December 2007 Archives

Here's the game-day schedule for the Trojans, who start with a 9 a.m. wake-up call.

Here's the next installment of answers as 2007 winds down. Hail Caesar!

USC defensive lineman Sedrick Ellis on his concluding his career: ``This may be the most winningest class in college football history, but you never really think about it until you come to the end. Playing with players like Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart and others, It’s pretty amazing.''

Here's Caesar's final injury update before the Rose Bowl.

Just a quick word about the idea of Norm Chow going to UCLA as offensive coordinator. Chow always tells friends that Titans coach Jeff Fisher is the best coach he ever worked for. And he's two years away from being eligible for an NFL pension. OK, that's it.

Please join us in thanking Roman Meal for their continued sponsorship this season. Roman Meal, the bread Caesar supplies his legions as he convinces them it's great to be in the Rose Bowl.

Here's the first installment on the last day of the year.

Even on the eve of the Rose Bowl, it comes back to Matt Leinart.
http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_7849119

Nebraska is making a strong push at quarterback Dayne Crist, who committed to Notre Dame months ago.

Quarterback John David Booty said teams no longer fear USC.
``I think teams are so excited to play us now because they know you can beat us and they want to bring us down,'' Booty said.

Two USC players defend a pass to a UCLA wide receiver during the 1958 crosstown rivalry, which ended in a 15-15 tie. We think the the player in the middle is halfback Angelo Coia, but maybe some of our ``mature'' readers can identify the Trojans in the picture. Photo courtesy USC digital library.

USC announced this weekend it would sell more Rose Bowl tickets. And private parties seem to be selling at face value, or less. If you're thinking of going, scalpers outside the Rose Bowl should be at a disadvantage on game day.
``I'd rather see a rematch with Stanford. At least the Trojans would be motivated,'' one USC graduate who is skipping the game said.

We'll start this a little early this time. I'll end the suspense now with my own prediction: USC 31, Illinois 17.

USC offensive tackle Sam Baker said the UCLA game earlier this month was the highlight of his season.
``The one match up that stands out for me was in our last game against UCLA,'' Baker said. ``Everyone was talking about Bruce Davis and how I had to lock him down and it was a great experience because he’s a great player and I have a lot of respect for him.”

USC quarterback John David Booty said he likes staying out of the spotlight despite the obvious advantages of being in such a marquee position.
“I don’t see myself from the outside so I don’t really see it. I’m a Southern boy. We’re definitely raised a little different than someone from Orange County. I’ve been by myself a lot out here in Los Angeles. I’m usually just hanging out with my roommates. I don’t put myself in situations where trouble can arise.''

Chauncey Washington starts at tailback against Illinois with Joe McKnight and Stafon Johnson expected to play big roles. Yes, we've heard that before.

USC concluded its final practice before the Rose Bowl and it's not looking good for wide receiver Patrick Turner.
``He's still not full speed yet,'' Pete Carroll said. ``It'll be hard to contribute.''
Linebacker Keith Rivers (ankle) will play but whether he starts is a game-time decision.

As the game approaches, USC defensive end Lawrence Jackson grows weary of questions about Illinois quarterback Juice Williams and whether the Trojans can handle a mobile quarterback.
``People are always trying to get stories on another running quarterback,'' Jackson said. ``He’s good but different than the others. He’s bigger than a running back. He’s not an option type of player.’’

Apparently there was one positive from the Stanford game as Fred Davis broke the USC record for receptions by a tight end.
``I found out from a reporter that I had broken the record after the Stanford game. I got the game ball after the game and now it’s at my mom’s house.''
There might be a Stanford fan out there willing to pay a lot of money for that ball.

Offensive coordnator Steve Sarkisian on how the offense changed:
``The emergence of Joe [McKnight] playing in the running back position was new. You have to remember he was very limited at the running back position. He did not play it in high school as much as people think.''

Here's USC offensive tackle Drew Radovich discussing how last year's criticism of former tackle Kyle Williams after the UCLA game still bothers the Trojans.
http://www.dailynews.com/usc/ci_7840022

Here's the kickoff of the 1963 Rose Bowl between No. 1-ranked USC and No. 2-ranked Wisconsin. This is considered one of the greatest bowl games ever, as USC takes a 42-14 lead before Wisconsin QB Ron VanderKelen leads the Badgers to 23 points in the final quarter and throws for 401 yards before the Trojans hold on 42-37.
``We're still No. 1 and they're still No. 2," USC coach John McKay says. "They're a good team, but they'd finish about sixth in our league.''

Here's a chance to ask some more questions before the New Year.

USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian on Illinois' defense.
``They are very well coached. The funny thing is when you look at a defense is that you can see if
a defense wants to do a lot of things. Some defenses don’t do a lot of things. But the first thing we
can tell after looking at a game is if the guys are really well coached or if they’re out there just
trying to survive.
``These guys are well coached. They play well together and they understand their
scheme very well.''

Wide receiver Patrick Turner (bruised thigh) returned for a portion of practice but did not seem to impress Carroll.
``He ran around a little bit. Not anything to make a dent,’’ Carroll said. ``I know he really wants to play in the game.’’

