December 2006 Archives
USC coach Pete Carroll said he would not fire any assistant coaches after the season, regardless of what happens in today’s Rose Bowl.
The No. 8-ranked Trojans are 10-2, which is successful by most standards, but there’s been a lot of fan criticism, especially directed toward offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.
``I’m not making any changes,’’ Carroll said. ``I’m not doing anything.’’
Around 11 p.m., we'll have an announcement that will be of interest to most USC fans.
A USC spokesperson said the issue of whether Reggie Bush requested a sideline pass for the Rose Bowl is moot because BCS rules allow only five VIP sideline passes and they were given out before Bush requested a pass. The passes were given to former USC players Ronnie Lott, Matt Leinart, Marcus Allen, Charles White and John Papadakis.
``It's not like it's a home game where there's unlimited passes,’’ spokesperson Tim Tessalone said. ``That's what I can tell you about it.’’
About a month later, opinions on the UCLA lost are changing slightly.
``That was a fluke,'' said a USC player that did not wish to be identified. ``Especially after seeing Florida State beat them.''
A Pac-10 coach said today that the loser of the Rose Bowl will have a lot of explaining to do in the offseason.
``Both teams have a lot at stake. Someone will have a tough offseason losing to their crosstown rival and a bowl game. it's like playing a bowl game against Fresno State and losing.
``Michigan feels like they can't afford to lose. Both teams are like `we can't lose.' ''
Here's the Fox Sports press release on its Reggie Bush-Rose Bowl sideline pass controversy.
The first person to correctly pick the Rose Bowl score wins their choice of a USC or Michigan media guide (valid email required).
USC defensive tackle Walker Lee Ashley has left the football program and is trying to decide whether to return.
``He left,’’ USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``I’m not sure if he’s coming back. It’s not finalized. I did talk to his dad and we’re trying to figure out the best thing for him.’’
Ashley denied earlier this month he would transfer to Minnesota, which is where he was raised.
``I have no idea where it came from,’’ Ashley said. ``I’m cool right here. It was all just rumors.’’
Could this actually be the time linebacker Clay Matthews get his first start with Dallas Sartz not 100 percent? In the past, it's been hinted that Matthews would start, only for Sartz or whoever else he replaced getting healthy in time to play.
``I think they are unsure (about Sartz),’’ Matthews said. ``I guess I would be the next linebacker but we’ll see when game time comes around. I can’t really expect anything.’’
Linebacker Dallas Sartz took limited snaps and will play but his role is still to be determined.
Chauncey Washington returned to practice and said he suffered food poisoning. Brian Cushing practiced and said he will wear a sleeve on his sore knee to protect it.
Check out PerezHilton.com to see who Matt Leinart is hanging around with now.
Hint: They have something in common: babies.
Is Pete Carroll still a coaching whiz when given a month to prepare for a team?
X-rays on defensive end Brian Cushing revealed some fluid on the knee but it is not expected to be a problem for the game.
Linebacker Dallas Sartz has been unable to go full speed yet and Coach Pete Carroll threw open the possibility that Clay Matthews could start.
Tailback Chauncey Washington did not practice because of stomach flu. Pete Carroll said freshman C.J. Gable is currently the No. 1 tailback. Defensive end Brian Cushing (sore knee) practiced with a knee brace and said he would probably wear it for the next two days. He wants to play the game without the brace.
Fullback Thomas Williams will prepare to play both ways in the Rose Bowl. Linebacker Dallas Sartz (hip flexor) said he felt OK but was slightly limited.
One source said USC wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett wants to turn pro after the season but his mother prefers he comes back for his senior year.
Did anyone get caught in long lines at the Galen Center last night? It seemed like the building is having problems adjusting to any type of a crowd. About 15 minutes before tipoff, several lines were 50-people deep outside the arena.
Since USC visited the Improv this week, humor is in the air. So we asked USC coach Pete Carroll if he would hire outgoing Florida State offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden, after the Seminoles scored 44 points against UCLA in the Emerald Bowl.
USC coach Pete Carroll said the offense's shoddy performance Wednesday was the result of practicing in rain and windy conditions.
``We were affected by the rain and wind,'' Carroll said. ``They came back today and chucked it around today.''
USC coach Pete Carroll is closing practices to the public the rest of the week before the Rose Bowl.
Thomas Williams practiced at linebacker today because Brian Cushing (knee) and Dallas Sartz (hip) are ailing.
