Scott:

How many pounds do the coaches want Aaron Corp to put on and what kind of regiment has he been put on to gain the extra pounds?

Thanks for all your hard, Scott. It's always appreciated.

Petros Papadakis' official radio biography says that he graduated from USC in 2001, but he actually did not graduate until 2003. That would make him an eighth year senior! Look it up.

So do you think there should be some kind of truth in reporting the background of people who work in the media?

Scott, you said last time that the coaching staff knew that if Damian Williams transferred to USC, then they would most likely be able to get Mitch Mustain to follow. But if Williams announced his transfer in December, and Mustain did not announce he was leaving Arkansas until mid-January, then does that mean the coaching staff knew Mustain was going to transfer beforehand?

Do you believe that with the major national hype of OJ Mayo coming in and a preseason top 10 ranking, all the basketball games will be sold out this year? If you do not think that will be the case, what kind of attendance do you believe there will be at the Galen Center this year?

Remember, near the end of last season, the games were all sold out and that was BEFORE the Sweet Sixteen run and OJ Mayo. So I think it's entirely reasonable that all the games can be sold out this year.

Scott,

If Blake Ayles joins USC will he probably be used at Fullback?

Thanks for the information.

Scott,

Regarding redshirting: does a player have to take his redshirt years in either his first or second year after high school? Can a medical redshirt be taken any year, and how early does a player have to get hurt to be able to take a medical redshirt?

Thanks

If Pete Carroll leaves after this season, where does that put the quarterback competition in the spring? Will there be an entirely new play book?

Scott -

What have you heard about the rumblings that if Tyrone Willingham has another poor season at Washington this year, he will be fired, with Steve Sarkisian being the top candidate to replace him?

Scott, Do you think that your cousin 13-9 will change his name to 3-72 in the fall.

So who do you think the starting QB will be in 2008 Mustain or Sanchez....as Cal Poly likes to quote...I kid, I kid!

How seriously is Darrell Scott considering USC? I would love for SC to sign him, but if I was D. Scott, there would be no way I would go to SC with the logjam of young 5 Star Backs sitting on the Bench...but that didn’t stop McNight, Tyler and Green!

What are your thoughts (if any) on Mandel listing Carroll as the No. 1 Coach on his list of the 10 Best active coaches...and putting Dorrell on his list of the 5 Worst?

On a B-Ball note, slightest chance SC gets Greg Monroe?

Since Lod Stewart did not get NBA drafted, what's next for him?

1) Who is the Versus network looking at to do the Pac-10 games?

2) What chance do we have to see a new commissioner for the Pac-10? When would such a change occur? Who are likely candidates?

TrojanCNTV,

Did you really just ask:

“If Pete Carroll leaves after this season, where does that put the quarterback competition in the spring (between Sanchez and Mustain)?”

...and “Will there be an entirely new play book?”

Seriously??? You just put a brand new spin on this moronic debate! Congratulations. Can’t wait to read Scott’s response...if there is one!

JJH4USC:

I think you misunderstood my question. What I meant was, if Carroll should leave, there would be no priority for a QB who knows the current system, so what happens in that scenario? There would be an all new system in place, so what happens in a situation if any entirely new offense is implemented? Would the new coach care who was where on the previous depth chart, etc.?

So, no, it is not a new spin on the old debate.

Has Damian Williams had any problems bonding the rest of the team as he has been injured and out of commission since arriving on campus? Will this be a problem when it comes to competing for a starting position? Do Williams and Mustain still spend a lot of time together?

Scott,

What are you thoughts on Malcom Smith and where he'll fit into the program? Do you think he'll redshirt this year or will he contribute on say special teams or in the rotation at LB? Last, could you see him playing fullback?

Fight On!

Scott,

What are you thoughts on Malcom Smith and where he'll fit into the program? Do you think he'll redshirt this year or will he contribute on say special teams or in the rotation at LB? Last, could you see him playing fullback?

Fight On!

Scott,

What are you thoughts on Malcom Smith and where he'll fit into the program? Do you think he'll redshirt this year or will he contribute on say special teams or in the rotation at LB? Last, could you see him playing fullback?

Fight On!

Scott,

Of the lesser known/documented players in the secondary - who do you think is under the radar in terms of being able to make an impact on the upcoming season and surprising us?

Scott:

What do you think SC will do with the lack of depth at the Defensive Tackle Position? Could players be asked to move positions to compensate?

Scott,

Why did you say that you are "mystified by this Mustain obsession" when you are as responsible as anyone for feeding the national frenzy about him? A search of your blog shows that in January, the very week Mustain obtained his release from Arkansas, you were the first reporter in the country to report he was coming to USC. It was your blog that many other reporters around the country cited as the source that Mustain was coming to USC and you just fed into it.