Here's USC coach Pete Carroll on UCLA hiring Rick Neuheisel.
``We were waiting for the smoke to come out of the Vatican and it finally did,'' Carroll said. ``I think it's a terrific choice. His experience in the NFL is beneficial. They got a really good choice. He's always been a really good recruiter. He'll do a great job.''

The Rose Bowl deserves a big F for not adding one new activity to the itinerary for USC this week. Three straight trips to Disneyland. Three straight trips to Lawry's. Three straight trips to the Improv.
Well, they did change one thing. In the past the players went to a Laker game instead of a USC-UC Riverside game.
All of this would be overlooked, but the grumbling within the team's increased since Christmas. Even the Sun Bowl puts in more effort at keeping a team happy.

Illinois tailback Rashard Mendenhall said the Illini will be able to bother USC with their spread offense, much like Oregon.
``We watched that tape and other film of USC versus the spread offenses to try to simulate our offense against USC and (the Trojans) definitely seemed to have some problems against Oregon and their spread offense. We present some of the same things and we feel very confident of our ability to duplicate the same kind of success that (the Ducks) had.''

Defensive end Lawrence Jackson said thought he would turn pro last season.
``At one point at the end last year I was gone. I thought that I was ready to embrace the challenge
of the next level but I stepped back and looked in my heart and saw some things that I was second guessing.
``I felt like if we got most of our core group of guys back that we could be a great team and it was a great decision to come back. It allowed me to grow as a man and a player as well as see different perspective of things.

Here's Sedrick Ellis' take: “I don’t think we’re settling for the Rose Bowl at all. Our goal during my entire career has always been to get to the Rose Bowl. We can’t control things like how polls rank us and where the BCS
puts us during the bowl season.''

USC cornerback Terrell Thomas plays his final game in the Rose Bowl, but he completed another milestone last week, when he officially earned his bachelor’s degree.
Thomas laughed that athletic director Mike Garrett frequently lectured his class about academics following a rough early start.
``It wasn’t looking too good for us. Mike Garrett said we were the most athletic class but also said you suck in school,’’ Thomas said. ``We were knuckleheads. But we turned out to be the best class. Jody (Adewale) is getting his masters. Lawrence (Jackson) is getting his degree. Sedrick (Ellis) too.

USC football coach Jess Hill celebrates with players Al Carmichael (left) and Rudy Bukich (right) after the 1953 Rose Bowl. Carmichael and Bukich connected for the only touchdown of the game as USC defeated Wisconsin 7-0.

Pete Carroll and Ron Zook usually tussle in recruiting, not the Rose Bowl.
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_7833917

Here's the final installment of today's answers, brought to you by the movie, ``200.'' No, it's not based on Greek history but instead revolves around the number of listeners to TrojanTV shows.

Freshman wide receivers Ronald Johnson and David Ausberry will share the wide receiver position if Patrick Turner is unable to play.

USC coach Pete Carroll said every player would be eligible for the Rose Bowl.
That does not mean there are no academic issues. Because the spring semester starts a week later than normal (Jan. 14), grades will not be processed until after the Rose Bowl.

Rose Bowl practices are not that compelling, but at least there was some good gossip swirling around Howard Jones Field that UCLA's chancellor will not hire Rick Neuheisel as the next coach because of his controversial past.

Wide receiver Patrick Turner did not practice today because his thigh bruise remains an issue.
``He's not looking good,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``He's got to get in the game plans.''
Turner said he should practice tomorrow.
``I'll be cool,'' Turner said.

Here's the second installment of answers, which reminds me, the USC football team will only stay at the UC Riverside basketball for one half. So maybe that's the half-lamest bowl activity.

USC cornerback Terrell Thomas on facing another running quarterback.
``It’s been our kryptonite in our defense, those running quarterbacks. We won some but we lost some obviously. Everyone just has to do their job, that’s the hardest thing. You can’t really do too much, just do your job.''

Here's defensive end Lawrence Jackson on playing a new opponent in the Rose Bowl.
``It doesn’t matter because at the end of the day you’re just going to remember the color of the jersey that the other team was wearing.There really isn’t anything cool about facing a new team.''

Here's USC defensive coordinator Nick Holt on the Illini offense.
``It’s a different offense than we’ve seen. There are a lot of receivers, a lot of spread stuff. You have got defend the whole width of the field and the vertical passing game but at the same token you’ve got to prepare for all the runs and the option so it’s almost like you’re playing against 12 guys because the quarterback is like another running back.
And on top of that they are no huddle.''

Here's the first installment of answers. Guess how many answers involve Mitch Mustain.

USC defensive end Kyle Moore politely declined Ron Zook's offer to come to Illinois.
http://www.dailynews.com/usc/ci_7825510

USC tailback Marc Tyler spent last weekend with his close friend and former high school teammate, Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen.
``His take is they had a lot of young guys playing at the end of the year, so they will be better,'' Tyler said.
And what was Tyler's take?
``Knowing him, it was hard for him. He's used to winning and not getting hit that hard. He only got hit twice that I can remember in high school.''

Former USC quarterback Pat Haden and former UCLA coach Terry Donahue will balance out the TV booth as analysts for the Fiesta Bowl. But it's not quite perfect balance, because the play-by-play man is USC graduate Matt Vasgersian.