April 2006 Archives

Tailback Chauncey Washington said he already performed well on some early final exams and believes he will earn the necessary 3.0 GPA to be declared eligible for next season.

Those around the USC football program are a little astonished at reports quarterback Matt Leinart lost as much as $40 million by not turning pro a year ago.
What a lot of people forget is Leinart needed elbow surgery and also needed treatment for a sports hernia, that made workouts for pro teams almost impossible last spring.
``He wasn't going to be the first guy drafted,'' a USC source told me. ``He didn't fall. It's just the media that thinks now he would be the first guy. That simply wasn't the case.''

If someone bet you in January that defensive end Frostee Rucker and tight end Dominique Byrd would be drafted ahead of safety Darnell Bing, would you have taken it?
Rucker and Byrd were the big winners Saturday, selected in the third round by the Bengals and Rams, respectively. Byrd overcame the fact he was almost a forgotten part of USC's offense last season and had a history of injuries.
The big question today is where Bing will get drafted? Today reminded me that when Bing was a senior in high school, USC coach Pete Carroll thought he was perhaps the best NFL prospect of his recruiting class. Maybe the NFL needs to adopt the NBA's policy of allowing players to turn pro without signing with an agent.
Also don't forget offensive lineman Fred Matua. Personally, I'm rooting for a team to take a chance on cornerback Justin Wyatt, one of the nicest guys on the team.

The slide we alluded to in ``Draft Dilemma'' yesterday is on with former USC quarterback Matt Leinart. While everyone knows Leinart fired his agent Leigh Steinberg a few weeks ago, no one really reported that one of Steinberg's partners is former NFL star quarterback Warren Moon.
Well, Titans GM Floyd Reese was an executive with the Houston Oilers when Moon played there. Reese respects Moon. With Moon's backing, Reese could be convinced to take Leinart over Vince Young.
But Leinart jettisoned Moon and Steinberg to be fully represented by talent agency CAA. If Leinart falls all the way to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 10, firing Moon cost him about $10-12 million.

The week from hell for USC's football program continues tomorrow, when another piece of bad news emerges regarding a former player. Full details will be in tomorrow's Daily News and dailynews.com

It's official. Reggie Bush is out. Mario Williams is in as the No. 1 pick.
Something tells me Bush might part ways with agent Joel Segal soon the way negotiations got botched with the Houston Texans.
Not a good week for Bush, obviously.
I'm told the drop just cost Bush at least $8 million.

The NFL is abuzz this afternoon with talk the Houston Texans are close to wrapping up a deal with defensive end Mario Williams because they are tired of stalled negotiations with Reggie Bush's advisors.
Either this is an elaborate smokescreen or the end of a terrible week for Bush. For months he's talked about playing in Houston, and the favorable tax situation in Texas.
Now he might be playing in New Orleans. Stay tuned.

The Tennessee Titans own the No. 3 pick in the draft and are currently grappling with a dilemma over USC quarterback Matt Leinart. Titans management is worried Leinart has ``gone Hollywood’’ and will not be committed to football.
It’s the only thing keeping them from taking Leinart over Texas quarterback Vince Young. What’s interesting is that if Tennessee passes, Leinart could start falling.
But Titans coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Norm Chow prefer Leinart, so it will be interesting to see what actually happens.

What’s the latest with USC quarterback Mark Sanchez?
A knowledgeable USC source given an opportunity to glance at the facts of the alleged sexual assault said his/her initial impression was that Sanchez had pretty good case. That’s not a prediction of what will happen, merely an opinion of someone with expertise in these matters.
Another factor I alluded to last night is that several witnesses could emerge that will bolster Sanchez’s version of events. That would be in addition to what Sanchez’s roommate, linebacker Brian Cushing, says happened in the apartment.
None of this is meant to exonerate Sanchez, just giving a little insight into what I’m hearing.

That ``interim suspension'' penalty thrown at quarterback Mark Sanchez turned out to be a minor inconvenience because Sanchez will be allowed to take final exams next week.
There were concerns if the suspension forced Sanchez to miss finals, he might not be eligible for next season.

