Sign up for the USCRipsIt/PeteCarroll.com Mailing List!
Follow the Draft
04-25-2008 11:28 a.m.
Here’s how you can follow this weekend’s NFL Draft, which should see more than 10 Trojans selected in the seven-round spectacle over the next 48 hours.
- Saturday (Round 1): Coverage starts at noon on ESPN (10 minutes per pick) - Saturday (Round 2): Begins at 5 p.m. on ESPN2 (seven minutes per pick) - Sunday (Rounds 3-7): Coverage starts at 7 a.m. on ESPN and lasts until 3 p.m. (five minutes per pick)
For up-to-the-second info, click over to NFL.com’s Draft Tracker or ESPN’s Draft Central before, during and after the draft. We’ll have USC-centric Draft news, including all the undrafted free-agent signings, on Monday.
For your information
04-25-2008 10:44 a.m.
For those already longing for football season to come, USC’s Fall Camp will open either August 3 or 4. The exact start date and practice schedule will be set within the next few weeks.
Home grown
04-25-2008 10:07 a.m.
Thirteen Trojans — a vast majority of whom will be picked in this weekend’s NFL Draft — didn’t go far to train for the biggest test of their lives.
They stayed at home.
In a very unique decision for NFL-bound players, this crew of recently graduated players stuck with the USC strength and conditioning program, the same one that developed them into some of the nation’s top athletes, to prepare for Pro Day and the Combine.
Read about this different, yet very successful trend that has taken shape for USC’s Draft-bound players in the latest feature from USCRipsIt.
For the better
04-25-2008 9:31 a.m.
The group that received the most heat last season turned right around this spring and might have shown the most progress among all positions.
“We really improved, I know that for sure,” wide receivers coach John Morton said. “Vidal [Hazelton] and Damian [Williams] really stood out, and Patrick [Turner] did really well the last two weeks. The thing the group really got better with is our maturity and understanding of the game.”
That’s all folks
04-24-2008 4:00 p.m.
The final team meeting of the spring just ended, sending the players into the off-season with some final reminders about the end of the school year and details about the start of the summer training program that starts in about a month.
Come together
04-24-2008 2:59 p.m.
The Trojans are gathering now in Heritage Auditorium for a team meeting, during which they’ll discuss off-season workouts, compliance issues and academic matters. It’s the final full team gathering until fall camp in August.
Honor roll
04-24-2008 2:50 p.m.
The annual Tommy Awards were held Wednesday night at the Galen Center to honor the year in sports for USC, and football was recognized as the male team of the year. Additionally, fullback Jody Adewale was honored as the “Male Trojan of the Year” and director of equipment operations David Scott was named the staff member of the year.
Women’s soccer, which won its first ever national championship in December, won female team of the year and coach Ali Khosroshahin was named coach of the year.
USC’s student-athletes and athletic department staff vote on the yearly awards.
Highly successful
04-24-2008 2:32 p.m.
Coach Carroll just finished a lengthy, two-location photo shoot for Success Magazine, which is profiling Carroll for a cover story of an issue due out late summer or early fall. The casual Carroll was photographed out of his element — in a full suit — both in his office and on the practice field.
Big day
04-24-2008 2:28 p.m.
The 2008 season officially started for coaches today, as they began breaking down film of Virginia and Ohio State’s games from 2007 this morning. It should take about two weeks of solid work for the coaches to chronicle every play from the 2007 season for the Cavaliers and Buckeyes.
Baller
04-24-2008 12:23 p.m.
Coach Carroll is playing basketball with a couple of other coaches during their lunch break today.
National Secretary’s Day was Wednesday, but USC football’s administrative assistants are getting the special treatment today. Director of football operations Dennis Slutak is taking the office’s four administrative assistants (Morgon Fraser, Joyce Hirayama, Irene Puentes and Terrel Ray) out to lunch now, with a stretch limo providing the transportation to a Burbank restaurant.
(From left to right) Receptionist Irene Puentes, executive assistant to head coach Morgon Fraser, academic administrative assistant Terrel Ray and administrative assistant Joyce Hirayama get ready to drive away in a stretch limo to a special lunch recognizing their efforts the day after National Secretary’s Day.
Great news for the eyes
04-24-2008 11:46 a.m.
The text color on all news stories has changed from white to black, making things a lot better on the eyes. Thanks for your patience, and we hope you like the adjustment.
Best Damn rap song
04-24-2008 11:31 a.m.
Think John David Booty and rap don’t go together? Think again.
Well, sort of.
