In the news
09-22-2007 10:49 pm
Here's what the AP write-up says about Saturday night's 47-14 victory.
From one game to the next
09-22-2007 10:40 pm
The Trojans, fresh off a 47-14 win to open conference play, have Sunday off, though coaches will be back at work with meetings throughout the day. After all, the Washington game is less than seven days away.
USCRipsIt.com will return full blast Monday as preparation for the next game gets underway. In the meantime, read the insightful Q&A with athletic director Mike Garrett.
Celebrating the win
09-22-2007 10:35 pm
In the locker room after the game, Coach Carroll called everyone together and highlighted certain key performances Saturday night, identifying Fred Davis, Chauncey Washington and John David Booty, to name a few. The team then bellowed out the fight song loud enough to shake the walls before Carroll commended his players and told them, “Take it one game at a time.”
One game at a time so far in 2007, and the Trojans are sitting at 3-0.
Coach Carroll praises his team in the locker room after the game.
The Trojans, as is tradition, loudly sing the fight song to celebrate the victory.
Where'd he go?
09-22-2007 10:29 pm
Boding well for the offense, USC didn’t punt Saturday night.
But it’s a different story for punter Greg Woidneck, who didn’t see play a snap Saturday.
“I didn’t even need to dress out tonight,” Woidneck joked on the sideline as the game came to a close. “I’m not going to complain though.”
Returning to the field
09-22-2007 10:26 pm
The special thing about 5 p.m. starts is that when the team goes to the locker room at halftime, it’s still light out (or at least dusk). But when the Trojans return to the field, it’s dark and the lights are shining bright. It gives an exhilarating feeling to the players returning for the second half.
And Saturday night was a perfect example of that. As the team came down the tunnel to start the second half, the energy raised considerably when the players saw the dark skies and the lit-up field. The “war time” chant turned into a flurry of roars and the slow jaunt turned into a sprint to the field.
It raises the hair on the back of your neck every single time. Only with Trojan football.
Halftime adjustments
09-22-2007 10:17 pm
Immediately after the team gets into the locker room, the offensive and defensive coaches split into separate rooms to discuss what worked and didn’t work during the first half. During these short staff meetings, coaches suggest adjustments and calls for the second half.
Then the coaches pour into the players’ area of the locker room and make adjustments as the offense or defense, or in position groups.
But before you realized it, halftime was over, as Coach Carroll bounced to the middle of the room and gave a short, peppy halftime speech. Saturday night’s talk focused on forgetting the first half and improving in the second half.
“What are you going to do about it?” Carroll asked his players for the second half. “Let’s start it all over again!”
Running backs coach Todd McNair talks with his players at halftime.
Defensive coordinator Nick Holt discusses the first half with the defense during halftime.
Passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach John Morton addresses certain adjustments with his players.
On the sidelines
09-22-2007 10:09 pm
For the most part, the sideline is fairly low-key, as players watch the game or listen to coaches making adjustments. There are, however, several exceptions throughout a game.
Just before the opening kickoff, safety Kevin Ellison walked up and down the sideline pounding his chest and screaming, “It’s time to go today! Yeah, it’s time to go!”
Then in the first quarter, fullback Stanley Havili approached quarterback John David Booty and yelled, “Let’s go, baby, let’s have some fun!” Booty replied with just as much enthusiasm: “Oh yeah!”
That’s an offensive lineman?
09-22-2007 10:04 pm
On one rushing play in the second quarter, center Kristofer O’Dowd hustled downfield and made a block 20 yards past the rusher, pummeling a helpless defender to the ground.
A member of the chain crew chuckled and disbelievingly asked, “Was that the center?”
Not your average kicker
09-22-2007 10:04 pm
David Buehler isn’t your average kicker.
He’s probably the only kicker in America who wears regular football cleats instead of kicking cleats.
“I’ve always played in these,” Buehler said, shrugging. “I’m just used to it.”
He’s probably the only kicker in America who wears gloves — well, except Saturday.
“I lost one,” he said.
And he’s probably the only kicker in America who can catch up to a kick returner and athletically bring him to the ground to save a touchdown, like he did Saturday night.
In the tunnel
09-22-2007 10:03 pm
As the players made their way from the locker room to the field for Saturday night’s game, they slowly chanted, like they always do, “War time.” Then, when they came around the bend in the tunnel and could see the field, the Trojans exploded in excitement, surely giving goose bumps to everyone nearby.
It was war time.
Before the battle
09-22-2007 9:57 pm
The locker room was a frenzy of activity as players got excited before the game. Linebacker Thomas Williams paraded around the locker room screaming, “Everything you got!” Coaches Todd McNair, Dave Watson and Ken Norton Jr. paced around yelling various encouragements.
Then, with less than five minutes until kickoff, Coach Carroll came to the middle of the room and repeatedly asked his players, “Are you in?” He then sent them to the field with one final word of advice: “Leave no doubt.”
The Trojans gather together for their pre-game huddle in the locker room.
Receiver Ronald Johnson stretches with assistant strength coach Ivan Lewis before the game.
Off to the Coliseum
09-22-2007 2:50 pm
The Trojans are minutes away from boarding their buses for the Coliseum. They’ll have a police escort that temporarily closes down the 110 highway, allowing the three team buses to get from downtown to the Coliseum in about 10 minutes.
We’ll return after the game with a full behind-the-scenes report. Enjoy the game.
Clap session
09-22-2007 2:47 pm
And now, one final step before heading to the Coliseum for the game.