From the London Evening Standard: ``A mini-riot erupted at Heathrow airport after rapper Snoop Dogg and a 30-strong entourage clashed with police in a departure lounge.
``The men - mostly minders - apparently turned violent after being refused entry to a first-class lounge, smashing up a duty free shop, throwing bottles and attacking officers . . .
``Six men, including the 34-year-old American rapper, were arrested. A Heathrow worker, who took photos from his mobile phone, said: "There were all these huge, 20-stone men smashing up display cabinets and throwing people around. I saw Snoop Dogg on the ground, with four riot police trying to put him in handcuffs. His minders were throwing bottles at people.''

Michael Jackson, USC’s vice president of student affairs, developed a reputation for an iron fist in dealing with football players who appear before his office. But someone needs to wrap his knuckles about the statement he put out Wednesday night regarding the sexual-assault allegations against quarterback Mark Sanchez.
``In the interim, the student will be placed on interim suspension while the case is pending,’’ the statement said.
Huh? In the interim, an interim suspension?
That was so confusing, a USC official I spoke with did not even know if that meant Sanchez could take final exams.
Jackson also said ``The university takes charges of sexual assault seriously.’’
Only one problem: Sanchez has not been charged with sexual assault.

I was on the phone with a USC coach when the news hit that freshman quarterback Mark Sanchez was arrested for sexual assault.
``When it rains it pours,’’ the coach said.
Sanchez was released late Wednesday night on $200,000 bail and after speaking with more people than I can keep track, I’m led to believe some facts may emerge soon that will help Sanchez’s case.
I hope to find out more details today.
I have no idea what happened in Sanchez’s apartment on Tuesday night with a female student. But I am surprised the LAPD arrested Sanchez so quickly and turned Cardinal Gardens into a media circus with at least five TV vans camped outside all night.
If the recent incidents involving USC tailback Hershel Dennis and former cornerback Eric Wright proved anything, it’s that the district attorney’s office moves with caution in high-profile sexual-assault cases. Maybe it wouldn’t have hurt to question Sanchez and others before making an arrest, much like with Dennis.
That said, the part of this case that disturbs me is witnesses said Sanchez, who is 19, was drinking at the 901 club on Tuesday night. This is an issue USC coach Pete Carroll needs to address and I’m not just referring to Sanchez. He needs to discuss it with the entire team.

I'm among the highly skeptical that Reggie Bush was unaware his parents leased a house near San Diego from a man who wanted to land Bush for his startup sports marketing firm.
I'm also aware that Bush's father, LaMar Griffin, is a bit of a loose cannon. One of the stanger post-game scenes last season occurred after the USC-UCLA game, when Bush pulled Griffin aside and chastised him for saying on ABC that he didn't think Bush ``was staying'' at USC.
At the time, Bush did not officially announce he would turn pro.
``He really put me in a bad spot,'' Bush said afterward. ``I can speak for myself.''
After their little huddle, Griffin got back on message and said, ``I don't know what he will do. It's his decision.''

USC fullback Brandon Hancock will join the USC Debate Squad on Friday when it travels to South Bend, Ind., to formally debate Notre Dame's forensics team on the topic of who will win the 2006 Trojan-Irish football game.
An update: Hancock appeared as an extra in Tuesday night's episode of Scrubs.

There are many logical reasons for Oaks Christian quarterback Jimmy Clausen to commit to Notre Dame, but several sources said it did not help matters for USC that friction existed between Clausen’s advisor, Steve Clarkson, and Trojans coach Pete Carroll.
According to sources, Clarkson became upset with Carroll during Pro Day, when the pair clashed over who would run quarterback Matt Leinart’s workout for NFL teams. (Yes, everything is related).
Clarkson is also an advisor to Leinart and when Leinart signed a deal with Creative Artists Agency in January, it was announced that CAA would also represent Air 7, which is Clarkson’s football academy.
In the end Clarkson supervised Leinart’s workout at Howard Jones Field, but bitterness remained over the incident and sources said from that point forward, Clausen would be advised to go to Notre Dame.

