A look ahead
09-15-2007 3:47 pm
It’s time to board the busses for the 51-mile, police-escorted trip to Lincoln. The Trojans’ arrival at Memorial Stadium is set for 5:30 p.m., and players will begin to take the field for warmups shortly thereafter.
The team will wrap up its pre-game warmups at 6:53 and will then retreat to the visitors’ locker room. The players will re-enter the field slightly after 7:10 p.m. before kickoff at 7:13 p.m.
Immediately following the game, the Trojans have a return charter flight back to LAX, leaving from nearby Lincoln Municipal Airport, with touchdown in L.A. roughly estimated for 1:15 a.m. Pacific time.
Because of the quick turnaround between the game and boarding the team plane, the soonest we’ll most likely be able to blog will be back in L.A. We’ll have a bursting-at-the-seams report from the game once we get internet connection back in Southern California.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands
09-15-2007 3:42 pm
After about an hour to eat, relax and pack up, the Trojans’ offense and defense are now congregating for their respective clap sessions, which are the final mental reps for both sides before boarding the busses at 3:55 p.m. for the Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium.
During these revered clap sessions, the mood is serious and the only sounds audible are noises coming from the players clapping and the coaches yelling instructions.
A surprise birthday present
09-15-2007 2:59 pm
Coach Carroll is a huge fan of “24,” the hit drama-action show on Fox, so it made sense to get him something special from the show for his 56th birthday today.
How about the show’s star himself, Kiefer Sutherland?
As a surprise birthday present, Carroll was shown a short clip of Sutherland wishing the coach a happy birthday and the best of luck in tonight’s game.
Carroll was thankful and nearly speechless after seeing the clip and receiving a special “24” action figure sent from Sutherland.
“Wow, guys, that’s awesome,” Carroll told the coaches after watching the clip.
Carroll’s executive assistant, Morgon Fraser, spent months trying to coordinate with Sutherland’s management company, Management 360, to have a USC film crew go to his studio to film the birthday well wishes from Sutherland, who’s a big USC fan.
And the work paid off when Carroll saw the minute-long clip Saturday afternoon during the coach’s staff meeting.
“It took five months to make it happen, but it was so worth it,” Fraser said. “I’m so glad we could give Coach something memorable and special on his birthday.”
Street ball
09-15-2007 2:54 pm
The final touches to the Trojans’ preparation are nearing completion, as the team just concluded its special teams meeting and walk-thrus, which were held in the hotel parking lot.
Now, the team will eat its pre-game meal in total silence before coming together one last time at 3:45 for clap sessions. The busses leave at 3:55 p.m.
The team makes do with the circumstances and holds its pre-game walk-thru in the hotel parking lot under cloudy skies in Omaha.
The offense, led by quarterback John David Booty (middle), has its walk-thru in the parking lot outside the team hotel.
The defense conducts its walk-thru in the hotel parking lot as well, with defensive coordinator Nick Holt (middle) running the scout-team quarterback.
Time for business
09-15-2007 1:54 pm
The coaching staff is coming together now for a short meeting before the team assembles for a special teams meeting at 2:15, which is followed by walk-thrus for the offense and defense. The pregame meal is set for 2:45 p.m. and the Trojans have a quick turnaround before clap session at 3:45 and boarding the busses at 3:55 p.m.
It’s almost time.
Becoming experts of waiting around
09-15-2007 12:59 pm
To put it bluntly, the day of a night game can be boring.
Players sit around and watch football and movies on the TVs in their hotel rooms. Besides breakfast and short position meetings in the morning, the team doesn’t convene until a 2:15 special teams meeting.
One change, though, has added a little variation to this day. The time difference between Pacific and Central time zones bumps the football games back two hours, so the team doesn’t get to see as many games.
When the team is in its home time zone, the players will wake up and games will already be underway. But in Nebraska, the Trojans awoke and the first game of the day hadn’t even started yet.
The only show in town?
09-15-2007 12:53 pm
A hotel worker naively asked linebacker Thomas Williams in the dining room last night, “Are you guys good or something?”
Williams, bowled over by the question and the fact the worker didn’t know about the Trojans, humbly replied, “Yeah, we’re pretty good. Are you not a football fan?”
“Nah, I got kids to worry about,” the worker said. “What’re you ranked anyway?”
“We’re No. 1,” Williams answered.
A refreshing reminder that bigger things exist besides football, even on the weekend of one of the biggest games of the year.
Birthday boy
09-15-2007 9:56 am
Today is a special day, and not just because USC’s playing in a big game tonight.
Today also marks Coach Pete Carroll’s 56th birthday. He’s hoping there will be a birthday party at Memorial Stadium tonight.
The day has arrived
09-15-2007 9:48 am
Game day has emerged from a long night of sleep — restless sleep, for some — and players will begin to trickle in to breakfast before short position meetings at 11 a.m.
Night games give the Trojans lots of free time, as the team doesn’t meet until 2:15 p.m. So players will sit around their hotel rooms watching football games and movies most of the day today, waiting, waiting, waiting until activity gets started this afternoon.
Goodnight
09-14-2007 10:15 pm
With the chapel and mass sessions complete, the lobby area, dining room and training room have cleared of players and coaches, as the team prepares for bed check at 10:30. Friday has come to a close, and Saturday starts off with position meetings at 11 a.m.
