As the Trojans enter into Spring Practice, their pursuit continues on. But it's not merely a pursuit to find the next group of starters or even to win some games in the fall.
It’s a pursuit to Win Forever.
USCRipsIt will publish a special feature on “Win Forever,” a mantra that has become a foundational philosophy of the USC football program thanks to the inspiration of Coach Carroll.
So tune in on Tuesday, as this is a can’t-miss article for all Trojans.
Clean it up 03-24-2008 3:27 p.m.
All the trophies, accolades and accomplishments give Coach Carroll an air of invincibility.
But then there are the simple things in life that prove Carroll is still human. Carroll is leaving work a little early today to go to the dentist, completing his routine checkup just in time for Spring Practice on Tuesday.
Gone camping
03-24-2008 3:24 p.m.
Registration has begun for the Trojan Football Summer Camps, so click here to register. Get all the dates and camp info here.
Download the camp brochure here and get a hard copy of the application here.
Swingers 03-24-2008 2:39 p.m.
Coach Carroll and offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian are scheduled to take batting practice at the baseball-adapted Coliseum on Wednesday.
And Carroll’s taking batting practice in the USC football office this afternoon to get ready for his big baseball debut at the Coliseum. Former linebacker Thomas Williams, who stopped by the office to say hi to his former coaches, has turned into a pitcher as the youthful Carroll has been taking hacks in the bandbox entrance of the office. Fortunately, he’s using a foam ball, so the glass windows, computers and trophies haven’t been broken.
Yet.
“It’s going to be really cool to take some swings at the Coliseum,” Carroll said excitedly. “It’s something like 220 feet down the line. Maybe I can knock one out.”
Pro Day 03-24-2008 1:37 p.m.
USC’s Pro Day is already next Wednesday (April 2), but it won’t be anything like the spectacle of the Matt Leinart-Reggie Bush days.
New NCAA rules strictly regulate who can attend an institution’s Pro Day, so next Wednesday’s event will be closed to the public. Only USC students with a valid student ID will be allowed to watch.
Welcome to the blogosphere 03-24-2008 11:45 a.m.
Former USC linebacker Thomas Williams has showcased his skills at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine in recent months.
He’s now showcasing a different set of skills in cyberspace.
Williams started writing a blog last weekend and has been updating it every few days as he goes through his pre-draft training alongside friend and teammate Keith Rivers. Check it out here.
Among the great ones 03-24-2008 11:21 a.m.
Coach Carroll already has a mutually reverent relationship with legendary men’s basketball coach John Wooden.
Carroll might be heading in the same direction with the best women’s basketball coach in the country, too.
This morning, Carroll received an autographed basketball from record-setting Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt, who signed the message, “To Coach Pete Carroll, you are the best!” A mutual friend sent the memorabilia to Carroll.
Carroll promptly placed the ball in the display case in his office, just a few feet from his picture with Wooden.
Come on out 03-24-2008 10:28 a.m.
Spring Practice starts tomorrow, and the Trojans will have 15 sessions over the next month. All but one of the practices are open to the public, so check out the schedule and plan on coming out. Practice is held on Howard Jones field (download a campus map).
French toast? 03-24-2008 10:12 a.m.
Coach Carroll has an oh-so-brief cameo in a currently airing Nike commercial that promotes its Sparq training division.
But the brevity of the appearance (sixth-tenths of a second) isn’t even the strangest part.
Carroll peculiarly asks, “French toast?” after San Diego Chargers tailback LaDainian Tomlinson says, “My quick smells like French toast.”
Carroll recorded the clip — along with dozens of other brief phrases that might be used for other Nike commercials — on Feb. 12 in Heritage Hall. A 40-person production crew invaded the football office and set up a makeshift studio to film Carroll pondering, among other things, French toast.
“I was just doing what they told me to do,” Carroll said with a smile and a shrug. “It was definitely a unique experience.”