One of the potential penalties in the Reggie Bush case is that Bush would be declared ineligible and USC would forfeit last year's games. According to USC football historian Mike Glenn, USC's never forfeited a game in its 118-year history of varsity football.

USC announced its season-opener at Arkansas will remain on Sept. 2, even though ESPN and Arkansas requested the game move to Sept. 3. USC told ESPN and Arkansas it could not agree to the change.

Reggie Bush is scheduled to to appear on ESPN today where he will presumably respond to the allegations surrounding his parents' house in San Diego.

USC hosted quarterback Mike Paulus of Syracuse, N.Y., last weekend and offered him a scholarship, but it faces the same hurdle that led Jimmy Clausen to commit to Notre Dame last week.
Namely, Mark Sanchez.
Clausen was not interested in competing with Sanchez and we hear Paulus is also grappling with that issue. If he overcomes that fear, then he might commit to USC.
It's similar to the dilemma USC faced recruiting a running back when Reggie Bush and LenDale White were the starting tailbacks.

First impressions can be dangerous, especially with something complex like the allegations involving the family of Reggie Bush. Not that the Internet is ever a place for restraint.
But the Pac-10's investigation into the living arrangement of Bush's family in San Diego could be a lot more difficult to prove if Bush and his family fail to cooperate.
These cases usually are easier to prove when a player is trying to retain his college eligibilty and will supply vital documents for reinstatement. With Bush expected to be the No. 1 pick in this week's NFL draft, there's no incentive for him or his family to cooperate.
Remember how Mike Williams supplied all financial records of money he took from an agent after he decided to play one more year. That's not the case here.
So how will this affect USC? It all depends if a link can be established showing the university was aware of the possible violations. Again, that could be difficult to prove without Bush's assistance. The bottom line is we're a long, long way from USC forfeiting games right now, although that will be the most intriguing aspect of this case the next few months.

Here’s some responses to recent reader questions:

1. Several readers asked about the sarcastic tone of comments I’ve made about quarterback Matt Leinart. Most of my remarks revolve around his constant TV and celebrity appearances.

It appears that 6-10 forward Mamadou Diarra from Stoneridge Prep in Simi Valley will probably need another year of school before meeting NCAA academic requirements.
USC's aggresively recruited Diarra and is now weighing its options with one scholarship left. Diarra's situation could conveniently open the door for controversial forward Davon Jefferson, who did not graduate from Lynwood last year and then left a prep school earlier this year. He's currently taking online courses.
Jefferson committed to USC in February but at the time the Trojans did not officially offer a scholarship. USC is taking a wait-and-see attitude to see if Jefferson qualifies academically.

I just spoke to a close associate of Matt Leinart who said the quarterback prefers to be selected by the New York Jets instead of the Tennessee Titans.
Even though former USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow is with the Titans, Leinart values the potential endorsements and celebrity lifestyle of Manhattan over Nashville. Does Leinart realize when you go party with Paris Hilton at a New York club, the newspapers will take pictures, which make denials impossible?

An interesting aspect of last week's depth chart was the left-guard position, where Jeff Byers and Matt Spanos are listed equally. Considering Byers started four games as a true freshman and was the Gatorade National Player of the Year in high school, he seemed a lock to start somewhere along the line entering spring practice.
But one reason Byers has not sealed the deal is that his leg-strength remains less than 100 percent following two hip operations. It also helps explain why Chilo Rachal and Spanos (with no career starts between them) are not battling for the spot instead.
Rachal is currently listed as the starter at right guard.

Because I've been out of town, I hope to have an expanded response to letters and comments tomorrow. Thanks.

