Mike Robbins, a motivational speaker and former Stanford baseball player, talks to USC student-athletes in the Galen Center Founders Room this afternoon as part of the athletic department's P.O.W.E.R. program, a twice-yearly series designed to develop the athletes beyond their sports -- mentally, socially, academically, emotionally and in terms of life skills. The program, run by the USC athletic department's Student-Athlete Academic Services, stands for "Promoting Overall Wellness, Excellence and Responsibility."
With the arena's LED signboards already portending the future -- USC vs. UCLA on Sunday night -- the Trojans wrap up their Monday practice at the Galen Center this afternoon. The crosstown rivalry picks up with a game on USC's floor, to be televised on FSN starting at 7 p.m. Sunday. A limited number of tickets are still available here.
The USC baseball team is going pro. Well, playing in a pro stadium, at least. At 2 p.m. on Feb. 28, the Trojans will face off against UCLA at Dodger Stadium, taking part in a special four-team mini tournament on the legendary diamond in Chavez Ravine. Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased here.
With no courses nearby, members of the USC men's golf team have turned Howard Jones Field into a driving range today, a ritual the squad will employ numerous times during football's offseason. Because Howard Jones and Brian Kennedy fields together cover only about 150 yards, the golfers can only use their short irons.
All high school and junior college coaches -- and even USC football fans -- are invited to the 7th Annual USC/Nike Coach of the Year Clinic on April 9-10 at the Galen Center. The event has sold out in each of the previous six seasons, so be sure to register now before it's too late. Get all the info, including hotel and registration information, here.
It was time for some lunchtime hoops analysis at the Galen Center today. Coaches Kevin O'Neill and Michael Cooper addressed the crowd of about 75 fans in the Founders Room for today's Chalk Talk, discussing the past weekend's games and also looking ahead to their respective matchups against UCLA this coming weekend. O'Neill went through game film of the recent California and Stanford wins, as well. "I thought our guys did a really great job of executing down the stretch," O'Neill told the fans. "We're getting better. Our guys are maturing a lot." Only one Chalk Talk remains in the 2009-10 season, on March 1 in the Galen Center Founders Room. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. and the coaches will speak starting at noon. Walk-ups are accepted for $40 per person. - Originally published on the Trojan Fever Basketball Blog
Men's basketball coach Kevin O'Neill goes through film from Thursday's USC-Cal game during today's Chalk Talk at the Galen Center.
Women's basketball coach Michael Cooper speaks to the fans at today's Chalk Talk at the Galen Center.
Find out what happened in Trojan athletics during the last seven days: - The men's hoops team swept the Bay Area schools at home in back-to-back nail-biters this weekend, moving to within one game of first place in the Pac-10. The Trojans host UCLA on Sunday night at the Galen Center.
- The women's basketball team lost on the road to both Bay Area schools this weekend and next travel to Westwood to face UCLA on Saturday.
- The No. 2-ranked women's water polo team crushed No. 5 UCLA, 13-3, in the third-place match of the Stanford Invitational.
- The top-ranked men's tennis team coasted past San Diego and UC Irvine by identical 7-0 scores last week.
- Coming off a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat at No. 1 Cal State Northridge on Wednesday, the No. 2-ranked men's volleyball team captured a 3-2 victory at No. 9 UC Santa Barbara on Friday.
Not only did four USC alumni appear on the rosters of the two Super Bowl teams, but three Trojans were a part of another key component of Super Sunday. The commercials. Troy Polamalu, Reggie Bush and Mark Sanchez all starred in a Super Bowl ad, meaning three-fourths of the commercials predominantly featuring an active NFL player utilized a USC alum (Brett Favre's Hyundai ad was the other). Check out the Super Bowl commercials that employed the Trojans:
Wideout Brice Butler goes through medicine ball exercises during this morning's strength and conditioning workouts on Howard Jones Field. Sunday's Super Bowl might've signaled the official end to the 2009 football season, but the Trojans are already working toward the 2010 campaign -- and have been doing so for three weeks now.