It’s time for the clap session, which is one last walk-thru of sorts for the offense and defense. In separate ballrooms, the offense and defense go through about 15 important plays and calls and end each play with one clap in unison, which explains the name for this segment of game preparation.
Taping it up
09-22-2007 2:10 pm
During this break between the pre-game meal and clap session, many players visit head athletic trainer Russ Romano and staff in a ballroom-turned-training-room to get their ankles and wrists taped so they don’t have to do it once arriving at the Coliseum.
More steps toward the final goal
09-22-2007 1:27 pm
The Trojans just completed their special teams meeting and walk-thrus, leaving just one step left before the team boards buses for the Coliseum at 3 p.m.
During the special teams meeting, the Trojans get crazy, jump around and chant various team mantras. Then, they break into offense and defense to for walk-thrus, during which the offense goes through the scripted first 15 plays and the defense goes through key calls.
Now, the Trojans are eating their pre-game meal in near silence. Seniority dictates who goes up to the buffet first, starting with the seniors and going on down to freshmen. The players either eat quietly in the dining room or bring the food back to their rooms.
Another step toward the game
09-22-2007 12:24 pm
To pass the time, players have been watching everything from college football on ESPN to news shows on MSNBC to cartoons on the Cartoon Network. But now it’s getting closer to the 12:45 special teams meeting, during which the team’s energy and excitement begin to crescendo.
During this meeting, coaches and players will get especially rowdy in anticipation for tonight’s game. But then almost immediately, they’ll bring the energy level down several notches to conduct a solemn walk-thru and eat a quieter-than-quiet pre-game meal.
The preparation continues
09-22-2007 11:29 am
Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian (left) and passing game coordinator John Morton (right) have an impromptu meeting of the minds in the hotel lobby this morning, as they go over the game plan for tonight’s contest.
Game day has begun
09-22-2007 11:22 am
Players have eaten a full breakfast buffet and are now in short position meetings. Then they have a break until a special teams meeting at 12:45, when the game mode ball gets rolling and carries on through the game tonight.
Calling it a night
09-21-2007 10:17 pm
Players have retired to their rooms for the night and bed check is only a few minutes away. Players should get a good night’s sleep, as breakfast doesn’t begin until 9 a.m. and wake up call isn’t until 10 a.m.
A picture of concentration
09-21-2007 9:16 pm
Coach Carroll sits alone with his thoughts in the hotel lobby as he prepares for his speech during the final team meeting of the night.
The more things change...
09-21-2007 9:12 pm
With Pac-10 traveling rules, only 64 players are at the hotel, so the meeting rooms are a lot less full than the season’s first two games.
One thing that doesn’t change though: the position groups always sit in the same area of the team meeting room, with the wide receivers in the front left, the offensive line in the front right, the defensive line in the back right and the secondary in the back left.
The night's wrapping up
09-21-2007 9:11 pm
The night’s meetings have ended, and players can now attend a Protestant chapel service, led by Mike Sylvester of Athletes in Action, or Catholic mass, led by Father Lawrence Seyer of the USC Catholic Center, in hotel conference rooms.
The Friday night meetings roll by quickly, going from special teams to offense/defense to team in about an hour. The players watch a lot of situation-specific film to hone their focus on tomorrow’s game. Then in the last team meeting of the night, the team watched a highlight video of the Nebraska game and listened to a typically inspiring speech from Coach Carroll.
The business begins
09-21-2007 7:23 pm
With dinner done, the Trojans are now about to gather for their night of meetings. The special teams meeting is at 7:30, offense/defense meetings are at 8 and the team meeting is at 8:30, when Coach Carroll gives his sermon-like speech to motivate and pump up the players.
After all the meetings, the team will enjoy a snack (a full buffet dinner) at 8:45 p.m. Then, players have the option of attending a chapel or mass service in the hotel. Bed check’s at 10:30 p.m.
The wheels on the bus
09-21-2007 5:51 pm
It’s almost time to board the buses and depart campus for the team hotel in downtown L.A. Once the Trojans arrive, they’ll eat a pizza dinner and relax before meetings begin at 7:30 p.m.
Hanging out with the kids
09-21-2007 5:46 pm
Less than 24 hours before the conference opener, Coach Carroll still has time for some kids.
In between the walk-thru and boarding the team buses for the hotel, Carroll stopped and spent a few minutes with some children who were visiting the football office. The coach and the kids conversed about constellations and football players.
“There’s always time to do something like that,” Carroll said while grinning.
Coach Carroll takes a few minutes Friday evening to hang out with children who had stopped by the football office.
At the Jock Rally
09-21-2007 5:41 pm
Cornerback Terrell Thomas and secondary coach Rocky Seto gave the speeches during Friday’s peppy Jock Rally at Heritage Hall, as a usually rambunctious band provided the tunes.
The Trojans enter Heritage Hall as Friday’s Jock Rally begins.
Dispatch from the walk-thru
09-21-2007 5:36 pm
The Trojans’ Friday walk-thru is in the books, and it ended just before a cool drizzle started to fall. The players carefully went through all situations surrounding special teams before going through 15 plays for both the first-string offense and defense. It ended, like always, with a last-ditch Hail Mary pass that was caught by the offense but was downed on the two-yard line.
Administrative assistants Terrel Ray and Sam Anno then participated in the weekly “Jump Ball,” with Ray winning the competition.
With ominous clouds and the L.A. skyline as a backdrop, John David Booty throws a pass during Friday’s walk-thru.
