The University of South Carolina and the firm managing its sports marketing efforts appear content to sweep the controversial firing of popular, award-winning radio host Mike Morgan under the rug.
In the meantime, an unpopular radio host who was involved in a pyramid scam costing hundreds of South Carolinians tens of thousands of dollars gets to keep his job as the school’s football announcer.
Oh, and did we mention that unlike Morgan, he’s awful at his job?
What’s motivating these unpopular decisions?
And why does the state’s mainstream media continue to play along?
We’ve laid out in chapter and verse what we believe really happened to Mike Morgan, none of which has been disputed by anyone at the University … or anybody anywhere, for that matter.
Here’s the nickel version – according to our sources, USC sports marketing guru Liz McMillan has had it in for Morgan ever since he refused to join the Burnlounge pyramid scheme with her and football announcer Todd Ellis a few years ago. McMillan reportedly blames Morgan for Burnlounge being subsequently shut down by the Federal Trade Commission, which is why she wanted him fired. When Morgan complained about his personal cable bill last month, McMillan allegedly pounced – inaccurately portraying the incident as a “major dispute” over a business invoice that could cost USC a $150,000 advertising contract with Time Warner Cable.
Of course, Time Warner Cable has told FITS that its contract with USC athletics was never in jeopardy, and that it never issued any ultimatum regarding Morgan.
That would mean USC and ISP – the company that manages the school’s marketing and promotional efforts – both got duped.
As we’ve reported previously, sources say that McMillan was making close to $10,000 a month at the height of the Burnlounge scam.
Former USC running back Rob DeBoer made $300,000 off the scam, while it is unknown what Ellis’ profits were.
After DeBoer’s involvement with Burnlounge became public, he was fired from his job as the school’s sideline reporter.
So how did Ellis get to keep his job?
Hmmmm …
Did McMillan intervene on his behalf?
And if so, did she disclose her own association with the pyramid scam to those who were making the final decision?
Also, did she disclose any of this when she demanded that Morgan be fired from his job last month?
These are all important questions that nobody is asking.
Even before the Morgan dust-up, you didn’t have to go far in Columbia, S.C. to hear rumors about McMillan and Ellis being exceptionally close to one another, and while we’re not alleging that the two of them have anything going beyond their “professional” association, isn’t that enough in this case?
Seriously, they both helped con people into joining a pyramid scheme that they personally profited off of, didn’t they? The same scheme one of their colleagues was fired for being a part of?
Sadly, the University is choosing to look the other way on Ellis and McMillan’s indiscretions – and refusing to investigate McMillan for her role in Morgan’s firing.
USC Athletics Director Eric Hyman reportedly just wants the whole thing to blow over.
The worst part of all this? Other than blogs, fan forums and talk radio – nobody’s covering any of it.
Which means Hyman may get his wish.
The mainstream media apparently doesn’t want to “burn its sources,” including Hyman.
No really.
We’ve spoken to several reporters about this and the consensus is that it’s “not worth it” to delve into this story because Morgan is “just a radio announcer.”
If he were a high-level coach, it might be different, they tell us.
That’s pathetic.
Last time we checked, a journalist’s job was to go and find the truth – especially when the people in charge didn’t want the truth out there.
But that’s not the way the MSM plays the game.
They’re covering their asses just like the people they’re covering for.
Seriously – remember this the next time you hear somebody droning on about the MSM’s “journalistic integrity” and how blogs “can’t be trusted.”
Frankly, it’s the other way around if you ask us. At least it is on this story …
By sclawyerIII May 4, 2009 at 8:47 am
If you want to spread unsubstantiated rumor, you might as well add the unsubstantiated rumor where Morgan was taking money under the table from sponsors, i.e. stealing from his employer, and then lied about it when confronted. You could very easily find some sources that would tell you that, but you would have to do some new reporting — which you haven’t done since the initial story.
That might be a little less unfair than battering a company whose lawyers aren’t going to let them talk about it.
By Ashepoo May 4, 2009 at 8:53 am
ISP and USC were lied to by an employee (McMillian) who had another employee (Morgan) fired under false pretence. Rather than publicly admit they were duped and fire the employee who lied, they are backing her story even though they know now that it was false.
USC, ISP and even TW are going to end up on the business end of a lawsuit by Morgan who has every right to sue to clear his name. (The man has a career to think about, after all.) They will just rack up legal fees for a while, then they will settle once they figure they have spent enough money and it is clear they can’t win.
Meanwhile, USC fans will lose a good man and fan favorite. No wonder that school is mediocre in everything. Sad indeed.
