USC player quits after calling head coach 'racist,' saying 'treated me like a slave'

USC running back Anthony Brown has apparently quit the football program after alleging racism on the part of new head coach Steve Sarkisian.

Brown posted the following photo (since deleted) to his Instagram Thursday afternoon, which was followed shortly by news that he quit the team.

Sarkisian has already responded to the allegation.

USC running back Anthony Brown calls Sarkisian a racist and quits the team. Sarkisian says "Quit honestly I'm shocked."

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 28, 2014

Sarkisian on Brown: "It's ridiculous. Any of you guys that know me, ask any of our players. That's the furthest thing from the truth."

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 28, 2014

Sarkisian on Brown: "I had encouraged him to play. I thought he could play. I didn't want him to quit." He was blindsided by "racist" post.

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 28, 2014

Sarkisian had no sense after meeting Brown that he felt that way. He did not call him a racist during or after meeting.

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 28, 2014

Brown played 19 games at cornerback over his three years with the Trojans, including six starts. He played in a career-high 12 games in 2012, returning a punt for a touchdown and recording 18 tackles. He had switched to running back this season, and figured to be a part of the rotation at the position for USC.

The news shortly follows other drama coming out of the program: cornerback Josh Shaw has been suspended after fabricating a story about saving his drowning nephew to explain an ankle injury. USC opens Saturday against Fresno State.