Walking it through
09-21-2007 3:57 pm
The Trojans are starting to head out to the field for their Friday walk-thru. During this 45-minute session, the team will go through all special teams situations, walk through the offense’s scripted "first 15" plays and walk through 15 plays for the first-string defense. Afterwards, the team heads directly to Heritage Hall for the traditional Jock Rally at 5 p.m.
We’ll return after with a report from both the walk-thru and Jock Rally.
Making an appearance
09-21-2007 3:56 pm
USCRipsIt.com will have a table in the Fan Zone on the east end of the Coliseum starting at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and going up until the game at 5 p.m. Also, Ben Malcolmson of USCRipsIt.com will be at the table from about 3:45 to 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, so stop by to meet him and talk Trojan football.
Read more about it here.
And so it begins
09-21-2007 2:26 pm
Coaches have broken from their afternoon staff meeting and the team meeting is up at 2:30. The first activity of game preparation mode, this meeting will start, just like a game, with special teams.
This meeting is the first of several pump-up sessions for the players, as they will get especially rowdy before going into position meetings for about an hour and the closed-door walk-thru at 4:15.
Improving the look
09-21-2007 1:18 pm
Coach Carroll’s office is undergoing a midseason overhaul.
Executive assistant Morgon Fraser, assistant athletic director Teresa Verbeck and an interior designer are clearing out Carroll’s office, acquiring new furniture and updating the look of his workplace.
Fraser began the revamp earlier this week by organizing the hundreds of books, mementos, trophies and pictures Carroll has accumulated over the years.
Now, Fraser and Verbeck are planning to purchase a sofabed and chairs to replace the current overstuffed leather furnishings. It’ll give the office a more comfortable feel — and give Carroll a better place to sleep when he spends the night at Heritage Hall.
“We wanted furniture to match Coach Carroll’s personality,” Fraser said.
Assistant athletic director Teresa Verbeck (left), an interior designer and executive assistant Morgon Fraser (right) look over plans to redecorate and refurnish Coach Carroll’s Heritage Hall office, which has already been emptied of much of its contents.
Swimsuit Edition
09-21-2007 12:39 pm
Periodically throughout the season, USCRipsIt.com will highlight up-and-coming business ventures. Today’s spotlight falls on Tyler Rose Swimwear, owned by Nichole Carroll, Coach Carroll’s niece.
'It's all about winning'
09-21-2007 12:03 pm
Usually out of the spotlight, athletic director Mike Garrett sat down with USCRipsIt.com for 30 minutes this week for a compelling interview. You cannot miss this Q&A, the newest article from USCRipsIt.com.
New O-line video is up!
09-21-2007 10:43 am
The offensive line is getting some much-deserved recognition after the overpowering performance at Nebraska. See what coach Pat Ruel says about his players in the newest video from USCRipsIt.com.
For a good read...
09-21-2007 10:27 am
Sam Baker passed up a chance to play in the NFL and now he’s anchoring a dominating offensive line. Learn about his story in today’s LA Times.
The calm before the storm
09-21-2007 10:20 am
Friday mornings before a home game offer coaches a chance to sleep in and spend time with their families. Staff meeting is set for 12:30 this afternoon, so the office is quiet during the morning. But activity will assuredly pick up midday and carry on through tomorrow night.
Where did the time go?
09-20-2007 6:25 pm
And just like that, it’s almost game day.
“It’s amazing how fast this week went,” Coach Carroll said after Thursday’s practice. “It just flew by.”
Scouting the opposition
09-20-2007 6:23 pm
The offensive service team again played exceptionally well Thursday considering the competition (USC’s starting defense).
Quarterback Mitch Mustain shined, connecting with receiver Brandon Carswell and tight end Rhett Ellison for several big gains for the team that imitates the opposing offense.
“The service team guys are really performing well,” Coach Carroll said. “It really gives us a great chance to practice hard and they give us great looks. It’s got to help us in the long run.”
In the beginning
09-20-2007 6:18 pm
Coach Carroll named Chauncey Washington the starting tailback for Saturday’s game.
“He’ll be the first up in this game,” Carroll said. “Somebody’s got to go first.”
Dispatch from Howard Jones
09-20-2007 6:17 pm
Thoughts from Thursday’s practice, through the eyes of USCRipsIt.com…
- The Trojans got on and off the field as snappy as the cool breeze on this fall afternoon, going through the 75-minute practice quickly. The final team period featured only eight plays, but the offense looked particularly sharp as John David Booty peppered completions all over the field.
- Cornerback Vincent Joseph returned to practice Thursday after sitting out with a throat injury sustained in the Nebraska game.
Practice, practice, practice
09-20-2007 4:20 pm
Practice was bumped back to 4:15, so it’s now time to head out to the field for “No Repeat Thursday,” which means that the team should be so sharp that it doesn’t have to do any plays or drills over again. We’ll return in a few hours with a full report.
The personality behind the offensive line
09-20-2007 3:14 pm
The Trojan rushing attack dominated in Saturday’s win at Nebraska, and much of the credit can fall on the offensive line. Now’s your chance to find out the personality of offensive line coach Pat Ruel in the newest profile from USCRipsIt.com.
The afternoon's schedule
09-20-2007 2:36 pm
The Trojans are in the middle of their special teams meeting, and the team meeting is up in a few minutes. Practice is at 4 p.m.
Game day is closing in.
Doing it for the kids
09-20-2007 1:53 pm
An anonymous donor has prompted a second “Touchdown for Youth” game at the Coliseum this fall.
The donor gave a $50,000 contribution to the program that allows disadvantaged area youths to attend a USC football game. After 1,350 youngsters attended the Idaho game Sept. 1, the new donation will bring at least 1,000 kids to the Oct. 6 game against Stanford at the Coliseum.