When the Trojans wake up in the morning, it’ll be game day.
Coming to a close
09-14-2007 9:01 pm
The Trojans’ football business has come to an end after a busy Friday. The team just completed all of its night-before-a-game meetings, with 30 minutes of special teams, 30 minutes of offense/defense and about 20 minutes of a rousing speech by Coach Carroll.
Now, the players have a snack (also known as a full buffet dinner) and the option of attending a short mass or chapel service.
Bed check’s in about 90 minutes, at 10:30 p.m. Game time is getting closer, and the butterflies have officially arrived.
Meeting time
09-14-2007 7:29 pm
The Trojans are now gathering for their Friday night meetings, starting with special teams and then breaking up into offense/defense and position groups meetings.
An inspiration to many
09-14-2007 7:27 pm
Ryan Davidson, an 11-year-old boy who was stricken with cancer but became an inspiration to the Trojans in 2004, is hanging out at the team hotel tonight to spend time with his old friends. Davidson, now a teenager, traveled with his father from their home in Wisconsin to see the Trojans tomorrow night.
Defensive end Lawrence Jackson (top photo) shakes Ryan Davidson’s hand at the team hotel Friday night. Offensive tackle Sam Baker (bottom photo) is also glad to see Davidson.
On the tube
09-14-2007 6:53 pm
ABC 7 will be doing an in-depth feature on Ben Malcolmson (apologies for the third-person language) and USCRipsIt.com during Saturday night’s "SportsZone," its post-game coverage following the USC-Nebraska game on the same station.
The segment should air between 8 and 9 p.m., depending on when the game ends. Check it out or set your DVRs.
Ready to go
09-14-2007 6:37 pm
John David Booty’s jersey rests immaculately in his locker ready for Saturday night’s game:
Pep talk
09-14-2007 6:35 pm
After the fun and games of the hour-long walk-thru, Coach Carroll gathered his team at the 50-yardline and gave a short speech before calling head strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle to come to the middle of the huddle.
Carlisle then gave a highly motivational five-minute speech to the Trojans that referred back to ancient battles in the Roman Empire.
Game Day is almost here. The energy, the passion, the excitement is palpable.
Entering enemy territory
09-14-2007 6:34 pm
It doesn’t look too daunting without any people in it, but Memorial Stadium’s stands and press box hover tightly and high above the field:
An easy-going approach
09-14-2007 6:27 pm
Learn what the players did while on the field at the walk-thru at Memorial Stadium on Friday afternoon in the newest feature from USCRipsIt.com.
Media watch
09-14-2007 6:17 pm
ESPN’s College GameDay will air from Lincoln on Saturday, so co-host Kirk Herbstreit mingled among the Trojans, including Coach Carroll, during the walk-thru at Memorial Stadium:
Also, ESPN’s Lisa Salters reported from the field after the walk-thru:
And finally, workers moved the GameDay stage to store it for the night:
Going through a maze
09-14-2007 6:14 pm
Once the Trojans leave their locker room in the bowels of Memorial Stadium, there’s a windy, narrow, 100-yard hallway out to the field. Though it’s about the same distance as the Coliseum, it feels much longer because the players have to weave singe-file through a small passageway before getting to the field.
This is what the team will see after emerging from the long hallway from the locker room Saturday night.
Looking sharp
09-14-2007 6:13 pm
The visitor’s locker room at the stadium was already set up by the equipment staff when the team arrived around 4:45 p.m. The players’ white away jerseys were put over their pads and rested pristinely in their lockers. Even the Trojans’ trademark “I’M IN” sign was hung over the doorway out of the locker room.
Offensive line coach Pat Ruel stands under the “I’M IN” sign over the doorway out of the Trojans’ locker room.
Scenic drive
09-14-2007 6:12 pm
The hour-long bus ride from Omaha to Lincoln passed through cornfields and, well, nothing else before coming to the final destination, Memorial Stadium. More than 24 hours before kickoff, fans were already standing on street corners trying to buy and sell tickets to Saturday’s game.
When the Trojans pulled up to the south end of the stadium, a small congregation of Trojan fans was waiting and cheered their arrival:
Guess who’s back?
09-14-2007 6:11 pm
The Trojans just returned from their voyage to Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium. They’re now enjoying pizza dinner before meetings convene at 7:30 p.m. Game preparation mode has hit full gear.
Off to Lincoln
09-14-2007 2:38 pm
It’s time to board the busses and depart for Lincoln, where the Trojans will have an informal walk-thru at Memorial Stadium that will serve as a time during which the team can get acquainted with the stadium. We’ll return in a few hours with a full report.
Hot off the presses!
09-14-2007 2:36 pm
Be sure to get the full story on Friday’s peculiar walk-thru in the newest article and photo collection from USCRipsIt.com.
Back from the walk-thru
09-14-2007 1:53 pm
The team has returned from the walk-thru, and the full, rather interesting story will be posted soon. Players now have one hour to eat lunch before departing for Lincoln, where they’ll get to have an informal walk-thru at Memorial Stadium.
Heading back to high school
09-14-2007 12:11 pm
The Trojans have just completed their morning meetings and are now about to leave the hotel for a nearby high school, where they will conduct their normal Friday walk-thru. The itinerary then has the team returning to the hotel around 1:30 p.m. to have a catered lunch by a local barbeque restaurant.
