Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

USC Song Girls will return to home basketball games this season

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 10/18/19

One of former athletic director Lynn Swann’s more unpopular decisions at USC will be reversed this season.

The USC Song Girls will be welcomed back to the Galen Center for home basketball games this season after being blocked from performing on Swann’s orders for much of 2018-19.

BREAKING: USC’s Song Girls, who were controversially shut out from basketball games last December, will be welcomed back this season: https://t.co/XDliBt0gmo

— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) October 18, 2019

The Song Girls will officially return tonight for USC’s exhibition game vs. Villanova.

— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) October 18, 2019

The Song Girls were blocked from performing at basketball games in January under bizarre circumstances. The university cited “ongoing game management concerns, time constraints and space issues at the Galen Center,” but there was a belief that Swann had stepped in and blocked them from performing after some members joined in chants calling for the firing of football coach Clay Helton. Whatever the reason, the decision was unpopular, and much of the ire was directed at Swann for the decision.

Swann has since left the school under mysterious circumstances. It’s no coincidence that the Song Girls were brought back barely a month later.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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