“Touchdown for Youth,” conducted jointly by USC and the L.A. Sports Council Federation, has sent more than 32,000 local kids to college and professional football games since the program started in 1993.
Each $30 tax-deductible contribution gives a youngster a ticket to the game and refreshments. If you are interested in supporting, you can call (213) 482-6333.
A head start
09-20-2007 1:01 pm
Radio play-by-play announcer Pete Arbogast is getting his work done early.
Arbogast and Coach Carroll are currently recording the pregame radio interview for Saturday night’s broadcast in Carroll’s office. The only oddity is that the segment will air more than 48 hours from now, yet Arbogast and Carroll conducted the interview as if it were minutes before the game.
Eat like the Trojans
09-20-2007 11:37 am
The Trojans’ favorite meal — Out Of This World Bar-B-Que — will be at the Fan Fest on the east end of the Coliseum in the hours leading up to Saturday evening’s game.
Radio city
09-20-2007 10:59 am
At 11:45, Coach Carroll will be making his weekly appearance on the Heritage Hour, USCTrojans.com’s daily hour-long radio show hosted by Pete Arbogast and Chris Fisher. You can hear the interview live or as a recorded feature anytime by visiting USCTrojans.com.
Big time
09-20-2007 10:44 am
Guess who’s making another appearance in an ABC/ESPN ad in tomorrow’s USA Today?
Happy birthday
09-20-2007 10:04 am
Quarterbacks assistant Yogi Roth turns 26 today.
For a good read...
09-20-2007 9:13 am
The unheralded service team is getting some love in the Riverside Press-Enterprise today. Mitch Mustain, Brandon Carswell, Rhett Ellison and Company are the guys making the defense better every day, and it’s starting to show.
Posterized
09-19-2007 7:25 pm
Here’s the newly released “Trojan Gladiators” poster from the USC Strength and Conditioning Program. You can purchase the regular-sized poster for $5 from the USC bookstore.
Picture of the day
09-19-2007 7:14 pm
Kicker David Buehler gets some extra work on a side field during Wednesday’s practice.
Running shotgun
09-19-2007 7:12 pm
Coach Carroll again played quarterback during service team 7-on-7, a drill featuring the first-string defensive backs and linebackers going against the scout team wide receivers.
With the L.A. skyline in the background, Coach Carroll (far right) heaves a pass downfield during service team 7-on-7 on Wednesday. [Photo by Chris Grosskopf]
A high net punting average
09-19-2007 7:07 pm
Punters Greg Woidneck and Billy O’Malley practiced on a side field during service team periods Wednesday, and they apparently had some extra leg today. Several times, their punts sailed over the 100-foot high net constructed to prevent balls from going into McDonald’s Swim Stadium.
The booming punts forced student manager Adam Kossoff to go retrieve them, but some went missing in action and couldn’t be found.
Here’s video of Woidneck punting a little too far Wednesday
Kicking and teasing
09-19-2007 7:03 pm
Kicker Joe Houston had a phenomenal day on kickoffs. Even though he’s battling a cold, Houston was pummeling the ball deep into the end zone during kickoff drills at Wednesday’s practice.
The 5-8, 160-pound was kicking so well that it prompted snapper Will Collins to jokingly scream at starting kicker David Buehler (6-2, 225 pounds), “Hey Buehler, Joe just out-kicked you and he’s half your size!”
Dispatch from Howard Jones
09-19-2007 6:56 pm
Thoughts from Wednesday’s practice, through the eyes of USCRipsIt.com…
- Defensive end Lawrence Jackson caught an interception off a deflection during the final team period, giving the defense the victory on Turnover Wednesday.
- Tailback Hershel Dennis had a massive block on a blitzing Thomas Williams, knocking the linebacker to the ground and igniting the offense into a cheering frenzy for the win on the play.
- During 7-on-7 drills, the offense was ripping it. Wide receiver Vidal Hazelton caught four touchdowns (in only 15 plays), and on one, he and John David Booty connected for a long touchdown over the middle in double coverage, which elicited high fives for Booty from Coach Carroll. Cornerback Jim Abbott, though, had an acrobatic interception while covering wideout David Ausberry in the corner of the end zone.
- It was a Super Bowl reunion for the scouts at Wednesday’s practice, as scouts from both the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears were in attendance.
Practice time
09-19-2007 4:13 pm
Practice has started, so we’ll return from Turnover Wednesday on Howard Jones field in a few hours with a full report.
This week's offensive playbook cover
09-19-2007 4:02 pm
Here’s this week’s offensive playbook cover. It shows the Coliseum and the L.A. skyline, with a translucent shark over it to highlight the word, “Attack!” And, of course, this season’s theme, “Do you love it?” is on the cover.
Turnover Wednesday
09-19-2007 3:23 pm
Today’s Turnover Wednesday, and there’s an extra special emphasis on it for both sides of the ball today during the two-hour practice. The Trojans are -1 on the year for turnover ratio, and that falls significantly off the mark from their average of +16-per-year turnover average during Coach Carroll's six seasons at USC.
Practice is up at 4 p.m. on Howard Jones Field.
Not wasting a single moment
09-19-2007 2:11 pm
Wednesday’s special teams meeting will start in about five minutes, but while players wait, a tape of Washington State’s game against Wisconsin plays on the projector in the team meeting room.
Rome is burning
09-19-2007 1:24 pm
A quick television interview with Jim Rome in the books, Coach Carroll is back to game planning with his staff. The interview, which will air this afternoon on ESPN, was taped right outside of Heritage Hall and lasted about 10 minutes.