UPDATED: Cushing and Sartz say they will play in the Rose Bowl and both could return as soon as today.
Michigan defensive end Lamarr Woodley's eye lit up today when asked if he noticed what UCLA's pass rush did to USC.
``Being a pass rusher, I was definitely look at UCLA,'' he said.
Yahoo might come out with another Reggie Bush story before the Rose Bowl for maximum exposure.
USC almost suffered a key injury during Wednesday’s practice in one of the season’s more embarrassing moments.
Freshman tailback Emmanuel Moody broke free on a run, and in a practice tradition, was supposed to run all the way to the end zone without any defensive players following him. But assistant coach Dave Watson, who urged Moody to keep running, slipped on the wet turf and fell, with his feet upending Moody and knocking the back down hard to the turf.
Moody, already recovering from torn ankle ligaments that forced him to miss several games, slowly got up and appeared to be hurt before eventually jogging back to the huddle.
``I bruised my knee,’’ Moody said. ``He got me pretty good. I don’t know what happened.’’
Watson, who yelled at Moody to ``get up,’’ said he knew Moody was not hurt.
``As an effort coach it’s my job to chase the back,’’ he said. ``He’s a tough guy. It was a minor collision. I tackled him with my feet like a soccer player.’’
Pundits like Jeff Sagarin consistently ranked the Pac-10 as the top conference in America this season, but right now the Pac-10 looks more like the best conference in Western America.
After UCLA's loss, the Pac-10 is off to an 0-3 start.
Linebacker Brian Cushing skipped practice with a sore knee that he hurt right before Christmas break.
``It’s puffed up,’’ USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``We think he could play today if he had to.’’
One of our spies attended a couple Michigan practices and reports that while the tempo is slower than USC practices, the Wolverines' timing appeared crisp.
Tonight's bowl activity is a trip to the Improv for some stand-up comedy. No word if Michael Richards will be performing.
It will give the Trojans a chance to dry off following a crazy practice included a rain outburst followed by warm sunshine.
Sorry to intrude on Scott's space, but I just wanted everyone to know of a change to the blog: beginning immediately, registration is required through Typekey to post comments. We apologize for the inconvenience, but registration is free and takes two minutes to do - this just reduces spam and makes it easier to moderate the discussions. And your comments will get published much quicker...
If anyone has any questions, concerns or problems about this, please direct them to me, not Scott. I can be reached at josh.kleinbaum@dailynews.com.
USC offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin marveled at a 36-yard touchdown run by Titans quarterback Vince Young on Sunday after a play broke down in a 30-29 victory over Buffalo.
``A lot of people said he wouldn't be able to do the things he did in the Rose Bowl in the NFL,'' Kiffin said.
Did that make Kiffin feel any better about last year's Rose Bowl against Texas?
``No, we still lost,'' he said.
When offensive tackle Kyle Williams briefly quit the team last Monday after being replaced by Matt Spanos, he said it actually took the mind off a poor performance against UCLA.
``It gave me something else to think about,’’ Williams said
USC coach Tim Floyd suspended freshman guard Kevin Galloway for two games after Galloway returned late from Sacramento from the Christmas break and missed practice Monday and Tuesday. Galloway, who averaged 3.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 12 games, will miss Thursday’s Pacific-10 Conference opener against Washington at the Galen Center and Saturday’s game against Washington State.
Forward Nick Young did not practice on Christmas night because of stomach flu while center Abdoulaye N’diaye left practice early because of a shin injury.
Some East Coast players, like linebacker Brian Cushing, were late to practice because their Christmas flights came back this morning. Otherwise, it was a short, crisp practice.
Fullback Brandon Hancock said he wants to come back for a sixth year but will meet with doctors before making it official.
USC hired Ali Khosroshahin of Cal State Fullerton as its women's soccer coach today. Personally, I would have gone with Iain Dowie, especially after he turned down Hull City.
USC went 6-6 in the regular season against the spread, which was the 48th-best record in the nation. The Trojans were just ahead of Vanderbilt and SMU.
Central Michigan was No. 1 with an 11-2 record (9-4 actual record). Ohio State was 9-3 against the spread, the fourth-best mark. Not bad considering the Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 all season and had the runaway Heisman Trophy winner.
It’s Christmas and time to give a present to the readers. When this blog started in March, there were no expectations, only a desire to offer more information about USC football.
But this blog quickly became so popular, our site monitor says it is routinely second only to the dailynews.com home page for page hits. That is because of you, the reader and your interest in USC football. And it is quite an accomplishment. Thanks to you.