By fitsnews May 4, 2009 at 9:15 am
SC Lawyer III-
If you have information alleging improprieties committed by Morgan, by all means contact us and we will investigate those allegations and publish them in the event they receive credible, independent verification.
We keep all sources confidential.
-FITS
By Craig May 4, 2009 at 9:47 am
Let’s also point out the Liz McMillan stinks at her job. The Carolina broadcast has the WORST in state-station affiliate coverage in the SEC. this has been a problem throughout her tenure. She may be good at selling ponzi schemes, but she is terrible at putting together a radio network.
By E.P. May 4, 2009 at 9:50 am
Good for you FITS….alot of Gamecock fans agree that should not be swept under the rug…If USC is going to clean house..they need to do it completely (i.e. McMillan and Ellis). Typical USC politics!
By Just Checking May 4, 2009 at 10:29 am
I just really can’t see 2 things:
A) why McMillan would be that upset over his failure to join BurnLounge. Maybe he was already involved with Amway
B) why anyone thinks that Morgan was the reason the FTC cracked down on the group
I would be interested to hear more about his under the tbale sponsorships he was taking…as I have heard that to, but can provide no evidence to support it other than hearsay.
As to Todd Ellis, yeah a he could be a better play by play guy, probably better suited for color commentary, however, fans like a Homer and he fits that mold perfectly, and with time, he will get better. But Todd is a fairly straight up guy from what I know and wouldn’t do anything that to harm USC or embarras himself
By sclawyerIII May 4, 2009 at 11:03 am
Morgan isn’t suing anyone.
By Palmetto_Native May 4, 2009 at 12:46 pm
The real question shouldnt be about Morgan, but instead about McMillan…
what exactly does she do and why? Just because she is someone’s daughter can we afford to pay her a salary for a service that is, at best, questionable?
By Jacob May 5, 2009 at 2:24 pm
While I totally repect TE and his loyalty to his school, I despsie him as the PBP guy at USC. He is not even passable at this job. Why do people put their love of him as a player back in the day for USC in front of the fact that he does an embarassing job on the radio? He would not even be let in the door as an intern in charge of coffee retrieval for the likes of a Munson, or a Fulton. And people wonder why this school is made fun of constantly. It seems that they absolutely cannot help themselves when it comes to making the colossal wrong decision. Mike is better off not being associated with the clowns that make the decisions for that institution.
By Meghan May 5, 2009 at 5:27 pm
SClawyerIII needs to shut up
By Joe May 6, 2009 at 11:13 am
SCLawyer –
What’s your info? What you got? Put it up for all to see. Put up or shut up.
By madcock May 8, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Whose is Liz McMillan the daughter of?
By SICKofUSCCRAP May 28, 2009 at 2:59 pm
I certainly hope this story doesn’t die down but as usual with USC Athletics it’ll get covered up. I personally think there’s a *MAJOR* story here going back to Todd Ellis and Liz McMillan’s involvement with Burn Lounge. I’ve talked to a number of people who state they were at presentations were Todd Ellis was personally pitching the hell out of this scam. A lot of us want to know why DeBoer was canned and not Todd Ellis. As to “SCLawyerIII” is that you Todd? I’ve never heard one inkling of suggestion that Mike Morgan did anything inappropriate. I’ve got contacts in a number of media outlets and none have mentioned the slightest hint that there’s any rumor floating around about Mike Morgan doing anything improper. It would not surprise me one bit if USC Athletics is trying to spread false information about Morgan to cover their rears.
If anyone that works in USC Athletics wants to know why fans are leaving in droves they need to look no further than in the mirror. I’ve got many friends who’ve dropped out of the Gamecock Club because of this political BS. I don’t know of a single person who likes Todd Ellis as the “Voice of USC”. Most of my friends and I listen to THE OTHER TEAM’S NETWORK rather that USC’s crap network. You’ve got radio stations that want nothing to do with the USC Broadcasting Network due to the people they have to deal with. Before Hyman came here I never missed a game. Since this dog & pony show with Burn Lounge and all the cover ups I’ve lost all interest in anything but USC Baseball. Thaks God the SEC signed a new contract so that all the games will be on TV-now I’ll never have to listen to the Shamecock Sports Network **EVER** again.
By OnNoNotAgain November 19, 2009 at 10:57 am
McMillian is apparently Paul Dietzel’s daughter. Didn’t know until th e 1984-1969 commemoration they had at homecoming that Coch Dietzel was still alive.
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