Back to football questions.

Q: I understand that jersey #55 is revered due to the great past (Seau, etc.) and is only issued to a player that PC considers worthy. Do you know if PC offered #55 to Rey Rey?

A: They don’t like to give it someone who wore a different number for three years. Years ago, Mike Pollard asked midway through his career to wear 55 and was told no.

Q: When an out of state recruit visits USC or UCLA, does the other school ever try to contact them or would that be out of NCAA regulations?

A: Players frequently speak to the other school in order to visit two schools at the same time that are so close. As long as the contacts do not violate recruiting rules, it’s permissable.

Q: Why are punt returns not usually assigned to return kickoffs? What is the different skill set?

A: The big difference is you get more time to receive the kickoff and catch the ball. Punt returns are considered more dangerous and there is more chance for fumbling. Some wide receivers are not used to take hits like running backs, so they don’t return punts, although this is not a foolproof rule.

Q: Were there any big time recruits at the Ohio State game and were they “impressed?”

A: There were about 40-50 recruits at the time and probably 25-30 in the locker room. They all seemed happy when I saw them. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen an unhappy recruit in a locker room.