There may be second-guessing by fans since USC lost to UCLA, but All-American wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett said he remains a believer in the Trojans' play-calling.
``It's easy to say that from the outside looking in,'' wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett said. ``As a team and staff, we believe in what we're doing.''
Tailback C.J. Gable said he will switch from No. 25 to No. 2 next season, which was his number at Sylmar. Wide receiver Steve Smith currently wears No. 2 for the Trojans.
USC coach Pete Carroll said fullback Brandon Hancock is expected to apply for a sixth year of eligibility after missing his senior season with torn knee ligaments.
``I'd love to have him back,'' Carroll said. ``He's a leader and a great player to have on our team.''
Hancock met with the USC coaching staff this week to discuss the idea. Carroll said USC's compliance official said he could likely be granted an extra year by the NCAA.
Players are not allowed to apply until after the season. The compliance office previously said fullback Ryan Powdrell could not apply for a sixth year.
David Buehler, the new kickoff specialist after Troy Van Blarcom was dismissed from school said he will continue to wear a neck roll because he might participate on the kick return team, a role he held before getting promoted.
``I’ve worn my neck roll all through high school and college,’’ Buehler said.
The college coach who earlier this week gushed over defensive end Everson Griffen despite losing him to USC, said the 6-4, 266-pound prospect is fast enough to play defensive back or tailback. We kid you not.
Earlier this week we alluded to a possible scholarship crunch for next season. One more became available because fullback Jody Adewale was convinced to forego his final year of eligibility and instead concentrate on obtaining his master’s degree.
Adewale graduates this year but still has a year left to play football because he redshirted. But instead of playing next season, Adewale said he will work in the athletic dept. and receive two more years of education.
``Why stand on the sideline when I can get my masters?’’ Adewale said. ``It’s their decision. It’ll pay for two years of school.’’
Tailback Chauncey Washington and tight end Fred Davis each had 3.0 GPAs in the fall semester.
The scout team gave the first unit everything it could handle and more in today's mock game. The starters won 23-21, but only after USC coach Pete Carroll controversially awarded another play at the end when the clock might have expired, which allowed quarterback John David Booty to throw a touchdown pass to C.J. Gable.
The highlight of the scrimmage was a touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez to freshman wide receiver David Ausberry.
``It was a great, spirited day when guys could be looking to get out of here,'' Carroll said.
Offensive tackle Matt Spanos did not pass all his classes and is ineligible. Kicker Troy Van Blarcom is also ineligible and was dismissed from school because he did not have a 2.0 GPA after three semesters. Van Blarcom would need to reapply for admission to the university to come back, but don't hold your breath on that happening.
It should be noted that Van Blarcom said he would try to get a grade changed but few are optimistic about that scenario.
USC kicker Troy Van Blarcom was ruled academically ineligible Thursday although the kicker was trying to change a grade to regain his eligibility. Offensive tackle Matt Spanos is also unlikely to be eligible today although he was also trying to change a grade.
Van Blarcom, who is the Trojans’ kickoff specialist, will not be able to play against Michigan in the Rose Bowl unless he can change a grade, which he was in the process of trying to do late Thursday. He needed a 2.3 grade-point average in the fall semester to maintain his eligibility.
``He is in jeopardy,’’ USC coach Pete Carroll said of Van Blarcom. ``We’ll find out (today) if he’s made it.’’
Without Van Blarcom, USC would turn to sophomore David Buehler for kickoffs. Buehler notably kicked a 49-yard field goal against California earlier this season.
USC will stage a quick mock game tomorrow to practice certain situations for the Rose Bowl. It's something USC coach Pete Carroll often does before the season-opener and previous bowl games, to get down substitutions and other sideline situations
Offensive tackle Matt Spanos missed practice to take of ``academic matters,'' according to USC coach Pete Carroll. It's possible Spanos will find out today if he is eligible, because Carroll said grades were getting posted a day earlier than expected.
It's always dangerous to make too much out of a recruit, but a college coach who lost out on defensive Everson Griffen raved about the prospect today.
"He's perfect," the coach said. "He could be a first-round draft pick right now."
USC freshman safety Antwine Perez is expected to transfer to Maryland. Perez also considered Rutgers and West Virginia, according to sources.
His departure is not totally unwanted because it frees up a scholarship amid fears of a scholarship crunch with 12 commitments and a large number of recruits that would like to commit to USC.