Doesn't matter weather or not they like it
09-14-2007 12:09 pm
In case you were wondering, Omaha is nothing like L.A. Especially the weather.
Last night, the temperature was in the mid-40s, and today, it’s only in the 50s. Add to it the overcast cloud cover, and you start to miss the L.A. weather.
The forecast calls for possible rain tomorrow night in Lincoln with temperatures in the 50s at game time, so the Trojans might have to brace themselves for some foreign weather.
Time to get going
09-14-2007 10:45 am
The first official activity of the day is about to kick off with a special teams meeting in a hotel ballroom. From there, it’s nonstop action for the Trojans, as they’ll head to a walk-thru, travel about an hour to Lincoln to have another walk-thru at Memorial Stadium, and then return to their Omaha hotel around 6 p.m.
Setting up shop
09-14-2007 9:58 am
The equipment staff has set up a mock locker room in one of the hotel ballrooms so that players can easily find their practice gear for today’s walk-thru. Shorts, t-shirts, socks and cleats are all waiting for the Trojans to pick up before the midday walk-thru.
The full-time staffers and the volunteer student managers organized the room last night until almost 2 a.m., but the results prove that the work is worth it.
The Trojans have a mock locker room at the hotel, where each player’s locker consists of a chair containing all his practice gear.
John David Booty’s locker has all the necessities for today’s walk-thru: shorts, a t-shirt, socks and his cleats.
Wake-up call
09-14-2007 9:54 am
Players are waking up to a hearty breakfast buffet this morning, but many are still asleep because the two-hour time difference still hasn’t set in. Or maybe they just want to sleep in.
Following breakfast, players have their normal Friday special teams and team meetings starting at 10:45 a.m. The Trojans then depart the hotel at 12:15 p.m. for a nearby high school to have their usual Friday walk-thru.
Excelling on and off the field
09-14-2007 1:17 am
We’re a little late on this link, but it’s definitely worth a read. This interesting column from the OC Register is about Jeff Byers and his post-graduate studies. Thanks to reader Susan Yamada for the heads up.
What's ahead in Omaha
09-14-2007 1:08 am
Bed check was at 12:30 a.m., and players don’t have to wake up until 10 a.m. Friday morning. A special teams meeting is set for 10:45 a.m., and the Trojans will practice at a local high school at 12:30 p.m.
Eating like kings
09-14-2007 1:04 am
There can’t be too many people in the world who eat as much or as well as the Trojans.
Before boarding the buses for LAX, players could pick up boxed dinners, which had sandwiches, chicken fingers, mashed potatoes and cookies.
Then, on the flight to Omaha, flight attendants served full dinners, with the choice of chicken or steak, salad, bread, macaroni and cheese, and apple pie.
And finally, less than five hours after their first dinner, the Trojans arrived to the hotel in Omaha to the sight of a full buffet, complete with meats, pastas, desserts and Gatorades that could seemingly feed hundreds.
And that was just Day 1 of the roadtrip. Two days remain on this feeding parade.
The best never rest
09-14-2007 12:52 am
Immediately after getting off the flight in Omaha, the six student managers who made the trip went right to work unloading the plane and putting all the equipment on rented trucks.
On the ground in Omaha
09-14-2007 12:51 am
11:00 p.m. (central) • The Trojans’ plane touches down at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield, which is ironically named after legendary former Nebraska strength coach Boyd Eppley. The Trojans then boarded buses that were waiting on the tarmac and were escorted by Omaha police to their hotel.
11:47 p.m. (central) • An uneventful trip has reached its conclusion, as the team arrives at its Omaha hotel, where the employees have donned USC clothing. A full buffet dinner is waiting, along with autograph-seekers and an L.A. newspaper beat writer.
In the air
09-14-2007 12:41 am
Here’s a look at USC’s travels in the air over America:
6:09 p.m. (pacific) • The plane pushes back from the gate, and many players have already fallen asleep. Then there are other players, like snapper Will Collins, who can’t get enough of the spotlight:
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot came over the intercom and called the flight, “The Trojan Express.”
A bevy of flight attendants distributed warm towels to the travelers before dinner while “Ocean’s 13” played on the plane’s projection screens.
Leaving town
09-14-2007 12:39 am
Here’s a time-lapse glimpse at the Trojans’ travels in L.A.:
5:10 p.m. (pacific) • The team leaves campus on three buses, escorted by several police motorcycles.
5:40 p.m. (pacific) • The Trojans arrive at LAX’s terminal 5 for their Delta Airlines charter flight.
5:53 p.m. (pacific) • Even though they’re traveling by charter, the players and support staff still have to go through airport security.
6:01 p.m. (pacific) • Tailback Desmond Reed boards the plane for Omaha as one of the last to get on the Boeing 767, which is nearly filled to capacity with players, coaches, support staff, athletic administrators and athletic department supporters.
Take notice of the time change
09-14-2007 12:15 am
Please note that we’ll be posting on the blog from Nebraska local time (central time), so adjust your clocks accordingly while reading the blog during the next few days.
Greetings from Omaha
09-14-2007 12:14 am
The Trojans have flown halfway across the country, landed safely, arrived at the team hotel and are heading to their rooms before bed check at 12:30 a.m. local time.