With the New Orleans Saints' win on Sunday, Reggie Bush becomes just the third player ever to win a Super Bowl, a college national championship and a Heisman Trophy, joining fellow USC alum Marcus Allen, who won a Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders, and Tony Dorsett, who played at Pitt and then won a title with the Dallas Cowboys.
 Photo courtesy of Getty Images
The Saints went marching in for the Super Bowl title on Sunday, and three Trojans came marching out with some new championship jewelry. USC alumni Reggie Bush, Sedrick Ellis and Billy Miller are all on the New Orleans roster, with Bush and Ellis starting and playing key roles in the Saints' 31-17 win over the Colts at Miami's Sun Life Stadium. Check out the Trojans' stats from the big game:
- Tailback Reggie Bush (Saints) logged 63 yards of offense, running five times for 25 yards and catching four passes for 38 yards.
- Defensive lineman Sedrick Ellis (Saints) had three tackles, including one for loss.
- Tight end Billy Miller has been on the Saints' injured reserved list.
- Defensive lineman Fili Moala (Colts) was inactive.
Reggie Bush accounted for 63 yards of offense in the Saints' 31-17 Super Bowl win on Sunday. [Photo courtesy of Getty Images]
 At least one Trojan will have a Super Bowl ring to show off the next time he comes around Heritage Hall. A combined four USC alumni are on the rosters of the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, with three Trojans on the Saints and one on the Colts. So if your rooting interests are still up in the air, the Saints, with a 3-to-1 advantage, should be tugging at a Trojan fan's heartstrings. Here's the key info for Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday:
New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis ColtsSuper Bowl XLIV • Miami Sunday at 3:25 p.m. (CBS)Saints: RB Reggie Bush, DL Sedrick Ellis, TE Billy Miller (on injured reserve) Colts: DL Fili Moala
With the NFL season coming to a close with the Super Bowl on Sunday, we figured it'd be an ideal time to select an all-star team of Trojans currently playing in the League. Check out this star-packed squad of USC alumni and then share your thoughts by submitting a comment:
Offense
QB Carson Palmer
RB Reggie Bush
RB LenDale White
WR Steve Smith
WR Dwayne Jarrett
TE Fred Davis
OT Sam Baker
OG Chilo Rachal
C Ryan Kalil
OG Deuce Lutui
OT Winston Justice
Defense
DE Frostee Rucker
DT Mike Patterson
DT Sedrick Ellis
DE Lawrence Jackson
LB Brian Cushing
LB Lofa Tatupu
LB Keith Rivers
CB Terrell Thomas
S Troy Polamalu
S Kevin Ellison
CB Cary Harris
Special teams
K David Buehler
Following the exhausting few days surrounding Signing Day on Wednesday and an arduous month of recruiting, coaches have received today and the rest of the weekend off from football. They'll return to work Monday, refreshed from their first days off since immediately after the bowl more than a month ago.
 Aaron Ausmus, a former USC assistant who went on to lead strength and conditioning programs at four schools, has returned to the Trojans as head strength and conditioning coach, athletic director Mike Garrett announced today. In 2009, the 35-year-old Ausmus was director of strength and conditioning at Tennessee, where he started his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 1998-99 and then as a part-time assistant in 2000. He was a two-time All-American shot-putter for the Volunteers in 1994-98, including winning the 1997 NCAA indoor shot put title. Ausmus was an assistant strength and conditioning coach at USC in 2001-03. He went on to be the head strength and conditioning coach at Idaho (2004), Mississippi (2005-07) and North Texas (2008).
Tonight's USC-California men's basketball game won't be televised, but you can still feel like you're in the stands at the Galen Center. Or maybe even a little closer. Follow along through the Trojan Fever Basketball Blog starting before tonight's 7:30 p.m. tipoff through the end of the matchup. We'll bring to the basketball blog the same style of coverage you've seen on USCRipsIt, so be sure to tune in for this exclusive, entertaining and behind-the-scenes look into the Trojan hoops team for its game tonight against Pac-10 rival Cal.
