ask: Was Josh Shaw telling the truth?

Did the USC fifth-year senior cornerback sprain both of his ankles while leaping from a balcony to save his drowning nephew? Or was he injured in some other fashion?

Following Tuesday morning's practice over on Howard Jones Field, the conversation around Shaw quickly shifted toward reported inquiries the Trojan coaching staff received contradicting the events that Shaw retold from that night.

In regards to said phone calls with unnamed sources, Sarkisian said that: "We're gonna continue to vet it. Beyond that, we only know what we know."

Handling these types of reports can always make for a sticky situation, especially as the investigation continues to unfold.

What we do know, at the moment, is that Sarkisian and his staff fully support Shaw and his story.

"He's given me no reason not to believe what he's told us," Sarkisian told a bevy of reporters following practice.

From everything we have to come to learn about Josh Shaw over the past three years, the man is a class act both on and off the field. Recently named one of six USC captains, players immensely respect what Shaw stands for as a person.

In the meantime, USC is shielding Shaw from media availability, making him unavailable at least until everything comes to the surface in the USC investigation.

Whenever matters become viral to this heroic degree, situations have occurred for folks to interject their opinion (and possible doubt) into the mix.

Sarkisian did confirm that Shaw's x-rays were negative, but that the redshirt senior is still suffering major swelling and resultant pain in both his legs following the incident.

"I think its important to know your team, I think it's important to know your players," Sarkisian said, adding, "Shaw has been a good leader for us...but you need to know."

WORTH NOTING

Re: Josh Shaw, radiologist who’s seen tons of athlete X-rays and MRIs told me it’s very uncommon to see sprains as a result of blunt trauma.

— The Solid Verbal (@SolidVerbal) August 26, 2014

The rivalry is a big one… RT @DanWetzel: And USC may be trying to one-up Notre Dame's fake dead girlfriend with a fake drowning nephew?

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) August 26, 2014