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Kickoff times set 05-02-2008 2:43 p.m.
The times and television plans for six of USC’s football games in 2008 have been determined. They are:
- Sept. 13 vs. Ohio State • 5 p.m. on ABC (national) - Sept. 25 (Thursday) at Oregon State • 6 p.m. on ESPN (national) - Oct. 4 vs. Oregon • 5 p.m. on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 - Nov. 8 vs. California • 5 p.m. on ABC - Nov. 29 vs. Notre Dame • 5 p.m. on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 - Dec. 6 at UCLA • 1:30 p.m. on ABC
The remaining kickoff times and television schedules will be determined in early June.
Rivalry 05-02-2008 11:43 a.m.
It's a busy weekend for the cross-town rivalry.
The annual USC-UCLA dual meet is all day Saturday at Drake Stadium in Westwood, while the USC and UCLA rowing teams battle in a head-to-head race in San Pedro. Though only a crazy and highly unlikely set of circumstances would keep the Trojans from claiming the Lexus Gauntlet for the fourth time in seven years, the rivalry matchups are always thrilling events.
Sparq and fire 05-02-2008 10:42 a.m.
We received a reader question about the comparison between Nike Sparq Training and USC strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle’s program in Heritage Hall.
To put it simply, they’re very close relatives, as Carlisle has lent his expertise to the up-and-coming training product.
“Our philosophies are very similar,” Carlisle said of USC and Sparq. “When we look at the trainable aspects of building athleticism, speed, power, agility, reaction and quickness (SPARQ) are very similar to ours: speed, agility, power, endurance and strength. Because of this similar philosophy, we are able to blend our ideas into a workable format for all sports.”
Sparq has even incorporated a key tool of Carlisle’s program and named it after him: the Carlisle Speed Box, which helps develop quickness and explosiveness through a simple plyometric exercise.
Coach Carroll’s thoughts on the BCS 05-01-2008 2:26 p.m.
USC Football announced today the launch of its inaugural 7-on-7 Passing Camp for high school players. The camp is set for June 19 and 20 at Howard Jones field on the USC campus. For more information and to sign up, click here or contact director of player personnel Jared Blank at jblank@usc.edu.
Also, check out the schedule of USC’s other summer kids camps.
High marks 05-01-2008 11:24 a.m.
The peak performances of the recently completed end-of-spring combine tests will be published on USCRipsIt, so be checking back to see how the Trojans did in this year’s installment of the pro-style assessments.
Picked up 05-01-2008 10:09 a.m.
Cincinnati is turning into the USC of the east.
Tight end Dale Thompson was picked up by the Cincinnati Bengals, making him the third rookie Trojan to join the Bengals this week (along with Keith Rivers and Alex Morrow) and reuniting him with veterans Carson Palmer and Frostee Rucker as the other USC alumni on the roster.
Shout out 05-01-2008 9:48 a.m.
It’s a few months after the fact, but the video USCRipsIt did on Sam Baker’s truck in January got a mention in the “Morning Briefing” column in today’s L.A. Times. In case you missed it, see it here:
Correction 05-01-2008 9:46 a.m.
In a blog entry yesterday, we incorrectly stated that Sedrick Ellis went to the Cincinnati Bengals with the ninth pick of the Draft. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the seventh pick in last weekend’s NFL Draft. Our apologies for the mix-up with Keith Rivers’ draft result.
Opportunity of a lifetime 04-30-2008 1:50 p.m.
Defensive end Alex Morrow could’ve been a starter at almost any other school in the country, Coach Carroll always said.
So it’s not that surprising that the 6-6, 270-pound Morrow is about to get his shot in the NFL.
Morrow has a workout lined up with the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday and most likely will be signed as a free agent right away, said defensive coordinator Nick Holt, who recently spoke with Morrow. But if things don’t pan out with the Bengals, Morrow has another workout scheduled with the New York Giants next week.
Homecoming 04-30-2008 1:43 p.m.
Just days after the NFL Draft, nose guard Sedrick Ellis has returned to Heritage Hall this afternoon to say hi to his old coaches and teammates and get a workout in. The seventh pick of the Draft leaves next week for a rookie minicamp with the New Orleans Saints.
Posterized 04-30-2008 1:17 p.m.
We received a reader question about the 2008 football posters (see what the 2007 version looked like here). According to USC’s athletic marketing department, they’re currently being designed and should be available for free by the end of May.
Study time 04-30-2008 11:38 a.m.
Fullback Stanley Havili receives instruction from academic tutor Emily Beal as he works on a final paper for a Policy, Planning and Development class in Student-Athlete Academic Services this morning. It’s the last week of the spring semester and finals start next week, so players are getting down to business in their class work.
Volunteers 04-30-2008 11:14 a.m.
With the end-of-spring combine tests in the books, players now have several weeks off of organized workouts before the summer conditioning program begins in late May. Head strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle encourages players to take this time to rest, heal and focus on schoolwork, but many Trojans will do voluntary workouts on their own schedules to stay in shape during the next few weeks.
Snap on 04-30-2008 10:54 a.m.
Snapper Will Collins' football career is living on.
USC’s four-year starting long snapper has been invited to the New York Jets’ rookie minicamp, which begins Friday and goes through Sunday.