The full travel report will be coming over the blog shortly.
Check out the newest piece from USCRipsIt.com
09-13-2007 4:57 pm
Make sure you see “Picking the Peaches,” the newest photo essay and article from USCRipsIt.com.
Ready to roll
09-13-2007 4:08 pm
In his ritualistic post-practice press conference with reporters, Coach Carroll finished off the 10-minute session by saying, “Let’s go to Nebraska,” before walking back to his office.
It’s almost time to depart. Feel the anticipation.
Don't start what you can't finish
09-13-2007 4:05 pm
Talk about finishing.
Running back Chauncey Washington ran all the way to the end zone after every play he rushed the ball, sometimes sprinting an extra 70 yards after the play was whistled dead.
Giving thanks
09-13-2007 4:04 pm
The defensive first- and second-stringers, as is tradition, showed their appreciation for the offensive scout team players in the post-service team huddle, shaking hands and giving high-fives to the unheralded players in the black shirts who challenge the defense every day to prepare them for the upcoming opponent.
Dispatch from Howard Jones
09-13-2007 4:03 pm
Thoughts from Thursday’s practice, through the eyes of USCRipsIt.com…
- It was a normal Thursday practice in nearly all regards, with players in half pads, kickoff return and punt return emphasized during special teams periods, and a short team period (eight plays) to end the day. Carroll praised his players, especially the service team players who won’t travel, in the team huddle following the practice.
- Freshman receiver Ronald Johnson caught a long pass down the middle of the field for the second straight day, again showing his speed and pass-catching skills.
- The Trojans practiced about two hours earlier than normal on a toasty afternoon, completing the day’s work in about 70 minutes before showering and boarding buses for LAX.
One last time before hitting the road
09-13-2007 2:17 pm
It’s time to head out to the field for a relatively normal Thursday practice, where the only difference is that it’s two hours earlier than a usual Thursday.
Oh, and there’s that other variation: the team is heading to Nebraska shortly after it’s over. The excitement is building for the season’s first roadtrip.
Inching closer to departure
09-13-2007 12:50 pm
With the special teams meeting just about to finish up, the Trojans are starting to gather for a team meeting. Following that, the team will split up into position meetings before a half-pads practice at 2:15 p.m.
The trip to Nebraska is oh-so-close.
National publicity
09-13-2007 12:48 pm
Pete Carroll and USCRipsIt.com made it onto SI.com’s Pop Culture Power Rankings this week. Check it out!
New player profile is up!
09-13-2007 11:54 am
A new player profile — this one’s on fullback Jody Adewale — has been posted. Take a look!
Birthday bash
09-13-2007 11:32 am
It’s time to celebrate.
With Coach Carroll’s birthday two days away and the team going on the road this evening, the USC football office is now the host a birthday party of sorts. It’s a dessert haven, with a birthday cake, cookies, brownies and several other treats specially prepared for today’s shindig to celebrate Carroll’s 56th birthday Saturday.
Joyce Hirayama, administrative assistant to football coaches, and Morgon Fraser, executive assistant to Coach Carroll, organized the mini birthday party, with Hirayama supplying many of the desserts, including a strawberry-and-vanilla cake.
For a good read...
09-13-2007 11:20 am
Here’s a fantastic column about Coach Carroll from the Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy, who was out at practice earlier this week.
All eyes will be watching
09-13-2007 10:31 am
Here’s a sneak peak at the full-page ad that ESPN/ABC is running in Friday’s USA Today. The national spotlight has been turned on full blast for Saturday night’s game.
Livin' on
09-13-2007 10:01 am
Mario Danelo will be honored in his hometown of San Pedro with an induction into the “Sportswalk to the Waterfront,” the city’s answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Danelo, along with his father Joe, will have a joint plaque added to the Sportswalk during a ceremony on Oct. 8 at 10 a.m., becoming the first father-son duo to be given the honor.
Going to work
09-13-2007 9:04 am
Coaches are making adjustments to the game plan and Saturday’s call sheet. It feels just like a normal Thursday before a game, until you realize that by the end of the day, the team will be in Nebraska.
Team meetings start at 12:30 this afternoon and practice is at 2:15. The half-pads practice will be relatively short, and the Trojans board buses for LAX at 5 p.m. The charter flight leaves at 6 p.m. for Omaha.
Stay with USCRipsIt.com throughout the roadtrip for up-to-date, behind-the-scenes information on the Trojans as they prepare for Saturday's game.
Make some noise
09-12-2007 6:13 pm
To prepare for what many are saying will be the loudest stadium the Trojans have played at in recent memory, recorded noise was again brought in for Wednesday’s practice. Each of the four speakers produces ear-numbing sound that reaches upwards of 130 decibels, or roughly the equivalent of a jet engine.
Coach Carroll, the gun-slinger
09-12-2007 6:11 pm
Coach Carroll, as is tradition, ran quarterback during the service team 7-on-7 drill, which emphasizes pass defense for the first-string defensive backs and linebackers. He even threw a perfectly placed 30-yard bomb to receiver Scott Stephens for a touchdown along the left sideline.
Then, after practice, Carroll and linebacker Thomas Williams got into a highly entertaining long-ball competition, seeing who could throw the farthest. Williams, who played baseball and dabbled at quarterback in high school, won hands down, tossing a pretty spiral more than 65 yards in the air while Carroll’s longest pass went about 55 yards.