Coach Carroll tapes a television interview with ESPN host Jim Rome this afternoon outside of Heritage Hall.
Karaoke hour at Heritage Hall
09-19-2007 12:53 pm
Coach Carroll is going through and autographing dozens of footballs and helmets in his office right now (he’s a little behind on the requests) while singing along to his mix of top 50 songs blaring over the stereo.
Media day, part II
09-19-2007 11:40 am
Tuesdays are usually Coach Carroll’s heavy media day, but today is making a pitch to take that title away. Currently, Carroll is doing a phone interview with Petros Papadakis that will air this afternoon. Later today, he has a phone interview with a news reporter from Washington, D.C. and a television interview with Jim Rome.
Carlisle's corner
09-19-2007 11:26 am
The newest edition of “Carlisle’s Corner” has been published, and this installment is about head strength coach Chris Carisle’s relentless pursuit of knowledge.
A new must-see video is up!
09-19-2007 8:56 am
It was mentioned in Sports Illustrated and talked about extensively on USCRipsIt.com.
The clip of Kiefer Sutherland wishing Coach Carroll a happy birthday has been posted in USCRipsIt.com’s video player. The video was a surprise present for Carroll’s 56th birthday. It was shown in the coaches meeting on Saturday, and also on the team plane back to LAX on Saturday night.
Trojans around the League
09-18-2007 7:07 pm
Wonder how the Trojan alumni did in the NFL over the weekend? Find out in the latest article from USCRipsIt.com.
A popular man
09-18-2007 6:53 pm
Quarterback John David Booty remained on the field more than 30 minutes after practice ended doing interviews with the media and signing autographs.
Going beyond the call of duty
09-18-2007 6:50 pm
Several players stayed after Tuesday’s two-hour practice to get some extra work in. Among them were:
Quarterbacks Mitch Mustain (left) and Aaron Corp (right) stayed after with quarterbacks assistant Yogi Roth (middle) to work on footwork and technique.
Wide receiver Patrick Turner caught balls from the throwing machine.
The linebackers worked overtime with coach Ken Norton Jr.
Also, the defensive backs remained on the field and worked on pass coverage with coach Rocky Seto and secondary assistant Demetrice Martin. Several offensive linemen also put in extra time with coach Pat Ruel.
A picture of competition
09-18-2007 6:44 pm
During 1-on-1 drills Tuesday, wide receiver Travon Patterson (left) and cornerback Terrell Thomas (right) battle for position as the ball (far right) approaches. These 1-on-1 periods are some of the most competitive drills of Competition Tuesday.
Dispatch from Howard Jones
09-18-2007 6:39 pm
Thoughts from Tuesday’s practice, through the eyes of USCRipsIt.com…
- With a win on the last play of the day — a high-jumping David Ausberry snagged a catch along the sideline — the offense triumphed on this Competition Tuesday. To celebrate the victory, the offensive players sang “Fight on” in the final team huddle.
- John David Booty and Patrick Turner connected on two long passes over the middle during service period.
- Wideout Travon Patterson had an awesome reception on a ball over his head during team period.
A lifeguard?
09-18-2007 3:56 pm
Coach Carroll just left the office to head out to the practice field, and on his way out, he blew his whistle and playfully yelled, “Everyone out of the pool!"
Only at USC can the mood be so light while the competition on the field only minutes later is so fierce.
Practice is up
09-18-2007 3:50 pm
Competition Tuesday practice is about to get started, and today is slated to be a long one. We’ll return in a few hours with a full report from the field.
Jack Bauer's birthday wishes
09-18-2007 3:29 pm
Remember the video of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) wishing Coach Carroll a happy birthday? We talked about it here on USCRipsIt.com and it was also mentioned in the most recent Sports Illustrated cover story.
Well, you’ll get a special chance to see it tomorrow only on USCRipsIt.com. Be checking back Wednesday to see this cool clip.
Competition Tuesday is underway
09-18-2007 2:36 pm
The Trojans have gathered for their daily team meeting, and they’ll soon break for offense/defense and position meetings. Competition Tuesday’s full-pads practice is set for 4 p.m.
Woidneck on a watchlist
09-18-2007 2:18 pm
Punter Greg Woidneck has been named to the Ray Guy Award watchlist, given to the nation’s top punter. Woidneck, a redshirt junior, was honored with a scholarship this fall after playing as a walk-on in 2006.
On the cover of Sports Illustrated
09-18-2007 1:00 pm
Here’s this week’s Sports Illustrated cover. You think the Trojans made a statement in Saturday’s win?
Almost a sellout
09-18-2007 12:56 pm
About 700 tickets remain for Saturday’s 5 p.m. game against Washington State. You can buy tickets online or over the phone by calling (213) 740-GOSC.
Pac-10 prowess
09-18-2007 12:54 pm
Coach Carroll’s 30-minute press conference has just ended, and he’s now off to do one-on-one radio and TV interviews around Heritage Hall. During the press conference, Carroll answered dozens of questions about the Nebraska game and the upcoming Washington State game.
It’s the start of the conference play this weekend, and one reporter asked about the competitive nature of the Pac-10 and how that played out in several close games last season for the Trojans.
“It’s a statement about how tough our conference is,” Carroll said. “Whether people on the outside realize that or not, I don’t really care and it doesn’t matter to me.”
Meeting the press
09-18-2007 12:03 pm
Coach Carroll is about to head down to his weekly press conference in the Varsity Lounge. You can see a live stream of it on USCTrojans.com.