The No. 14 USC women's golf team, winner of two national titles in the last seven seasons, will play in its only local tournament of the year when it hosts the Northrup Grumman Regional Challenge at the Palos Verdes Golf Club on Monday through Wednesday next week. Head on out to support the Women of Troy as they officially kick off the 2010 season.
The Trojan hoops team hosts California and Stanford this weekend at the Galen Center. Get your tickets to both games online or at the gate: - Tonight vs. Cal, 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday vs. Stanford, 4:30 p.m.
Seventeen Trojans have been inducted into the 55-member inaugural 2010 class of the Los Angeles High School Sports Hall of Fame. The 17 Trojans either competed or coached at USC or attended the university at some point after prepping at a high school in the Los Angeles City Section. The Trojan inductees and their sport (with high school), listed alphabetically, are: - Lee Barnes, track and field (Hollywood HS)
- Jack Beckner, gymnastics (Franklin HS)
- Ricky Bell, football (Fremont HS)
- Cynthia Cooper, basketball (Locke HS)
- Lillian Copeland, track and field (Los Angeles HS)
- Sheila Cornell-Douty, softball (Taft HS)
- Rod Dedeaux, coach (Hollywood HS)
- Charles Dumas, contributor (Jefferson HS)
- Harry Edelson, coach (Jefferson HS)
- Bob Falkenburg, tennis (Fairfax HS)
- John Ferraro, contributor (Bell HS)
- Mike Garrett, football (Roosevelt HS)
- Alex Hannum, coach (Hamilton HS)
- Sammy Lee, aquatics (Franklin HS)
- Mel Patton, track and field (University HS)
- Makoto Sakamoto, gymnastics (Los Angeles HS)
- Tex Winter, coach (Huntington Park HS)
To be considered for induction, a candidate must be at least 35 years old and a graduate of an L.A. City high school. High school, collegiate and professional achievements were considered by a selection committee comprising L.A. Unified School District administrators and experts in sports history. An induction ceremony is planned for early next year. A permanent exhibit is being planned.
We've received several questions about prospects who have announced their commitments to USC but are not written about on this site. As the team's official site, we are bound by NCAA rules and therefore not permitted to mention a recruit until he sends in a signed letter of intent, which then must be approved by the athletic department.
So continue stay with USCRipsIt for the latest info as it becomes official.
Here's a position-by-position breakdown of the Class of 2010, as of now: - Defensive backs (5): Patrick Hall, Dion Bailey, Anthony Brown, Nickell Robey, Demetrius Wright
- Wide receivers (4): Dillon Baxter, Kyle Prater, Markeith Ambles, Robert Woods
- Tight ends (3): Xavier Grimble, Randall Telfer, Christian Thomas
- Linebackers (2): Hayes Pullard, Glen Stanley
- Offensive linemen (1): Giovanni Di Poalo
- Running back (1): D.J. Morgan
- Quarterback (1): Jessie Scroggins
- Defensive line (1): George Uko
- Fullback (1): Soma Vainuku
Calling all high school coaches -- the 7th Annual USC/Nike Coach of the Year Clinic will be April 9-10 at the Galen Center. Hosted by the Trojan coaching staff, guest speakers will include Oregon's Chip Kelly, Harvard's Tim Murphy and other prominent coaches. Get all the info
here, and print out the registration form
here. For questions, please e-mail clinic director Mark Jackson.
The clinic is open to coaches of all levels and any fans interested in learning from the new coaching staff.