Dispatch from Howard Jones
09-12-2007 6:09 pm
Thoughts from Wednesday’s practice, through the eyes of USCRipsIt.com…
- Turnover Wednesday wound up as No Turnover Wednesday, as the offense did not have a giveaway during the 90-minute practice.
- Wideout Patrick Turner continued to look sharper and sharper, connecting with both John David Booty and Mark Sanchez on long completions throughout the day.
- The defense was overwhelmingly smothering during the 9-on-7 period, a run-heavy drill. The offense, with its rotation of tailbacks, could hardly move the ball against the suffocating defense.
- The kickers, punters and snappers again practiced on the FieldTurf of Cromwell Field for about 30 minutes during practice, and a portable goalpost was even set up by the equipment managers, all in preparation for the same surface at Memorial Stadium.
- American war hero and Trojan legend Louis Zamperini attended the practice.
- A Cleveland Browns scout was on the sideline at practice.
Practice makes perfect
09-12-2007 3:58 pm
Practice is about to get started, and today is known as Turnover Wednesday because of the emphasis on turnovers. Or, for the offense, it’s supposed to be known as No Turnover Wednesday. We’ll return in a few hours with the verdict on the title for today’s practice.
He keeps going and going and going...
09-12-2007 3:28 pm
Coach Carroll just left his office, and he’ll make a 15-minute pit stop in the Heritage Hall weight room to get his brief daily workout in before practice begins.
In the last hour alone, he's prepared for the practice, conducted a team meeting, made phone calls, and now worked out.
Special guest
09-12-2007 3:07 pm
American war hero, Olympic runner and Trojan legend Louis Zamperini is scheduled to attend today’s practice. Zamperini and Coach Carroll have become friends through the years.
For a good read (part 2)...
09-12-2007 2:58 pm
Here’s a great article on fullback Stanley Havili from his hometown paper, the Salt Lake Tribune.
Turnover Wednesday
09-12-2007 2:19 pm
It’s time for afternoon meetings, with the kickoff team up first, followed by a team meeting. Turnover Wednesday is about to get rolling.
This week's offensive playbook cover
09-12-2007 1:17 pm
Here’s this week’s offensive playbook cover, again focusing on the season’s theme, “Do You Love It?” while interposed over Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium. Enjoy this special piece of Trojan football.
Behind the scenes, all the way back to June
09-12-2007 12:18 pm
A majority of the legwork for the Trojans’ trip to Nebraska this weekend was done a while back.
As in, three months ago.
In early June, director of football operations Dennis Slutak and director of player personnel Jared Blank flew out to the Cornhusker State to figure out all the details for this weekend’s trip.
The unheralded yet indispensable operations duo spent several days finalizing the hotel situation, travel arrangements and what game day will look like so that the Trojans will be fully prepared for their first journey to Nebraska since 1969.
A wanted man
09-12-2007 11:59 am
Coach Carroll is currently doing a phone interview with radio host Petros Papadakis that will air during his show this afternoon on AM 570. Then in a few minutes, Carroll's set to do another phone interview with Desmond Howard, a Heisman Trophy winner from Michigan who’s now doing work for ESPN’s College GameDay show on Saturday morning.
Want a laugh?
09-12-2007 11:31 am
Here’s a funny 55-second clip from today’s Colin Cowherd Show on ESPN radio.
You can live USC football
09-12-2007 11:07 am
USCRipsIt.com will have never-before-seen inside access throughout the Trojans’ roadtrip this weekend. Make sure you’re on USCRipsIt.com during the roadtrip so that you can live USC football.
It's never too early
09-12-2007 10:52 am
The team charter plane leaves tomorrow evening for Nebraska, but equipment manager Dino Dennis is getting a head start.
Dennis, along with USC bookstore truck driver Luis Aguilar, left this morning for Omaha to begin the set-up process in preparation for the Trojan's arrival tomorrow night around 11 p.m. central time. Though all the equipment will travel with the team on the charter plane, Dennis will rent trucks and begin setting up the hotel today and tomorrow so the foundation will be laid for when the Trojans come.
Dennis flies all day today, with a layover in Phoenix, and has clean-up work to do following Saturday’s game, meaning he won’t return to Los Angeles until midday Sunday.
Leaving early isn’t unusual for Dennis, though. For the closer road games (conference opponents, for example), Dennis will drive the USC equipment truck to the destination a day before the team leaves L.A.
Clock's ticking
09-12-2007 9:45 am
Following the morning staff meeting, the offensive and defensive coaches have now split up into their respective meeting rooms. To combat the chilly air conditioning in the USC football office this morning, Coach Carroll has put on a bright orange sweatshirt from his alma mater, Pacific.
Time is especially precious for these masterminds, as they have about 24 more hours before they leave the friendly confines of their offices for hotel-ballrooms-turned-meeting-rooms on the road.
New video is up!
09-12-2007 8:58 am
There’s a new edition of “Carroll Unplugged” up on USCRipsIt.com right now. In this candid interview, Coach Carroll talks about what he enjoys about playing the challenging early-season non-conference road games as the Trojans go into Lincoln, Neb., to play the Huskers on Saturday.
For a good read...