Media savvy
09-18-2007 10:40 am
Tuesdays are media days for Coach Carroll, and it starts off with a conference call for the Pac-10 right now. Then he has his weekly press conference at noon with local reporters, followed by several radio and TV interviews.
It’s a long, tiring journey for Carroll, who will end up patiently answering the same questions multiple times throughout the day.
USC on SI cover, coming at 1 p.m.
09-18-2007 10:35 am
The Trojans are on the cover of this week’s edition of Sports Illustrated, and USCRipsIt.com has the first peek at it. We’ll post it at 1 p.m., so be checking back then to see this cool cover shot.
New must-see video is up on USCRipsIt.com!
09-18-2007 10:01 am
USCRipsIt.com has posted a new video, and this one’s about the competition at the quarterback position and how that makes both John David Booty and Mark Sanchez better. Check it out in the video player!
Taking care of his staff
09-18-2007 9:49 am
Coaches are watching film, game-planning or meeting with players, and they’re doing it all on full stomachs — thanks to Coach Carroll.
Every morning, Carroll buys his staff breakfast from “The Truck,” a catering truck that sets up shop on USC’s campus.
“They call breakfast the most important meal of the day for a reason,” Carroll said.
“The Truck” is operated by Armando Corado, who has named several breakfast and lunch plates after Trojan coaches and players who frequently stop by. There’s even a “PC Burrito,” a sausage, egg and cheese breakfast burrito that has Carroll’s favorite ratio of ingredients (half the amount of sausage, an extra egg, and a lot more cheese).
For a good read...
09-18-2007 9:07 am
Here’s an entertaining story from Sports Illustrated’s Austin Murphy about Saturday’s win.
You've got questions, they've got answers
09-17-2007 6:48 pm
Did you check out offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian’s answers to your questions in today’s Three Questions for Coach?
Now that the season’s already two games old, you probably have more questions for Coach Carroll, Sarkisian or Holt. Send them in to Ben@USCRipsIt.com and we’ll get the coaches’ answers to your questions.
Healing up
09-17-2007 6:44 pm
Linebacker Brian Cushing practiced extensively Monday and even got some extra work in after practice with head athletic trainer Russ Romano, who provided resistance with a bungee cord wrapped around both of their waists while Cushing ran around the field.
“He’ll definitely play on Saturday,” Coach Carroll said of Cushing.
Director of casting
09-17-2007 6:40 pm
After breaking his thumb during Saturday’s game, linebacker Clay Matthews Jr. participated fully in Monday’s practice with hard cast halfway down his arm and a soft cast covering his entire hand, giving him a club hand on his left arm.
Linebacker Clay Matthews Jr., nursing a broken thumb, practiced with a cast Monday.
Dispatch from Howard Jones
09-17-2007 6:32 pm
Thoughts from Monday’s practice, through the eyes of USCRipsIt.com…
- On the first normal Monday practice of the season, the Trojans ran on and off the field in about 45 minutes, completing the “Tell the Truth” portion of their week in speedy fashion.
- Tight ends Anthony McCoy and Rhett Ellison both made fabulous catches on routes over the middle during the final team period.
- Receiver Brandon Carswell had a spectacular leaping reception on a bullet from Mitch Mustain during service period, but he landed with his toes out of bounds.
- The team, not wearing pads or helmets, ran 15 plays of service team and 15 plays on opposite ends of the field of 1s against 1s and 2s against 2s during the practice that was held in cool temperatures under a setting sun.
Now that's dedication
09-17-2007 5:08 pm
The equipment staff worked until 6 a.m. Sunday morning at Heritage Hall unpacking from the trip to Nebraska. The team’s charter plane arrived at 3 a.m., but the 10-man crew of student managers and equipment managers didn’t finish their work back on campus until the sun was about to rise.
Out to practice
09-17-2007 5:07 pm
Monday’s “Tell the Truth” practice has just gotten started, so we’ll return with a report after the short session.
Late practice
09-17-2007 3:37 pm
The Trojans have broken from their team meeting into offense and defense for about 15 minutes. Then the team will have position meetings before a late practice at 5 p.m., which will be short and fast and should be done around 6 p.m.
Old stomping grounds
09-17-2007 2:42 pm
The USC football office welcomed back a historic figure Monday.
Bonnie Kelley, the secretary for legendary coach John McKay for 14 years, returned midday Monday to see her old office with her husband, Jerry.
“I just had to make sure this place was still around,” said a smiling Kelley, 81.
Coach John McKay’s secretary at USC for 14 years, Bonnie Kelley (right) came back to the football office Monday with her husband Jerry (left). The two still attend games at the Coliseum.
Getting back at it
09-17-2007 2:30 pm
The Trojans are in the midst of their first team meeting since Saturday’s victory. Up first are all facets of the special teams, and then around 2:45, Coach Carroll will speak to the team and show highlights from the game.
It’s “Tell the Truth” Monday, as the Trojans look back at what they did well and how they fell short Saturday at Nebraska. But at the same time, it’s game week, as the Washington State game is five days away.
Stafon Johnson named Pac-10 player of the week
09-17-2007 2:27 pm
Tailback Stafon Johnson has been named Pac-10 offensive player of the week after his 144-yard, one-touchdown performance Saturday at Nebraska.
Monday Morning Quarterback recap
09-17-2007 2:18 pm
Coach Carroll just returned from his weekly Monday Morning Quarterback at the Galen Center, where he broke down film and answered questions for hundreds of fans.