Every once in awhile we will share something funny or memorable from the past few years. With college coaches preparing to visit high schools soon, it reminds me of a funny incident in 2000.
USC just fired Paul Hackett but defensive line coach Ed Orgeron continued to recruit even though the Trojans were without a head coach. One day, Orgeron went to Valencia High School, where he just happened to run into UCLA assistant coach Gary Bernardi.
``What's he doing here?'' Bernardi told a Valencia coach within earshot of Orgeron. ``Does he still have a job?''
Witnesses said Orgeron nearly needed to be restrained following the comment.
Orgeron remained upset enough that following Pete Carroll's hiring, he requested to recruit the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, so he could specifically go head-to-head with Bernardi.

ESPN is preparing daily reports on USC quarterback Matt Leinart prior to the draft. I guess CAA never heard of overexposure or maybe Leinart's making up for all the stuff he didn't do while at USC.
I realize his great crossover appeal (translation: teen-age girls like him) makes him an unprecendent figure in college football terms. But I'm also reminded what his former agent, Leigh Steinberg, told me before Leinart hired him (and then fired him).
Steinberg told me when Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was a rookie, he kept endorsements and promotional work to a minimum so Roethlisberger could focus on football first.
Once he proved himself, Steinberg would aggresively court endorsements, etc.
Maybe that's one reason Leinart fired Steinberg. Or maybe CAA is trying to justify his existence.
The massive promotional campaigns (Desperate Housewives ad, ESPN diary) almost mean Leinart can only go in one direction: downward.
With so many ventures pumping Leinart up, expectations will be extremely high. And since he's not an actor, he can't blame the director or the script. It's all on him.
Oh wait, he can blame his agent. Just ask Steinberg.

A reader asked why USC is slower to receive commitments this time of year than many schools.
The reasons are two-fold. Back in his first year of coaching at USC, Pete Carroll was intrigued why schools like Florida State often had only five commitments by January. Carroll thought it might be foolish but then he saw how quickly the Seminoles racked up commitments in January and February.
He learned the elite schools can wait and be more selective and still have one of the nation's top recruiting classes. Waiting also allows USC to evaluate longer. Opinions on players often change when watching them play during their senior seasons.
And now that USC is one of the nation's powehouses, it only makes sense to be stingy with scholarship offers this time of year, because right now there's probably way too many kids out there willing to commit.

What do USC offensive lineman Jeff Byers, tailback Michael Coleman and women's basketball player Brynn Cameron all have in common?
If you answered hip injuries, you would be correct. But more troubling, each required a second hip operation by out-of-town specialists following their original surgeries in Southern California.
Byers and Cameron went to the prestigious Steadman-Hawkins clinic in Vail, Colo., where Dr. Richard Steadman treats athletes from all over the world. Coleman underwent his follow-up procedure in the Bay Area.
If I'm a USC athlete and I injure my hip, I would probably ask to go to Steadman-Hawkins right off the bat.
Just in case you think this is USC-bashing, UCLA basketball player Josh Shipp underwent hip surgery at the same place in September as the USC trio, attempted to come back in January but was forced to sit out the remainder of the season because of increasing pain and discomfort.

Effective immediately, Pete Arbogast is no longer doing sports updates on 1540-AM. Seems the station was a little upset that 710-AM used Arbogast's play-by-play for promotional purposes last week.
All I really care about from all this is whether Petros Papadakis can still say ``How do you do!'' or find someone else to needle in the studio.
But seriously, this is example No. 2 (or is No. 3) of how touchy the egos in the radio business can be. We mentioned last week that 1540 denied 710 the use of its existing ISDN lines in Heritage Hall for a live broadcast. This is rivalry that may not go away, much like Matt Leinart.

There's been a fair amount of confusion over tailback Chauncey Washington's academic status, which I partially attribute to USC for its sketchy explanations.
So in an effort to clear things up, here's the deal.
Washington is currently taking 10 units, which is why he was ineligible for spring practice. You must take at least 12 units to be a full-time student.
If Washington gets a 3.0 this spring, he is eligible. If he doesn't he needs to take a 2-unit summer course to become eligible. Washington says his grades are ``great'' right now and he doesn't think he will require summer school.