09-12-2007 8:49 am
Bill Plashke has an excellent column in today’s LA Times about Mario Danelo’s lasting legacy and the impactful life he lived.
Already started
09-12-2007 8:48 am
Coaches are currently in their morning staff meeting on the last full day the Trojans are on campus before their flight out of L.A. tomorrow evening. Turnover Wednesday has begun.
Fierce competition
09-11-2007 6:56 pm
While the skill players of the offense and defense razzle and dazzle on the main practice field during 7-on-7 period, the offensive and defensive linemen seemingly forgotten from that drill are making the most of their circumstances.
In perhaps the fiercest competition of the day, the offensive and defensive linemen are engaged in combat rarely seen on the practice field — and it’s not just because everyone else is watching the 7-on-7 drills. The players go after each other in 1-on-1 drills like it’s a real game, with every battle as competitive as could be.
Besides the ferocious clashes between players, defensive coordinator Nick Holt, defensive line coach Dave Watson and offensive line coach Pat Ruel also give great technique lessons and capitalize on every drill with individual tutorials for the linemen.
Offensive guard Alatini Malu goes up against defensive tackle Derek Simmons during 1-on-1 competitions between the opposing linemen.
Pinkard out
09-11-2007 6:47 pm
Safety Josh Pinkard has a torn ligament in his right knee, which requires season-ending surgery to repair it. It marks the second straight season Pinkard has missed after his knee injury in the first game of 2006.
Guest of honor
09-11-2007 6:42 pm
Royce Gracie, a famous mixed martial arts fighter, attended practice and spent some time with Coach Carroll following the session. Gracie, whose first name is pronounced Hoyce, has won several Ultimate Fighting Championship crowns and has become a renowned MMA fighter and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.
Renowned Mixed Martial Arts fighter Royce Gracie (in white shirt on the left) chatted with Coach Carroll following Tuesday’s practice.
Putting in the extra work
09-11-2007 6:37 pm
The third-stringers had a mini 7-on-7 drill after practice to allow them to get extra work in. Mitch Mustain and Aaron Corp were the quarterbacks, while wide receivers, tight ends, linebackers and defensive backs all got some extra snaps in.
Tight ends coach Brennan Carroll even lined up for one play at his former position, snagging a reception on a drag route over the middle.
Playful changes
09-11-2007 6:31 pm
Michael McDonald is making a pitch for a position change.
Well, not really.
While the kickers, punters and snappers worked on a side field during a lull for the special teams in Tuesday’s practice, McDonald, a backup quarterback and the holder for field goals, took some tries at kicker.
McDonald playfully switched roles with kicker David Buehler, who became McDonald’s holder. McDonald’s field goal attempts, unfortunately, showed he’s a much better quarterback and holder than kicker.
Dispatch from Howard Jones
09-11-2007 6:26 pm
Thoughts from Tuesday’s practice, through the eyes of USCRipsIt.com…
- Wide receiver Travon Patterson had a streaking reception over the middle and a speedy run after the catch on a perfectly thrown ball from quarterback Mark Sanchez on the last play of Competition Tuesday.
- Tailback Chauncey Washington came back and took the first play of service period for a long run. Wideout Patrick Turner practiced for the second day in a row with a yellow jersey on.
- Wide receiver Vidal Hazelton had a spectacular one-handed catch against heavy coverage during 1-on-1 drills.
- Mitch Mustain is running the scout team quarterback this season, and this week, he’s wearing a No. 9 black jersey to mimic Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller. Mustain has been making some phenomenal throws during the service team period.
- A Miami Dolphins scout attended practice.
Practice is calling
09-11-2007 4:00 pm
It’s time to head out to the field for Competition Tuesday and today’s a full pads day. We’ll return in a few hours with a full report.
Trojan alumni in the NFL's opening weekend
09-11-2007 3:54 pm
Wonder how the Trojan alumni did during the NFL’s opening weekend? Find out in this article from new USCRipsIt.com staff writer Mike Corsini.
Competition Tuesday is ready to rock
09-11-2007 2:31 pm
The Trojans are in the middle of the special teams meeting, with the team meeting slated to start around 2:45. Players are in full pads for this afternoon’s 4 p.m. practice.
Competition Tuesday, it’s your time to shine.
Strong ties to Nebraska
09-11-2007 1:28 pm
Five Trojan coaches, along with two strength coaches, have some surprising connections to Nebraska. Read about it in the newest article from USCRipsIt.com.
Watching the game
09-11-2007 12:52 pm
During Coach Carroll’s press conference, he talked extensively about last Saturday’s Nebraska-Wake Forest game, which the Huskers won, 20-17. Carroll mentioned that the game benefited the Trojans’ scouting of Nebraska because it was “very hotly contested.”
“Wake really had a legitimate chance to win that game but the Nebraska defense really stepped up and held them,” Carroll said. “We learned a lot from that game. It was a good game for us to evaluate.”
Stand-up comedian
09-11-2007 12:39 pm
Coach Carroll’s weekly press conference just ended in the Varsity Lounge, and the shorter-than-normal presser only went about 20 minutes with no ground-breaking news to speak of.
Carroll did have some laughable quotes, though. Asked who he likes in the Notre Dame-Michigan game this Saturday, he said with a grin, “I like that game.”
