With three linebackers expected to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, there has been much talk inside and outside of Heritage Hall that USC has become "Linebacker University."
"I've always known it's L.B.U., the linebackers have always known it's L.B.U., and the only people it's news to are the people who haven't been watching USC football for the last three to four years," stone-faced linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. said with a hint of jest. "The linebackers came in with a mission to change USC from Tailback U. to L.B.U., where the highest grade of linebackers come to dominate."
Even running backs coach Todd McNair, one of the biggest adversaries of the L.B.U. moniker, has yielded some ground in the name game.
"They've got a heck of a claim to that title -- they can say that with the three horses who are going to be picked in the first round," McNair said in a rare moment of complimenting the linebackers.
But what about the five Heisman Trophies that have been awarded to Trojan running backs over the last 40-plus years? There's a reason USC has been known as "Tailback U." for decades, right?
"When those linebackers were here, I could concede that title," McNair said. "But now that those established stalwarts have departed, the reigning position group of note is the running backs."
McNair paused, taking a deep breath for effect before offering a more all-encompassing nickname for his position group at USC.
"This is R.B.U."
"I've always known it's L.B.U., the linebackers have always known it's L.B.U., and the only people it's news to are the people who haven't been watching USC football for the last three to four years," stone-faced linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. said with a hint of jest. "The linebackers came in with a mission to change USC from Tailback U. to L.B.U., where the highest grade of linebackers come to dominate."
Even running backs coach Todd McNair, one of the biggest adversaries of the L.B.U. moniker, has yielded some ground in the name game.
"They've got a heck of a claim to that title -- they can say that with the three horses who are going to be picked in the first round," McNair said in a rare moment of complimenting the linebackers.
But what about the five Heisman Trophies that have been awarded to Trojan running backs over the last 40-plus years? There's a reason USC has been known as "Tailback U." for decades, right?
"When those linebackers were here, I could concede that title," McNair said. "But now that those established stalwarts have departed, the reigning position group of note is the running backs."
McNair paused, taking a deep breath for effect before offering a more all-encompassing nickname for his position group at USC.
"This is R.B.U."
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