Booty and Sedrick Ellis have cameo appearances in a silly pre-Draft rap music video produced by Fox Sports’ “Best Damn Sports Show Period.” Check it out for yourself:
Cornerback Cary Harris (left) and wideout Spencer Vigoren (right) go through 40-yard dash workouts as part of this morning’s strength and conditioning sessions. The players are focusing on their 40s today in preparation for the end-of-spring combine tests Monday and Tuesday.
An inspiring night
04-24-2008 9:46 a.m.
Coach Carroll was honored for his work with A Better LA during Summa Children’s Foundation’s “Night of Inspiration” at the Beverly Hilton on Wednesday night. The star-studded fundraising gala brought out 1,000 guests, including several sports and entertainment celebrities, to support the battle against gang violence in inner-city L.A. and recognize Carroll for his compassionate work in the fight.
“We can quiet this storm down, we can do this,” Carroll said of gang violence during his brief, yet heartfelt acceptance speech. “A little bit of help from a lot of people will go a long way. We’re just getting warmed up.”
Coach Carroll (right) converses with Goldie Hawn and Sidney Poitier at Wednesday’s Night of Inspiration at the Beverly Hilton.
Singer Michael Bolton performs during the event.
Coach Carroll speaks to the audience about A Better LA. “A little bit of help from a lot of people will go a long way,” he said.
For a good read…
04-24-2008 9:26 a.m.
Check out this article from the Houston Chronicle about Keith Rivers, who’s climbed into the Top 10 of almost everyone’s draft boards.
A night of inspiration
04-23-2008 4:22 p.m.
Coach Carroll is being honored tonight for his work with A Better LA at Summa Children’s Foundation’s annual “Night of Inspiration” gala at the Beverly Hilton’s Grand Ballroom. Expected to draw around 1,000 guests — including some of L.A.’s biggest names — the $500-per-plate fundraiser dinner will donate its proceeds to several local charities, with A Better LA heading the list of beneficiaries.
Carroll will be specially recognized at the end of the event, when he’ll deliver a speech discussing A Better LA’s work in transforming inner-city Los Angeles.
Award show 04-23-2008 1:06 p.m.
The USC athletic department is putting on its end-of-the-year Tommy Awards banquet tonight to celebrate the year in Trojan sports. Emceed by academic counselor John Mosbach, assistant strength coach Ivan Lewis and assistant athletic trainers David Borchardt and Catherine Hill, the annual Tommy Awards honors USC’s top team and individual accomplishments of the previous year in a special athlete-only gala at the Galen Center.
Several football team and player achievements are up for awards, which include:
- Male and female Top Day Performance (best single game, match or meet performance) - Best Comeback - Male and female Best Record-Breaking Performance - Male and female Athlete of the Year - Male and female Team of the Year - Male and female Trojan of the Year - Coach of the Year
Take a break 04-23-2008 10:41 a.m.
Sandwiched between a pair of two demanding workouts to start and end the first week after Spring Practice, today's an off day for the players' off-season strength and conditioning training. The end-of-spring combine tests begin Monday.
Top spot 04-23-2008 9:39 a.m.
Watch this cool video from the NFL Network on the Top 10 football factories of college football. Guess who’s No. 1? Be prepared to get nostalgic and start wishing football season would get here just a little bit quicker:
Headhunters 04-23-2008 9:32 a.m.
The off-season might have kicked in, but the routine-oriented coaches are sticking to their weekly custom this morning. Like they do every Wednesday morning, the coaching staff is planted in the War Room watching highlight reels of 2009 prospects, making important decisions on offers to recruits throughout these two-hour film sessions.
Work with the Trojans 04-22-2008 4:10 p.m.
The USC football office is looking for student administrative assistants to join the staff starting this fall. These unpaid internship positions offer students a chance to be a part of the football program by doing administrative duties in the office and working game days at the Coliseum. To apply or learn more about the position, contact director of player personnel Jared Blank at jblank@usc.edu.
Missing you 04-22-2008 2:59 p.m.
Spring Practice has been done for three days now, but for some players, they’re ready to start playing football again.
“I’m bummed,” quarterback Mark Sanchez said. “We got in a routine, and I was starting to do really well there at the end.”
Sanchez said he’ll take about a month off from throwing because of the toll his arm took and will take as the starting quarterback.
“I need the rest,” he said. “I’ll be throwing a lot in the fall and I just threw more than I ever had in the spring.”
Put it on the schedule 04-22-2008 2:07 p.m.
The next full-team activity is a meeting on Thursday at 3 p.m., when the Trojans will gather to discuss off-season training, compliance issues and the conclusion of the spring semester.
In the Draft 04-22-2008 11:44 a.m.