For several weeks, there's been speculation that Oaks Christian quarterback Jimmy Clausen could commit to the Irish when he visits next weekend. But now it sounds like he could wait until February to make his decision, which would maximize the publicity surrounding his announcement.
That move would show a shrewd side not seen in a quarterback since Matt Leinart left USC and began trying to pressure the Tennessee Titans into making him the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

USC offensive lineman Winston Justice is coveted by the San Diego Chargers and sources said the NFL team is thinking of moving up in the first round before he gets taken by another team.
San Diego owns the 19th pick. Philadelphia, which picks 14th, told Justice they would select him if he's still available. The current conventional wisdom has Justice getting selected somewhere between the eighth and 13th picks.

USC basketball player Jeremy Barr rejected an invitation to play for the football team before deciding to transfer after the semester ends. But Barr IS considering playing football at his next destination.
Barr's dream choices are Purdue, Wake Forest and Texas A&M, but those schools have yet to express an interest in him. However, his chances might increase as a two-sport player.
It's ironic he would be open to football considering he bypassed a chance to play for highly respected USC offensive line coach Pat Ruel.
But then again, maybe's he not really serious about playing football.

USC releases its depth chart tomorrow. With Josh Pinkard and Kevin Ellison the starting safeties, it looks like sophomores Kevin Thomas and Cary Harris will be the starting cornerbacks, with the injured Terrell Thomas waiting to return for training camp.
The interesting position to look at will be linebacker, to see if Dallas Sartz or Brian Cushing starts and middle linebacker, where Oscar Lua and Rey Maualuga are battling for the No. 1 spot.
Then there is defensive end, where Jeff Schweiger and Kyle Moore are neck-and-neck at one spot.
Oh wait, this is spring. No tough decisions get made here. That means the depth chart can say Sartz ``or’’ Cushing without actually naming a starter. And since Lua is a veteran, why start a controversy there? List the senior first.
Heck, even the quarterback position won’t be decided until training camp. If you want real answers, wait till August.

USC receives an unofficial visit from junior tailback Jahvid Best this weekend. Best, who is from Salesian High School in Richmond, Calif., averaged 10.43 yards per carry and gained 1,432 yards with 16 touchdowns last season while leading his school to the North Coast Section Class A championship.

Like the gift that keeps on giving, former USC quarterback Matt Leinart never seems to leave the spotlight. Leinart is a guest on an upcoming episode of the MTV show ``Punk’d,’’ which started its new season last week.
So what prank is pulled on Leinart? Without going into details, we hear it involves the world’s oldest profession.

USC will have six tight ends on scholarship next season but zero punters. I ran that past Coach Pete Carroll but for now I'll let the readers make their own observations.

Although today is the first day of the basketball signing period, Artesia point guard Derek Glasser is expected to sign his letter-of-intent with USC on Thursday.
Glasser was originally recruited by Colorado State, New Mexico, Pacific and St. Mary's, but said he's gotten additional interest since Artesia won the Division III state title.
``Since we won state, the phone's been ringing a lot,'' Glasser said. ``Everybody's looking for a point guard. Seton Hall's been calling me.''
Meanwhile, UC Irvine is interested in freshman guard Collin Robinson, who is transferring after the semester. Robinson's also drawn interest from Boston University and Columbia. Other possible choices include Cornell and Colgate.

Agent Leigh Steinberg, who was fired by quarterback Matt Leinart and offensive tackle Winston Justice, said Tuesday he still had not spoken to Leinart regarding the change.
``I haven't had the opportunity to talk to Matt or his father, our relationship seemed very happy,'' Steinberg said. ``They never complained about anything.''
Never complained? Now that might be a first.

A few years ago, USC looked at a high-school quarterback named Matt Engle during Carson Palmer’s senior year. Engle was an accurate passer but was only 6-feet tall.
``He looked fine, but when I see Carson and how tall he is and then look at how tall (Engle) is, there’s a difference there,’’ a USC coach said.
Palmer was about 6-feet-6 inches tall. Matt Leinart measured nearly 6-5 for NFL scouts. The next USC quarterback will be shorter: Mark Sanchez is listed at 6-4 while John David Booty is listed at 6-3.
Obviously, the height difference isn’t as dramatic as between Palmer and Engle, but it does seem like the defensive line knocked down more balls this spring. When Sanchez works this summer with USC receivers on Cromwell Field, the trajectory of his passes is probably going to be one thing he needs to improve.
As for Engle, he went to UC Davis.