To start off the hour-long session, Carroll went through special teams film and when the first kickoff showed up on the screen, he jokingly said, “We kicked off a couple of times in this game — by accident.” The reference to the mishap during the coin toss elicited laughs from the crowd before he explained what happened with the captains and referees before the game.
Coach Carroll answers questions during today’s Monday Morning Quarterback at the Galen Center.
Monday Morning Quarterback
09-17-2007 12:10 pm
After a relatively quiet morning in the football office, Coach Carroll is now leaving for the weekly Monday Morning Quarterback session, during which he’ll break down film from Saturday’s game in front of hundreds of fans.
If you’re interesting in attending in the coming Mondays, you can find more information here.
Three Questions for Coach
09-17-2007 10:06 am
Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian answers reader questions in the latest installment of “Three Questions for Coach.”
Early birds
09-17-2007 8:56 am
Things around the USC football office officially get off to a late start on Mondays, but that doesn’t stop coaches from coming in early. The staff meeting isn’t until 10 a.m., but all the coaches are already in their offices dissecting film and planning for Saturday’s game.
Right back at it
09-16-2007 5:03 am
Though the players have Sunday off, the coaching staff goes right back to work. Even with a late-night arrival (or was it an early-morning arrival?), the coaches will be back at Heritage Hall on Sunday morning to break down film from Saturday night’s game.
USCRipsIt.com, on the other hand, will be taking it easy Sunday, so enjoy your off day. The Washington State game is less than seven days away.
Road warriors
09-16-2007 5:02 am
During the team meeting Friday night, Coach Carroll and several players spoke about how much they enjoy playing tough road games.
They all said the unique atmosphere a game like Saturday’s provides forces the team to bond together as one unit because, really, there’s no one else to cling to. A road game like Saturday’s allows the squad to unite against something, strengthening the ties on the team that will last the rest of the season.
Road games are where the team’s personality for that season is forged and discovered. So the game in Lincoln wasn’t just another win. It was a personality-defining victory for the Trojans in a tough environment away from home.
Just like they like it.
In the news
09-16-2007 4:59 am
Here’s what the newspapers wrote about the Trojans' resounding 49-31 win at Nebraska:
LA Times
OC Register
Riverside Press-Enterprise
Associated Press
At 35,000 feet
09-16-2007 4:56 am
The players’ rowdiness from before takeoff quickly disappeared after leaving the ground.
The plane ride home was about as silent as Memorial Stadium in the third quarter, as nearly all the players and coaches slept. “Shooter” played on the projection screens, yet it wasn’t seen by too many people on this Boeing 767 jet.
The charter touched down in L.A. at a few minutes before 3 a.m. Pacific time, the Trojans were on buses back to campus around 3:10, and players were at USC around 3:30 a.m. All in a day’s work.
Coach Sarkisian (far left) and tailback Stafon Johnson (middle) walk through LAX at 3 a.m. after getting off the team’s charter flight from Nebraska.
An eventful post-game
09-16-2007 4:55 am
The hours following Saturday’s game could be best described as a whirlwind.
The game ended around 11 p.m., and over the next hour, the Trojans did interviews with the media, showered, packed up their gear, listened to Coach Carroll’s post-game talk, received a pizza dinner and got onto the team buses.
Escorted by Lincoln police cars, the buses arrived at the airport around 12:30 a.m. The players went through security and boarded the plane, but the team’s equipment had to be loaded and the plane didn’t depart Lincoln until 1:45 a.m.
As they waited for the plane to leave, the players, energized by a big win and overflowing with adrenaline, sang and chanted, “Let’s go home, let’s go home!”
Players go through security at 12:30 a.m. at Lincoln Municipal Airport before boarding their charter plane back to LAX.
Meet the press
09-16-2007 4:54 am
In between talking to his team and packing up, Coach Carroll met with the media, and he brought a special friend along with him. During the beginning of his post-game press conference, Carroll summoned Ryan Davidson to the podium, where he put his arm around Davidson.
Davidson, who first became an inspiration to the Trojans in 2004, spent the weekend with the team in Nebraska. But now he has to return home to Wisconsin and is scheduled to have surgery Tuesday for a relapse in his cancer.
Ryan Davidson, a special friend to the Trojans, stood by Coach Carroll’s side during the post-game press conference.
The post-game speech
09-16-2007 4:52 am
Coach Carroll gathered his team one last time before leaving Memorial Stadium and congratulated them on a big win against a good team. He then talked about the rest of this season.
“The power of this team is what’s going to make us great,” Carroll said. “It’s not going to be one guy, it’s going to be this whole team.”
Coach Carroll gives a typically inspiring speech in the locker room after the game.
Silence is golden
09-16-2007 4:51 am
With the game well in hand in the fourth quarter, many Nebraska fans filed out of Memorial Stadium, and the ones remaining didn’t make too much noise.
And the Trojans greatly enjoyed the change in decibel levels.
“It sure is quiet in Tennessee,” one player screamed toward the stands, half-joking. “Or Nebraska — wherever we are.”
Kicking off to start both halves?
09-16-2007 4:50 am
It didn’t matter in the end, but strangely enough, the Trojans kicked off to start both halves Saturday night. And as you might’ve guessed, that wasn’t intentional.
During the captains’ meeting at the coin flip, the Trojans won the toss and the referee asked if the Trojans wanted to kickoff. As a miscommunication, John David Booty replied yes, but his choice became USC’s decision instead of deferring the choice to the second half, which usually happens when the Trojans win the coin toss and kick off to start the game (the Trojans have now kicked off at the beginning of 15 consecutive games, by the way).