So are you really "mystified by this Mustain obsession" or do you acknowledge that you are as responsible as anyone for starting the national media coverage of Mustain's enrollment at USC?

There are so many reasons for the obsession with Mustain, but can you truly say that you are "mystified" by it?

Scott,

Are national writers paying attention to how O.J. Mayo is conducting himself and taking a leadership role as you have reported? I keep getting smack from friends from the midwest about Mayo, calling him a problem child, etc., and I haven't seen the ESPN's of the world look at him as closely as you have or the OC Register did in their piece last week.

Scott -

1. How does the staff feel about the addition of John Morton to the coaching staff?

2. Does NCAA's Oklahoma decision mean bad things for SC down the road?

Thanks in advance.

How does the depth chart look at the WR positions heading into fall camp? Who's penciled in to start opposite Turner?

Also, does it look like the QB's are throwing from a shotgun snap in these summer practices?

I've never actually seen it, but I've heard for years about a photo showing Marinovich flipping off a Bruin that's offering to help him up off the field... Does the photo actually exist? I've looked all over the web and haven't found it. If you have a copy, can you post it like you do the other "old school" photos?

The new recruiting class for 2008 in shaping up to be the best ever under Coach Carroll as far as the offensive line needs are concerned. Is the coaching staff content at this point with what they have or are they still looking at other prospects to bolster the offensive line (ala Max Tuioto-Mariner, Khalid Holmes, Hamani Stevens, etc)?

Defensive tackle now seems to be a position that is thinning out (especially with Sedrick Ellis graduating after this season) and the Trojans have yet to receive a commit of anykind for the position even though Armond Armstead and Jurrell Casey have both been offered. What is the status of those two and is there anybody on their radar who is the focus of their recruiting efforts (ala Solomon Koehler maybe)?

TrojanCNTV,

So if “it is not a new spin on the old debate”...then is it just another post on the same, painfully old debate?...the same one that Scott keeps making fun of people for being so obsessed with?

And now that the sports doldrums of summer are approaching an end AND with only 52 days until USC plays Idaho at the Coliseum (woo hoo), I am a little too preoccupied with the 2007 season...and can’t understand how you are so concerned with some “hypothetical” about how a new coach or play book may alter the 2008 QB battle. (By the way did I miss something this summer, and Carroll announced that he is leaving USC at the end of the year?)

Sorry, maybe I am just way off base. Hopefully, Scott’s response to your question will enlighten me.

Wolfie; thanx for having the forum so soon again-ha ha.
Two easy questions this week----in the "Bush-Push" picture,
1. Since I have never seen you before, would you please positively identify yourself? I am assuming that is not a "doctored" pix. If you are too shy to identify yourself{I don't think so}, all you kind readers out there, please help me out here-inquiring minds want to know!

2. I have seen film of that play endlessly, but from only two different angles--Matt, seeing he can't go straight ahead, takes a step to the left and does a twisting dive toward the end zone. The hole is there alright, but it's not clear at all from the film if Matt has the momentum to cross the goal line--so, what do you think, Scott, if Reggie does not push him, does he score?
Thanx much as always--we greatly appreciate the blog!!!!!!!!

Dear Scott,

First: Thanks for the awesome blog!

My question(s): During Pete Carroll's interview with Petros a few days ago, he specifically mentioned Stafon Johnson and that he is excited to see how Stafon performs this year.

Does this mean we may see more of Stafon this year? Is he a candidate to play full back? If not, why do you think they have not approached him about it?

SW, you ended the last forum wondering where your Dale Thompson question is at. Well, this isn't a question about Dale, but, it is a question about the TE position. We know that Fred Davis is the starter, but what is the rest of the TE rotation going to be like? Thanks SW, keep it up. Fight On!

With NFL Europe folding, do you know where the Trojans that were playing over there go?

1. Scott, Not hearing or reading very much news on Vidal Hazelton. Do you see him making a big impact this year?
2. Will Stafon Johnson really get a good look to be in the rotation or is that just a smoke screen?

Scott:

My 2 questions:
1. What impact do you think David Ausberry and Travon Patterson will have this year?

2. I was very impressed with Kevin Ellison's play last year, and even more impressed with his leadership at spring practice (he was not practicing in spring ball when I saw him and was impressed with his leadership and focus). I see him being the leader of our defense - your thoughts? If not Ellison, who do you see as the leader of our D?

Is USC recruiting Julio Jones, the receiver from Alabama? Rivals says no, but Scout Recruiting says yes.

Wasn't SC supposed to play at Hawaii next season? If so, why aren't we?