Then when asked about the Trojans’ decrease in first-place votes in the most recent AP poll, he didn’t know what that meant. “Where do those points come from?” he asked the reporter before the room went into a discussion about how the AP voting process works so Carroll could better understand.
Meet the press
09-11-2007 11:53 am
It’s about that time for Coach Carroll to head down for his weekly press conference with L.A. reporters in the Varsity Lounge. You can see a live stream of it on USCTrojans.com, and we’ll return after with some quotes.
How's he going to celebrate?
09-11-2007 11:51 am
Saturday marks Coach Carroll’s 56th birthday.
Starting off
09-11-2007 9:29 am
Coaches are in their offensive and defensive staff meetings right now as the day is already well underway. Today is also media day, so Coach Carroll has conference calls with Pac-10 reporters and Nebraska reporters, followed by a press conference with Los Angeles reporters at noon.
It’s Competition Tuesday at USC, meaning game day is getting closer.
From coaches to fans
09-10-2007 6:50 pm
As coaches eat their dinner before meetings get started shortly, many are planted in front of the football office’s lobby TV to watch the Cincinnati Bengals-Baltimore Ravens game, featuring one of their former players, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer.
They prefer the real stuff
09-10-2007 6:43 pm
The Trojans have practiced several times on the FieldTurf of Cromwell Field to prepare them for the same surface at Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium. Before all road games at stadiums with artificial turf, USC has made it a custom to practice at least once on Cromwell Field during game week.
But Coach Carroll isn’t a fan of the fake stuff.
“I just can’t get used to liking it,” Carroll said after the Trojans’ final practice on Cromwell this week. “I just have to get over the thought of it. It’s no problem for us, but I just prefer to practice on [Howard Jones].”
The Trojans will practice the next three days on Howard Jones but will have a walk-thru Friday afternoon at Memorial Stadium to give them their final feel of the FieldTurf before the game.
The Trojans have been practicing on the FieldTurf of Cromwell Field to prepare them for the artificial surface at Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium.
Sharing the spotlight
09-10-2007 6:34 pm
As the Trojans began their late-afternoon practice, the USC men’s basketball team was just finishing a sprint workout on the track surrounding Cromwell Field. Many of the hoopsters said hi to their football player friends, and even freshman basketball player O.J. Mayo went over and shook hands with John David Booty, who was warming up on the sidelines.
Your silly story of the day, brought to you by Home Depot
09-10-2007 6:31 pm
The cherry pickers, or scissor lifts, the video operations staff use to film practices from high above the field have been getting into some sticky situations lately.
You see, when the Trojans practice on Cromwell Field, which is surrounded by the track, the cherry pickers have to rest on the track’s rubber on either end of the football field. But with the late-afternoon sun beating down for two hours during a practice, the cherry pickers’ tires have been melting to the track recently, causing some problems for when the staff has to move them back to Howard Jones practice field.
Worry no more, though, as the behind-the-scenes masterminds of the Trojan football program (namely Jared Blank, director of player personnel) went to Home Depot and bought plywood to rest between the cherry pickers and the rubber.
All involved with USC football (and USC track, for that matter) can now rest easy at night.
Dispatch from Monday's practice
09-10-2007 6:13 pm
Thoughts from Monday’s practice, through the eyes of USCRipsIt.com…
- Receiver Patrick Turner returned full-time to drills, but wore a yellow jersey to signal that he should avoid contact. And during practice, Turner recorded a fantastic one-handed catch on a throw behind him while running a drag route over the middle.
- Running back Chauncey Washington got good work in during team drills Monday. “He ran around a little bit and felt fine,” Coach Carroll said after the practice.
- The ones went against the ones for the last part of the day as the Trojans practiced for the first time since Friday morning and continued to tune up for Saturday’s game. Extensive service team work also filled the docket.
- Wideout Brad Walker did some long snapping work on the sidelines. He will most likely be the emergency long snapper behind Will Collins for Saturday’s game.
Time to go to work
09-10-2007 4:06 pm
It’s time to head out for today’s half-pads practice on the FieldTurf of Cromwell Field. We’ll return in a few hours with a full report.
It's a Monday night party
09-10-2007 3:54 pm
It’ll be an all-USC evening for Monday Night Football tonight. In the first game at 4 p.m., Carson Palmer and the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Baltimore Ravens. Then in the nightcap at 7:15 p.m., Matt Leinart and the Arizona Cardinals face the San Francisco 49ers.
Two of the last three Trojans’ Heismans will be on prominent display tonight. Now you know what the USC coaches will watch when their work is done tonight.
Let's get it started
09-10-2007 2:40 pm
With the special teams meeting just concluded, the Trojans are now about to start their first team meeting of the week. They’ll be on the field at 3:45 p.m. for a half-pads practice slated to start at 4.
A look into the future
09-10-2007 2:35 pm
The Trojans have an eventful week ahead. Here’s a quick look:
- Tuesday: 4 p.m. practice on Howard Jones Field
- Wednesday: 4 p.m. practice on Howard Jones Field
- Thursday: 2:15 p.m. practice on Howard Jones Field; Flight leaves from LAX for Omaha at 6 p.m., arrival scheduled for 11 p.m. local time
- Friday: Trojans practice at a local high school at 12:30 p.m. local time and then have an afternoon walk-thru at Memorial Stadium
- Saturday: Kickoff set for 7:13 p.m. local time
National publicity
09-10-2007 2:29 pm
College GameDay will be broadcast live from Lincoln, Neb., before Saturday’s USC-Nebraska game.