Check out this article from today’s L.A. Times about the history of the NFL Draft, featuring several quotes from Pat Kirwan, a special friend of the program who advises NFL-bound Trojans each spring.
On a related note, the L.A. Times’ mock draft has five Trojans going in the first round. And you can’t accuse the publication of being a homer either, as several national mock drafts project at least four USC players to go in the first 31 picks of this weekend’s NFL draft.
Straight from the boss 04-22-2008 10:43 a.m.
See Coach Carroll’s final thoughts on Spring Practice 2008 in the newest video from USCRipsIt, produced by Mark Haas:
Break it down 04-22-2008 10:15 a.m.
After breaking down the scrimmage film in offensive/defensive groups Monday, coaches are together as an entire staff in the War Room this morning to go through the Trojan Huddle film and analyze the final football action of the spring.
For a good read… 04-22-2008 9:19 a.m.
Check out this short feature from the Orange County Register about Mark Sanchez assuming the starting role during and after Saturday’s scrimmage.
Let your voice be heard 04-21-2008 4:12 p.m.
USCRipsIt has now been running for a year, journeying with you through an entire football season, off-season and Spring Practice. We’ve taken you places no website has ever gone before, letting you live Trojan football in a multitude of ways.
Now we want something from you. We want your input, your suggestions, your feedback on USCRipsIt, the blog and PeteCarroll.com. What are we doing well? What do you want changed? What do you like? What do you dislike?
Please take a few minutes and send in your comments, praises and criticisms to Ben@PeteCarroll.com so we can continue to provide the ultimate Trojan football website experience. Thanks in advance.
Interview time 04-21-2008 3:50 p.m.
Coach Carroll just wrapped up a lengthy, in-depth interview with Andrew Hemminger, one of the co-authors of the hit book “Destination Basketball” who’s currently working on a sequel of sorts with co-author Dave Bensch that will explore the greatest minds of college football. “Destination Basketball” was a compilation of interviews with 28 of college basketball’s most legendary coaches, and Hemminger and Bensch are currently working on a college football version of the book.
Coming your way 04-21-2008 2:31 p.m.
Spring football might’ve ended Saturday, but USCRipsIt will keep pumping out exciting new features all the way through the summer. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming on USCRipsIt in the next few weeks:
- A pre-NFL Draft feature on the players that stayed and worked out at USC - A sit-down interview with Coach Carroll, getting his final thoughts on Spring Practice - Safety Kevin Ellison mic’d up during practice - Secondary coach Rocky Seto mic’d up during practice - Defensive coordinator Nick Holt mic’d up during practice - Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian mic’d up during the Trojan Huddle
And last, but definitely not least…
- “Pete on the Street,” a hilarious new video feature that has Coach Carroll interviewing people around campus about basic Trojan athletic knowledge. Think “Jaywalking” from the Tonight Show, but potentially even funnier because Carroll is the host.
So stay tuned to USCRipsIt throughout the off-season for more exciting features so that you can continue to live Trojan football.
Film school 04-21-2008 2:09 p.m.
After taking the morning off, coaches are gathering now in offensive and defensive meeting rooms to watch film from Saturday’s 97-play scrimmage. The play-by-play breakdown should take about two hours as they review the team’s last football activity until August.
Join in the fun 04-21-2008 11:58 a.m.
Know an aspiring Trojan who’s 12 or younger? Here’s a perfect opportunity for them to get more involved in USC athletics.
The newly formed Trojan Kids Club offers children 12 and under the chance to get plugged into USC sports. Membership, which costs $20, includes a t-shirt, monthly newsletter, USC school supplies, a mini football and free admission into select Trojan sporting events.
Download the sign-up form here and join the Trojan Kids Club today!
Working on 04-21-2008 11:16 a.m.
Though the coaching staff is taking the morning off, the players are back at it less than two days after the end-of-spring scrimmage. Players have strength and conditioning workouts four days this week (taking Wednesday off) in preparation for the completion of the spring combine testing on Monday and Tuesday of next week.
Quieting down 04-21-2008 10:14 a.m.
The football office is as calm as can be this morning as coaches have the first part of the day off to spend time with their families. The serenity is much-appreciated for the coaching staff, who logged season-like hours throughout Spring Practice.
The tranquility in the office is a sign of life to come around Heritage Hall — call it the calm after the storm — since coaches will be on the road recruiting off and on until June.
For a great read... 04-20-2008 9:16 a.m.
Check out this fantastic feature about Coach Carroll's work in inner-city Los Angeles, from today's L.A. Times.
Want to help make a difference alongside Carroll? Find out how.