Here’s the 30-second commercial that’s currently airing on TV:
Get it going 03-24-2008 9:10 a.m.
Coaches are convening now in the War Room for their first staff meeting in 10 days. With Spring Practice starting tomorrow, it’s back to business for the globetrotting coaches, who have returned to Heritage Hall this morning after their week-long vacations that placed them all around the world.
Whether it’s from the refreshment caused by the time off or the fact that Spring Practices commences in about 24 hours, energy is flowing at an autumn-like high in the football office this morning.
Vamos Troyanos 03-24-2008 8:42 a.m.
Through the wonders of technology, we now offer translation services on all news and blog pages. Go to the bottom of any news story or blog page and click on one of the eight languages offered, and this special feature then translates the text into that specified language.
The translations are offered into Spanish, German, French, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese and Italian.
Hammer time 03-24-2008 8:26 a.m.
Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Trey Henderson, who also competes for the USC track and field team, placed fourth in the men's hammer competition with a distance of 194½ feet during this weekend’s Trojan Invitational at Loker Stadium. Only 2 feet, four inches separated the top four finishers.
Week in review 03-21-2008 3:22 p.m.
It’s been an eventful final week before Spring Practice. In case you missed it, get caught up in this USCRipsIt crash course:
- Star power: Matt Leinart, Jerry Rice and Steve Smith have a casual throwing session at USC
- A Coliseum transformation: The venerable stadium undergoes massive changes for a baseball exhibition game
- ‘He really is a hero:’ Mark Sanchez returns to his elementary school to spend time with the teachers and students
- A lasting legacy: Former Trojan Lonnie Ford carries on the USC torch in the Arena Football League
‘He really is a hero’ 03-21-2008 3:10 p.m.
Mark Sanchez visited his old elementary school Friday morning, spending meaningful time with teachers and students as he gave back to his community just days before Spring Practice begins. Learn all about this special visit in the newest feature from USCRipsIt.
The Coliseum doesn’t look like the usual Coliseum right now.
With the Dodgers and Red Sox set for an exhibition game next Saturday, the field is undergoing some major changes. See what the grand stadium currently looks like in the latest feature from USCRipsIt.
Spring Practice Preview: Defense and Special teams 03-20-2008 9:26 a.m.
You can see these Trojans in living color on the field this spring, as all but one of the 15 spring practices are open to the public. See the schedule here.
Hardwood heroes 03-20-2008 9:03 a.m.
Heritage Hall is unusually quiet today (like every day this week) as the Trojan coaches are out of the office and the players have the week off from organized workouts.
Oh yeah, and the USC men’s hoops team plays its NCAA tournament first-round game today at 4:10 p.m. Pacific time, so many of the athletic department administrators are in Omaha to cheer on the Trojans. The game will be broadcast on CBS.
Fun fact 03-19-2008 3:34 p.m.
The football office’s breathtaking entrance (see picture below) showcases many of USC’s recent trophies, including the Trojans’ six straight Pac-10 championship trophies from 2002 to 2007 in the center of the case. Here's the crazy part: The six conference titles USC has won in the last six seasons are more than four Pac-10 teams have ever won.
USC has 37 total conference championships (including Pac-10, Pac-8, AAWU and PCC titles dating back to 1916). UCLA, the next closest program, has 17.
Open doors 03-19-2008 1:35 p.m.
The Trojans have this week off from organized workouts, but the hardest-working men in Heritage Hall (the strength and conditioning staff) are keeping the weight room open about four hours a day during the week for the players who want to get in an extra lift or conditioning session on their own.
Congratulations 03-19-2008 11:57 a.m.
Senior Matt Burkhard, a two-year volunteer student equipment manager, has been named head manager for the 2008 football season. As head manager, Burkhard will travel to every home and away game this fall and be in charge of the 12-man crew of student managers, or “jimokes."
Spring Practice Preview: Offense 03-19-2008 10:40 a.m.
