Freshmen Notes
Fullback Stanley Havili (broken leg) met with doctors Tuesday night and said he will undergo x-rays Friday and if the reports are positive, will be cleared to practice next week.
Meanwhile, tailback Stafon Johnson, who has participated in just one play on offense, said he won't consider transferring.
``I haven't thought about it,'' Johnson said.
Johnson said he received words of encouragement from Washington coach Tyrone Willingham following the Trojans’ victory over the Huskies.
``He told me to keep my head up and keep playing,’’ Johnson said.
Willingham said Johnson, who also played safety in high school, was the hardest-hitting player he saw on the West Coast last season.
Johnson said he is still paying the price for a rough part of training camp, when he was told he was taking plays off and needed to improve his blocking.
``It’s kind of frustrating but you have to look at what you did to mess up,’’ Johnson said. ``It was my fault. Now I have to wait and start from scratch.’’
Scott:
Check Stafon's stats again. I believe he has been in more than one play...primarly as a blocker in the WR position.
Why is Willingham being allowed to come into contact with USCs players?
Get your own recruiting in order Ty and stop stirring up stuff here. USC took Taylor Mays from you so you think you can get back at them by targeting Johnson?
Why would Johnson transfer 6 games into his freshman year. Pete doesn't care about playing freshmen. If Johnson was playing better than Moody he would be on the field plain and simple.
Pete better put an end to this hobknobbing by opposing coaches pronto. This won't be the last time our depth gets targeted by a greedy coach from another team.
it doesn't appear that
willingham was stirring anything. He was just telling him to keep working hard, like a father figure. I'm sure Stafon appreciated that from someone on the outside looking in. And after the games both teams are on the field and anyone can talk to anyone, not a big deal. These types of over-reactions are so dumb, take it easy man.
If Ty is saying he was the hardest hitting safety on the West Coast, and its no secret we've been lacking at depth in the secondary, shouldn't he be working out as a safety rather than a practice squad HB?
It seems only sensible to try him out as an option in practice...
A coach from a rainy, cloudy, depressing state like Washington is like a flea on the ass of an elephant.
No one is going to leave a football dynasty with the best coach, from sunny Cali, where the women are amazing, the media is huge, and the opportunity is endless.
Stafon has just learned a life lesson more important than football. Just when he thought he owned the world, suddenly he realizes the field just got bigger. Welcome to SC. What makes him a man, a newly minted, grown-up, suddenly mature Man, is that he threw away the ego and admitted he was coasting. At that point he shed the teenage skin.
And the exciting part is what we will see from here on out, especially next year. Now that he has developed a true work ethic.
I think Stefon will be a starter next season. This guy is a spectacular talent and good 'ol step-dad Carroll will help him grow...
Is Stafon that bad that he cant get a couple of touches at Tailback just to see what he can do in a game. We have had 4 or 5 FBs get a chance. Stafon seems to have a positive attitude about matters. Why not give him a chance?
Amen tyler - I wondered the same thing....
The return of Havili would add an enormous missing piece to the offense. The role of a great blocking/pass catching FB in the Trojan offense has been sorely missed since the demise of the first 3 guys....Brittingham seems barely capable in my eyes. The extra dimension would be coming at a very opportune time
Chill out Tyler. It is customary for players and coaches from opposing teams to chat after the game on the playing field. Remember a lot of these guys developed relationships while they were being recruited. It sounds like Ty was encouraging Stafon, not recruiting him, which is much more on line with Ty's character.
I'm not saying that I rather Ty wish ill on our players after games but you would have to be blind to think that Ty lending a friendly shoulder doesn't serve a purpose. He's isn't directly recruiting Stafon but you better believe that telling Stafon to keep his head up sends a message to Stafon (even subconsciously) that Ty cares. If in 2 years Stafon still hasn't seen the field don't be surprised if UW is among the teams that come calling.
To tell a player that hasn't complained about playing time to "keep his head up" plants the seed Ty needs.
Relax Tyler, Willingham isn't contacting our players. Following the confusion at the end of the UW game, I kept my eye on Tyrone while he directed all of his players to the tunnel after the UW game. His calm demeanor is what drew my attention. It was while waiting for the last stragglers that Stafon approached him.
Since Havili's not ready, who's starting at FB Saturday? Do you think Bradford will see a lot of PT?
I agree Brittangham is not really helping us much...If Havili can get back or A. Bradford plays more at FB it would help alot.
I also agree about Stafon. It's time to play him. I am sure he has learned his lesson and he might be saying now he doesn't want to transfer...but if he is still sitting on the bench next year he will be saying something different...
stop you dont play him now..you let stafon redshirt that way he still has 4 years left.