Must-see TV
09-10-2007 2:26 pm
Coach Carroll will be featured on FSN Prime Ticket’s “In My Own Words” show Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. In this 30-minute episode, Carroll sits down with Lindsay Soto and shares how he has developed his philosophy on coaching and personally in life. “In My Own Words: Pete Carroll” will air tomorrow night and five more times in September.
Some notable quotes from the interview:
- On competition: “Competition is to find how much you have inside yourself. It is to realize your potential. Without competition we can’t find who we really are. In that, those that make us compete to the highest level are the most important to us.”
- On multi-tasking: “I find great solace in the spaces between the spaces is the best way to tell ya. Sleeping’s overrated as far as I am concerned.”
- Finding fun in everything: “I really live my life thinking that something good is about to happen…And maybe it is because I’m ADD you know? ADD is a beautiful thing because you never get bored.”
To give yourself a primer for the broadcast, check out the “Carrollosophy” article USCRipsIt.com ran a few weeks ago.
Birthday girl
09-10-2007 2:02 pm
Morgon Fraser, Coach Carroll’s executive assistant, turns 23 today.
Monday Morning Quarterback recap
09-10-2007 1:52 pm
Coach Carroll just returned from Monday Morning Quarterback at the Galen Center, where he went over game film from the Idaho contest and did a Q&A with the audience for a total of about an hour.
He combed through dozens of key plays from the game just like he does during team meetings, while providing extra commentary to highlight certain players and giving insight only a coach could give.
During the Q&A, he answered about a dozen questions from the more than 500 guests, filling his answers with funny one-liners and dense information about the team.
Here are some photos from Monday’s event:
Coach Carroll arrived at the Galen Center and gave a short introduction with analysis from the previous game before diving into the film.
The lights were turned out as Carroll pored over the game film in front of more than 500 guests.
Coach Carroll concluded the event with a Q&A.
Support Coach Carroll
09-10-2007 1:37 pm
Want a way to tangibly support Coach Carroll and his community outreaches?
Well, here's how:
The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award is again up for grabs, and Coach Carroll has an opportunity to win a $50,000 cash award to support his civic and charitable activities, as well as a $20,000 scholarship to be donated to the alumni association of the winning coach's school.
This year's Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year honors will go to one coach in each of the four NCAA divisions. Fans may now log onto coachoftheyear.com to vote for the coach who they think best exemplifies responsibility and excellence on and off the field.
The award process will take place over the course of the entire college football season. The winner in each division will be chosen using a combination of fan votes and votes received from members of the 2007 Coach of the Year Selection Committee. The Selection Committee is comprised of respective members of the College Football Hall of Fame and national media.
Monday Morning Quarterback
09-10-2007 12:07 pm
It’s time for Coach Carroll to take a break from coaches meetings to attend Monday Morning Quarterback, a weekly luncheon during which Carroll breaks down film from the previous week’s game for athletic department supporters at the Galen Center. We’ll return soon with some pictures from the event.
Bonus Monday
09-10-2007 10:46 am
Each day throughout game weeks, Coach Carroll will share his thoughts on the day’s theme. Mondays usually mean it’s “Tell the Truth” day around Trojan football. Today’s a little different, though, because it’s following a bye. Here are his words:
“Today is Bonus Monday, the day after a bye weekend, so we get a little extra practice that isn't normal for us. Usually we have the past Saturday’s game to go back over, but today we just pick up some extra practice time for these guys. The game plan doesn’t officially go in until tomorrow, so it’s a day to focus on how we can improve and get better.”
Going home
09-10-2007 10:31 am
As one of the few Trojans who has a deeply rooted connection to Nebraska, assistant strength coach Bryan Bailey will be making a homecoming of sorts this weekend.
But you couldn’t tell by his low-key demeanor.
“I don’t know why everyone keeps asking me if I’m excited,” said Bailey, who spent 20 years in the Nebraska strength program before coming to USC three years ago. “It’s just a game on the way to our ultimate goal.”
Bailey was a part of the creation of modern strength training at Nebraska, and many of his old colleagues still work there.
“I’d love to beat my best friends bad,” he said smiling.
A sticky situation
09-10-2007 9:46 am
Coach Carroll receives a lot of eclectic gifts from fans. In the last few weeks alone, the mailman has brought cannoli from New Jersey, a red playground ball, and several XXXXXL t-shirts.
A box delivered this morning, though, had perhaps the most creativity of recent gifts. A package of Wrigley’s Big Red gum was sent from a season-ticket holder with a note that read, “Take the Nebraska Big Red, chew them up and spit them out!”
Three Questions for Coach
09-10-2007 8:42 am
The latest installment of “Three Questions for Coach” is up on USCRipsIt.com. This time, Coach Carroll answers a trio of reader questions about special teams and big games.
Back to business
09-10-2007 8:11 am
A weekend away and guess who’s back?
Everyone.
Players are in their morning weight-lifting sessions, coaches are in meetings and it seems like USC football hasn’t been away at all. It’s a short week ahead, as the Trojans leave Thursday for Nebraska.
Team meetings are set for 2:15 today. Welcome back.
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