The USCRipsIt Spring Practice Preview has been posted, so get your insider’s perspective on the Trojans as they head into spring ball. It’s the most in-depth preview you'll find and it comes from the coaches’ perspective, so this is a must-read.
Want to see the Trojans in action? You can. All but one of the 15 practices this spring are open to the public, so get the schedule here.
Preparation 03-19-2008 10:20 a.m.
As Spring Practice approaches, the coaches and players aren’t the only ones preparing for the 15 workouts.
The support branches of Trojan football are also gearing up for Tuesday’s first practice of the spring.
The video operations department is getting its camera and editing equipment ready for Tuesday, while the athletic training room is warming up for a busy month ahead as players continue through rehab and mend new football injuries.
The equipment office is organizing and compiling all the football gear it hasn’t needed since Jan. 1, including getting football pants, pads and helmets prepped for opening day. Even though the equipment staff will have a full load during the next month, it could be tougher.
“At least it won’t be two-a-days,” said David Scott, director of equipment operations.
Coming later today! 03-19-2008 9:12 a.m.
The first part of the USCRipsIt Spring Practice Preview will come out today with an insider’s look at the Trojan offense heading into spring ball. The defense and special teams preview will be published Thursday.
To give you a sneak peek at today’s preview, here’s a quote from offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian about Mark Sanchez this spring:
“I’m anxious to watch Mark become the guy. It’s always difficult when you’re trying to fight the uphill battle and trying to overtake someone’s job, which he was trying to do with J.D. And now it’s a level playing field, it’s an open competition between Mark, Mitch and Aaron. Mark’s got a great personality and great leadership qualities about him and I’m anxious for those qualities to come out in him, for him to just be himself. I’m anxious to see him to do that because he’s very, very talented.”
The USCRipsIt Spring Practice Preview 03-18-2008 4:23 p.m.
The ultimate Spring Practice preview will be published this week on USCRipsIt, beginning with a look at the offense on Wednesday. Defense and special teams will follow on Thursday. Make sure you check back to get the inside perspective on the Trojans as they head into Spring Practice.
Big D 03-18-2008 3:25 p.m.
Former Trojan linebacker Dallas Sartz signed a contract with the Minnesota Vikings yesterday, and he is expected to compete for a backup position and on special teams. Sartz, a rare two-time captain for the Trojans, was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, but was cut following an injury during training camp.
Star power 03-18-2008 12:53 p.m.
The stars came out to Howard Jones field for a casual throwing session late Tuesday morning. Jerry Rice, Matt Leinart, Steve Smith and many more had an hour-long workout on USC’s campus, so check out the pictures from the star-studded affair in the newest feature from USCRipsIt.
Jerry Rice and Matt Leinart hang out following a casual yet star-studded throwing session on Howard Jones field late Tuesday morning.
Reminder 03-18-2008 10:52 a.m.
All but one of the 15 spring practices are open to the public, so check out the schedule and plan on coming out to Howard Jones field to see the 2008 Trojans in action.
Calm before the storm 03-18-2008 9:47 a.m.
Spring Practice starts one week from today, though you wouldn’t know it by roaming a library-quiet Heritage Hall this morning. Players have this week off from sanctioned workouts, but the weight room is open each day this week for voluntary lifts. And after recruiting all January and self-scouting all of February, most coaches are taking it easy this week to spend time with their families.
After all, once spring ball starts next Tuesday, it’ll be back to nonstop football for one month.
A lasting legacy 03-18-2008 9:18 a.m.
Former USC defensive lineman Lonnie Ford, who was an All-Pac-10 second-teamer in 2001, is now creating quite a name for himself with the L.A. Avengers of the Arena Football League. Read all about his story in the latest feature from USCRipsIt.
See Ford and the Avengers in exciting Arena League action this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Staples Center. For tickets, click here. To read the last blog page, click here.