Martha Harris, USC's senior vice president of university relations, said USC's alcohol-ban for Coliseum events remains in effect and will not change next season.
The Coliseum sold beer for the first half of Sunday's scrimmage and later took responsibility for the incident.
``I can tell you definitely that (President Steven) Sample did not authorize it and nothing's changed,'' Harris said. ``We weren't giving anybody permission (to sell beer).''

USC offensive tackle Winston Justice fired super-agent Leigh Steinberg late last week because he felt Steinberg focused all his time on his other Trojan client, quarterback Matt Leinart.
That probably did not worry Steinberg too much, until Leinart also severed ties with the genial agent.
Don't be surprised if Leinart goes with Tom Condon, who represents NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning. Condon recently got hired by Creative Artists Agency. And who already represents Leinart's entertainment interests? CAA!

The Coliseum is taking responsibility for Sunday's decision to sell beer during USC's spring scrimmage, which violated university policy.
``It was just a mistake,'' Coliseum general manager Pat Lynch said. ``It was no big deal. We cut it off instantly as soon as we found out.''
Beer sales occurred during the first half but ended at halftime. Still no official word from the university about the incident.

Last summer, USC president Steven Sample made a significant announcement that he would end the sale of alcohol inside the Coliseum on game days.
``I have received dozens of letters from irate Trojans who say they can't and they won't take their families to USC games anymore because drunken fans create a hostile and frightening environment,'' Sample wrote.
Well, the ban lasted about 11 months apparently, because beer sales were alive and well at Sunday's scrimmage at the Coliseum. Granted, this might have been a ``one off'' instance, but I think some of the families might have wanted advance warning, especially the way beer flowed from the concession stands.
One vendor said she ran out of beer at halftime.
I'm awaiting word from the university on this issue to see if any changes will be made to the existing policy.

With everyone thinking about the numbers from Sunday's scrimmage, here's some stats from some other recent spring scrimmages to illustrate just how significant (insignificant) these marks really are.

A.) 8 for 21, 102 yards
B.) 14 for 25, 222 yards, 3 TDs
C.) 3 receptions, 82 yards, 2 TDs

Click below to match the numbers with the USC players who produced them.

From the ``for what it's worth'' dept., here's where Oaks Christian's most-recruited players are expected to end up based on comments made at Sunday's scrimmage.

QB Jimmy Clausen -- Notre Dame
RB-LB Marc Tyler -- USC
WR-S Marshall Jones -- Michigan-USC
LB Casey Matthews -- Tennessee

Here's the complete stats from today's Trojan Huddle:

The most courageous athletes at USC might be the female pole vaulters. Immediately after the football team practiced on Cromwell Field because of the recent rains, the pole vaulters noticed their pit suffered damaged when it was hastily moved without care.
Two pole vaulters asked the next day if the football staff tried to move the pit and were originally told no. Unsatisfied by that answer, they created a timeline of the incident and confronted USC coach Pete Carroll in the weightroom, where he admitted responsibility for the damage.

The transition from 1540-AM to 710-AM apparently will have a few bumps along the way. When 710 wanted to announce its new partnership with USC, it asked 1540 if it could use its ISDN lines inside Heritage Hall that allow live broadcasts from the lobby.
But 1540 refused. That's the radio business in a nutshell.

Here's some answers to questions sent in the past week:

With the tailback position in a state of flux, several sources inside the program believe the guy who should be getting the longest look at tailback is Allen Bradford of Colton High.
The only problem is Bradford wants to play safety and even with Hershel Dennis suffering a season-ending knee injury and Desmond Reed (nerve damage in knee) also facing an uncertain future, there are no plans to move Bradford to running back.
Bradford averaged 13.1 yards per carry last season and scored 32 touchdowns. And he weighs 230 pounds, which would give USC the big, fast back Pete Carroll always craves (Yes, we're aware of Ryan Powdrell). But right now, the only recruit moving to tailback is Sylmar's C.J. Gable. This issue could be revisited during training camp. Stay tuned.