As Coach Carroll ran down the hallway from the locker room to the field at the end of halftime and learned of this idiosyncrasy, he uttered, “Kicking off at the start of both halves? I’ve never seen that!”
Minutes later, Carroll asked Booty how that sequence of events happened to lead to this peculiar result, and the two walked away smiling, knowing they couldn’t change it and could only laugh about the oddity.
The halftime speech
09-16-2007 4:49 am
Coach Carroll got up on a storage box and quickly addressed his team, excitedly telling the Trojans, “Let’s enjoy this moment. We’re in Nebraska fellas!”
It was time for the second half. And within minutes, the Trojans’ 21-10 halftime lead would balloon into a 42-10 advantage.
The offense, led by coordinator Steve Sarkisian (left, black visor), discussed the game plan during halftime.
Coach Carroll addressed his defense during halftime.
Coach Pat Ruel made adjustments with his offensive linemen at halftime.
In the locker room at halftime
09-16-2007 4:48 am
The Trojans entered the locker room at halftime thankful of a respite from the cold and a chance to recoup some energy.
It had been more than six hours since the Trojans pre-game meal, so the energy bars the players were handed in the locker room at halftime came as welcome news.
To regain some of their lost body heat, some players slipped on their warmup pants and jackets over their uniforms.
Man down
09-16-2007 4:47 am
When kickoff returner Vincent Joseph went down with a throat injury in the second quarter, Memorial Stadium turned silent. Several Trojans kneeled to pray and many helplessly yelled, “C’mon Vince.”
He was carted off the field on a stretcher, but several hours later, Joseph, wearing a hospital gown and a neck brace, rejoined his teammates at Lincoln Municipal Airport and flew back on the team plane.
Jack frost
09-16-2007 4:47 am
Probably the most challenging aspect for the Trojans to deal with Saturday wasn’t the crowd noise. Or the FieldTurf.
It was the cold.
With temperatures dipping down into the 40s, and the wind chill making it much colder, the weather provided for some interesting challenges for USC on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
Players coped with the temperature in different ways. Backup quarterback Mark Sanchez donned a USC beanie during much of the game. John David Booty wore a jacket on the sideline between drives, much like a baseball pitcher in the dugout between innings. And kicker David Buehler roamed the sidelines asking if the equipment staff packed heaters.
Celebrity sightings
09-16-2007 4:46 am
Keanu Reeves and Will Ferrell watched the game from the USC sideline.
Loud noises
09-16-2007 4:46 am
The crowd was so deafening and so close to the field (the stands in both end zones are no more than five yards from the end line) that in the first quarter, offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian told his team to huddle on the sidelines before a series that started with the Trojans backed up near their own goal line.
And that was just so quarterback John David Booty could call a play. Imagine what it was like when the offense got to the line of scrimmage.
The pregame speech
09-16-2007 4:45 am
Coach Carroll kept his words to a minimum during his pregame pep talk before sending his players out to the field.
“Make this day a day to remember,” Carroll screamed.
It was finally game time.
Pregame in the locker room
09-16-2007 4:44 am
After going through their traditional warmups on the field, the Trojans returned to their locker room, a sanctuary of sorts away from the incredible noise from the Nebraska fans.
But the Trojans made plenty of noise of their own in the locker room, where the scene was downright berserk. Much like the halftime of last year’s Rose Bowl (remember that outcome?), the commotion from the team was at a boiling point, with players yelping, chanting and urging their teammates on.
“I play against the best team in the country every day,” linebacker Thomas Williams said, referring to practices against his teammates. “I ain’t scared!”
“Let’s go, let us out!” linebacker Rey Muauluga exclaimed.
The scene before the game
09-16-2007 4:43 am
The Trojans arrived at Memorial Stadium about 30 minutes earlier than scheduled (there wasn’t any traffic, after all), so it allowed players some extra time to warm up and mentally prepare for the game.
The defensive linemen, as is their custom, met on the 50-yardline for a short huddle before retreating back to the locker room. Many players took the extra time to throw the ball and run around on the field, soaking in the atmosphere.
And what an atmosphere it was. The stadium gates opened at 5:30, and at an hour before kickoff, the stands were nearly full. Then, with 30 minutes to go until game time, the stadium was packed to the gills and producing incessant noise. Never before has the announcement of the starting lineups drawn so many cheers.
The defensive linemen gathered at midfield after arriving at Memorial Stadium.
Only minutes after the gates opened, the student section was already filling up.
Getting closer
09-16-2007 4:42 am
At 4:44 p.m., the team buses exited the interstate. Memorial Stadium was mere minutes away.
During the short ride from the freeway to the stadium, the buses passed by goats on the side of the road and drove through quaint neighborhoods, with locals stepping out on their front porches either staring in bewilderment or cheering for their hometown team.
The buses pulled up to Memorial Stadium slightly before 5 p.m., and hundreds of Nebraska fans waited at the Trojans’ entrance to the stadium. As the buses pulled up to their final stop, the players violently rocked the buses back and forth in excitement for the night ahead.
The team buses arrived at Memorial Stadium a little before 5 p.m. Saturday night.
On the bus
09-16-2007 4:41 am
As the Trojans boarded the buses at their hotel in Omaha, a cold drizzle descended from the overcast sky, giving this day a very autumn-like feel.
The buses departed the hotel at 3:54 p.m. and everyone — players, coaches, support staff — sat in near silence on the 51-mile trip to Lincoln. Players listened to their iPods and some coaches slept.
“Preparation shall set you free,” quarterbacks ass