Though he hasn’t been signed yet, Collins has the opportunity he was waiting for.
“It all depends on what I do,” he said. “I’ve got to fight to get a contract.”
Groundwork 04-30-2008 10:09 a.m.
Most coaches are out on the road recruiting, but those who are in the office are slaving away in front of film of USC’s first two opponents of the 2008 season. Coaches and graduate assistants are breaking down each play that Virginia and Ohio State ran in 2007 on both sides of the ball to begin to understand their tendencies and lay the groundwork for the respective game plans.
Never too early... 04-29-2008 2:41 p.m.
We're only, oh, a year away from the 2009 NFL Draft, but why not look ahead? ESPN.com's 2009 mock draft is high on the Trojans much ike the 2008 actual version, with defensive lineman Fili Moala projected to go No. 1 next year. Linebackers Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing also go in the first round of the insanely early draft projections.
Eastward ho 04-29-2008 1:53 p.m.
Each spring before an out-of-conference away game, director of football operations Dennis Slutak goes on a logistical scouting trip to check out the Trojans’ accommodations, see the opponent’s stadium and find a local high school for the team to practice at on the Friday before the game.
This year, the Trojans play at Virginia in the season-opener, so Slutak is heading to Charlottesville, Va., on Monday and Tuesday next week to take care of all the operational minutiae before the team’s trip there in August.
USCRipsIt is going with Slutak to Virginia, so we’ll have a behind-the-scenes feature bringing you along on the ride to Charlottesville and giving you a sneak peek at the Trojans’ first road trip of 2008. You can expect this unique article, complete with pictures, next Wednesday.
Film experts 04-29-2008 1:31 p.m.
SC Video Productions can be considered Trojan athletics’ very own movie studio, as the department churns out one neat feature after another. Read all about the operation in the latest article from USCRipsIt.
Flashback to the future 04-29-2008 11:42 a.m.
Want to play for the Trojans but you’re out of either eligibility or shape?
Well, have no fear, here’s your chance to experience USC football no matter your age or fitness level.
The Trojan Flashback Football Camp is set for June 11-13, when you’ll get to be coached by the USC football staff, participate in drills and even play on the Coliseum field to cap off the three-day camp that features several Trojan legends.
Registration is still open, so visit the camp’s website to learn more and sign up.
Assessing their abilities
04-29-2008 10:02 a.m.
Players are completing their end-of-spring combine tests today with 40-yard dashes, three-cone drills and pro agility shuttles. The results will then be combined together and scored by the strength and conditioning staff to give each player a “grade,” with the highest possible score being 100.
Trying out
04-28-2008 1:39 p.m.
While many of his fellow graduates were getting their names called in New York this weekend, Brent Yoshida was preparing for a chance of his own.
A very different chance of his own.
The cornerback/wideout, who has trained with USC’s strength and conditioning staff since the Rose Bowl, is getting a tryout with the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League on Tuesday. He’s flying out today and will get a look as defensive back from the Arena team during an individual workout tomorrow.
Crunch time in the classroom
04-28-2008 11:34 a.m.
After today and Tuesday’s end-of-spring combine tests, the players will take several weeks off from the off-season strength and conditioning program. The break’s a good thing, too, since players have other things to focus on. It’s crunch time for school right now, as this is the final week of the semester and finals start next Wednesday.
Kevin Ellison mic’d up
04-28-2008 11:07 a.m.
We’ve taken you behind the scenes with the quarterbacks and the coaches, and now it’s time to see what life is like on the defensive side of the ball during practice. All-Pac-10 first-team safety Kevin Ellison was mic’d up for a practice this spring, so see the results in the latest video from USCRipsIt, produced by Mark Haas:
Free agent signing
04-28-2008 10:58 a.m.
Offensive lineman Drew Radovich signed a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings.
On the road again
04-28-2008 10:26 a.m.
The USC football office is about as tranquil as possible this morning as coaches have hit the road recruiting for much of the next month. This four-week evaluation period plays a very significant role in choosing the Trojans’ recruiting class of 2009, so coaches will be racking up the miles in airline frequent flier programs and on rental cars as they bounce around the area, state and nation in pursuit of the next Trojans.
Test day
04-28-2008 9:48 a.m.
The current Trojans watched as 10 of their former teammates got picked in this weekend’s NFL Draft.
Now it’s time for them to get to work so they can be there someday, too.
Today and Tuesday mark the end-of-spring combine tests for the Trojans, who use the various strength, speed and explosiveness assessments to not only compete against each other and strive for improvement, but also to prepare for when they do these tests for real at the NFL Combine.
Today, players are being tested on vertical jump, standing long jump, medicine ball throw and 225-pound bench press reps. Tuesday, the players will do the 40-yard dash, three-cone test and pro agility shuttle.
Receiver Ronald Johnson soars through the air on his standing long jump test Monday morning.
Wideout Garrett Green leaps during his vertical jump test this morning.
A perfect 10
04-28-2008 9:09 a.m.
The Trojans had quite a weekend.
Ten former USC players were selected in the NFL Draft, including four in the first round. Both numbers are the most of any school this year.
“It’s our goal that the success of this program doesn’t stop when our players graduate, but that it carries on into the NFL,” Coach Carroll said. “This year’s draft results are a remarkable statement of our program.”