Although Oaks Christian quarterback Jimmy Clausen remains a top target for USC, there’s a growing feeling he will commit to Notre Dame, where he can replace Irish quarterback Brady Quinn and start in 2007.
Clausen is scheduled to visit Notre Dame in two weeks, where Coach Charlie Weis will no doubt hope for an early commitment.
In the meantime, another quarterback prospect’s emerged for the Trojans.

Reports in Oklahoma suggested USC coach Tim Floyd is a candidate for the Sooners' basketball job following the departure of Kelvin Sampson to Indiana.
Floyd said Thursday night he was not a candidate for the job.
``I made a statement when I got hired that this was my last job,'' Floyd said. ``I'm not pursuing any jobs.''

USC tailback Hershel Dennis will miss the season after tests revealed torn knee ligaments for the second time in his career and leaves the Trojans’ tailback position facing major questions.
It’s a severe blow to Dennis, who was out since Dec., 2004 following the original injury. He returned to practice for the first time Tuesday and his knee buckled in the FieldTurf at Cromwell Field during a non-contact drill.
Dennis is expected to apply for a sixth year of eligibility under NCAA rules.
``We’re going to investigate all options,’’ USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``He could enter the draft at that time too.’’

With USC moving to 710-AM, there will be some conflicts with Angels games next season. When that happens, USC switches to 790-AM for its broadcasts.

When USC scrimmaged last weekend, its starting safeties were Brandon Ting and Antwine Perez. I guarantee that will not be the exact starting lineup when USC plays Arkansas in its season opener but I think the safety position is even more intriguing than tailback.
Especially because the incoming freshmen will only get limited reps in training camp to win the starting job.

According to USC's sports information office, tickets for the spring scrimmage Sunday at the Coliseum are $10. In previous years, tickets the day of the scrimmage were $25. But this year's scrimmage will no longer be catered by In-N-Out.
Personally, I don't know many fans who thought the long lines were worth the wait for a hamburger, but it's good to know they cost an extra $15.

There’s been a huge amount of ignorance regarding the times posted in the 40-yard dash at Sunday’s Pro Day.

Although USC has not officially announced it is moving to radio station 710-AM next season, it is already telling coaches to appear on talk shows on that station to grease the skids for next year's transition away from 1540-AM.

If you want to know the difference between being a college and pro football player, you should have been in a Hollywood Greek restaurant Monday night when USC quarterback Matt Leinart arrived.
It didn't faze onlookers that Leinart showed up, after all this is Southern California. However, people were taken aback that Leinart showed up with his own security detail. Maybe he was worried someone might steal his baklava.

Tailback Hershel Dennis gave everyone a scare when he crashed to the turf after his left knee gave out during a non-contact drill at practice. Trainers said Dennis sprained his knee but Dennis will undergo a magnetic-resonance imaging test today because it's the same knee he tore knee ligaments in December, 2004.

It’s only early April, but it’s no longer possible to buy season tickets for USC football games. At least if you want to buy tickets for every home game.

An NFL coach came up to me at Pro Day and said he just analyzed a tape of the Rose Bowl in preparation for the NFL draft. ``I counted six or seven NFL players on USC's offense and about one for Texas,'' the coach said. ``How did USC lose that game? Where was Reggie Bush on those fourth downs?''
Questions. Questions.

According to some NFL coaches and agents, USC tailback LenDale White dropped from 15th to 24th in first-round projections for the NFL draft following his disappointing Pro Day performance. That could change if White works out privately for teams before the draft.
Offensive tackle Winston Justice is currently a top 10 pick but could drop. Justice plans to run the 40 again in about 10 days after injuring his hamstring Sunday.