Here's a hometown breakdown of the Class of 2010, as of now: - California (14): WR Dillon Baxter, DB Patrick Hall, DB Dion Bailey, DB Anthony Brown, OL Giovanni Di Paolo, RB D.J. Morgan, LB Hayes Pullard, QB Jesse Scroggins, TE Randall Telfer, TE Christian Thomas, DT George Uko, FB Soma Vainuku, WR Robert Woods, DB Demetrius Wright
- Florida (2): DB Nickell Robey, LB Glen Stanley
- Nevada (1): TE Xavier Grimble
- Illinois (1): WR Kyle Prater
- Georgia (1): WR Markeith Ambles
 It didn't take long for Lane Kiffin to get the Trojans to No. 1 in the nation. Three weeks, to be exact. USC's new head coach, hired Jan. 12, has seemingly been on top of the world since Wednesday night, when the Trojan recruiting class was named the nation's best by Rivals.com following Signing Day 2010."This is beyond exciting for the program and the entire Trojan Family," Kiffin said. "The future looks extremely bright for USC." Besides the No. 1 ranking, the Trojans' 2010 recruiting haul has a drastically higher average star rating than any other program in the country, with a mean of 4.20 stars per prospect on Rivals.com. No other school has an average over 4 stars.USC has signed two of the top four overall prospects on Scout.com (WR Robert Woods and WR Kyle Prater), as well as two of the top six overall prospects on Rivals.com (WR Kyle Prater and WR Robert Woods).The most impressive compilation of recruits comes in the offensive skill positions, with four five-star wideouts, three top-of-the-line tight ends, a stud quarterback, a top tailback and a No. 1 fullback. "This is one of the best collections of skill players in one class we've ever seen anywhere," Kiffin said. The Trojans have signed eight players in the top 3 of their positions on Rivals.com, including five players rated No. 1 at their position. A total of 13 players in the 19-member class are ranked in the top 9 in their position by Rivals.com. "We couldn't be more excited for what came together on Signing Day," Kiffin said. "USC's back at No. 1. Things are looking very good for the future of this program."
With Soma Vainuku's inclusion, here's the as-of-now list of 19 signees in the Class of 2010 (click on the name for a full bio):
 USC has received and approved the signed letter of intent for Soma Vainuku. Here's his bio: Soma Vainuku FullbackEureka, Calif. (Eureka HS) • 6-2, 255The facts on Soma Vainuku...
- Starred at linebacker and fullback as a senior in 2009, earning honors such as Super Prep All-Farwest, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Medium Schools first team and All-Humboldt-Del Norte Big Four League first team
- Had 2,202 yards on 252 carries (8.7 avg.) with 38 TDs on offense and 14 tackles, 1 interception and 1 forced fumbled on defense in 2009
- Eureka won the 2009 CIF North Coast Division II title
- As a junior in 2008, he had 800 rushing yards with 14 TDs on offense and 34 tackles, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble on defense
- As a sophomore in 2007, he had 1,500 rushing yards with 27 TDs
- His father was a rugby star in Tonga
- His cousin is former USC All-American (2005-08) and current Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga
Our 38 continuous hours of Signing Day coverage now comes to a close, rounding out an eventful two days for the Trojan football program. Check out USCRipsIt's must-see stories and videos surrounding Signing Day 2010:
The USC athletic department hosted its annual recruiting celebration banquet tonight at the Galen Center, where more than 500 supporters came out to commemorate USC's Class of 2010 in conjunction with the Trojan coaching staff.
More than 500 supporters fill the floor of the Galen Center for the 2010 recruiting celebration banquet tonight.
Coach Lane Kiffin introduces the newest Trojans to the crowd of 500 during tonight's recruiting celebration at the Galen Center.
To wrap up a marathon day that started at 4 a.m. with the first signed letter of intent, coaches are heading over to the Galen Center Founders Room to host the annual recruiting celebration banquet for athletic department support group members. The event includes dinner, video and presentations by all the coaches to officially introduce the newest crop of Trojans.
See high school highlight videos for each of the Trojans' 18 signees on USCRipsIt's special Signing Day page. Thanks to the Eric Espinoza, Dave Scott, Rich Rodriguez, Mark Haas and Rob McPherson of the USC Video Operations and Video Production offices for their work in editing the clips.
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