Does NBC's Notre Dame Announcer Pat Haden avoid mentioning his huge USC connections - playing QB at SC and being on the USC Board of Trustees - because he doesn't want to tick off ND fans or is there some clause in his contract with NBC/ND? Even during SC-ND telecasts he never seems to show any emotion towards SC.

Scott: If Mitch Mustain was a tree, what kind of tree would he be?

Who would play quarterback next season if:

-if Booty goes out early for the NFL Draft.

-if Mitch Mustain got homesick and went back to Arkansas.

-if Mark Sanchez transferred to a Division II school.

-if Aaron Corp went on the Nutrisystem Diet.

-if Pete Carroll suddenly retired, and ...

-if Sarkisian was hired as head coach at Washington.

-if Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh still was not able to pull his foot out of his mouth.

-if cloning became legal, and Pat Haden, Rob Johnson, Rich Hertel, and Sean Salisbury all agreed to be guinea pigs for a yet-to-be-announced new USC Sports Medicine secret project.

-if Norm Chow and Lane Kiffin decided to share an apartment near campus and agreed to be co-coaches.

-if the Tommy's Burger on Rampart suddenly closed up shop.

Hi Scott,

What is going on with Luthur Brown? Is there any chance that without a major injury he can break into the rotation? Why is he not considered for a starting position and will he transfer if he see's there is no chance that he will start?

thanks,

Another question!

Seeing as Oklahoma has just had their 2005 season erased and the 3 players from what I've read took a fraction of the money the Bush family received do you think there is now a better chance that USC will face sanctions? How do other reporters accross the country feel about USC seemingly getting away with this?

thanks,

Hey Alpo,

Pretend you know what you are talking about when you post questions on this blog, OK? Your tainted views about USC and Reggie Bush no doubt are due to your 6th Grade education.

Dude... you did not answer my question last 2 times. I HOPE 3RD TIME IS THE CHARM.

1. How good is Drew Mcalister? Is he SC caliber? Is it because SC needs safeties, or is he really that good?

2. You mentioned SC needed Defensive lineman, the last I saw, SC has 4 on the OL, and only 1 on DL. You see a couple OL moving to Defense?

Thank

Haha, ex-sportswriter. I dig it. For the record, Mustain would be a Ficus.

When does the raw Davon Jefferson hear from the NCAA Clearing house? What kind of contribution does Diarra make next year? I heard Diarra is pretty raw as well. Hopefully Floyd can teach these two guys to dribble a basketball.

1. Are we planning on starting the season with only two scholarship players at fullback or will someone be switched before the first game?

2. Do you think we will offer any junior college players? If so, who are the leading candidates?

Scott-

With OJ Mayo and Mitch Mustain, is this the first time you have seen players get so much press attention simply for enrolling at USC? I cannot think of any other instances where there was so much buildup prior to a player attending any college. Is this a new trend developing or is this an aberration due to the special circumstances for each of these two players?

Thanks for this question and answer forum, Scott. It's clearly a must-read daily blog for many, many people now, not to mention the best source for Trojan athletics anywhere.

ex-sportswriter,awesome posts!

So, Scott, with today being the day that David Beckham finally arrives in LA, do you think LA is big enough for both Beckham AND Mitch Mustain?????

Fight on!

I hear Michael Coleman is moving to fullback, has his injury slowed him down or is it just because there's so many running backs?

Michael Coleman is no longer on the team.

Scott,
Now that you have interviewed Mustain, what are your impressions of him? Does he come across as a prima donna or a humble person? Is he arrogant or does he have his head on straight? Do you think he will be a trouble, with off the field issues and baggage, or will he be an asset to the university? Fill us in on your impressions of Mustain.

First question: Did LSU contact USC within the last 5 years to schedule a home and home? I heard they did but we didn't have open dates when they were available and we couldn't come to an agreement when to play. Is that true?

Will Mustain be allowed to suit up for games this year and travel with the team to away games?

Scott,

Thanks for the forum.

1) I am also curious about your impression of Mitch Mustain after your interview. Do you think he a) ran to USC or b) ran away from Arkansas? Is he more interested in a) leading USC to a national title or b) in his words, looking to be 'just another guy.'

2)For this question, assume the worst: the rumors regarding Bushgate are true and the NCAA imposes Oklahoma-like sanctions (i.e. USC has to forfeit its wins from the 04-05 season). Since the NCAA doesn't govern the bowls, what would happen to the Orange Bowl/BCS National Champtionship/AP Trophies? Do the bowls have their own by-laws regarding retroactive ineligibility?

Thanks for your thoughts.

1. Will you sign my "Bush Push" photo?

2. How much do you think a "Bush Push" photo would go for on Ebay if it is signed by Matt, Reggie and Wolfie?