November 2010 Archives

• On the injury front, T.J. McDonald looks unlikely to play.  The safety's shoulder is still in a sling.  However, Jawanza Starling returned to practice, so he'll be in the safety mix with Tony Burnett and Marshall Jones.
• The corner position is depleted.  Torin Harris and Brian Baucham are both out for now, so Daniel Harper is in position to swipe the nickel spot behind starters Shareece Wright and Nickell Robey.
• Tyron Smith missed Saturday's game and practice tonight.  The massive junior was asked about his NFL future and he is leaning towards returning for his senior season.
• The highlight of practice was walk-on QB John Manoogian throwing two perfect balls to the delight of his offensive teammates.  The defense took their retribution when they sent him flying on a QB scramble later in the drive.  I guess they didn't see the yellow jersey.
• The LA Times reported today that Lane Kiffin told T.J. Simers that Matt Barkley was going to play against UCLA.  If he made the statement, the head coach seemed to back off the certainty of it in the post-practice presser (below).  Barkley did not seem to mind.  "If he says so, yeah," Barkley answered about Kiffin's reported proclamation.  "I plan on playing.  There's a big possibility that I could be good to go."
  
• Barkley enjoyed the news report about the USC prank on their crosstown rivals.  "I like how we dyed their fountains red this week.  That was pretty good."
• Whether it is Barkley or Mitch Mustain behind center, Ronald Johnson will be lining up out wide.  The senior receiver was inconsolable after his costly drop against Notre Dame, but he's trying to move past it.  "It was pretty tough, but I'm over it now," RoJo said.  "This is just going to help me build as a man, as a football player.  I just can't wait for the future to come."
• Lane Kiffin knows how personally Johnson takes football and his teammates.  "He's never going to truly recover from that," said Kiffin about how much RoJo cares.  "That's always going to be a scar and a weight on his shoulders."
• The good news is that Johnson will get one more chance in cardinal and gold to make amends.  "I get a chance to redeem myself," said a motivated Johnson, who has been supported wholeheartedly by his teammates.  "They've told me that I've made a lot of good plays here and that doesn't define my career.  I'm going to roll with that.  These guys are my family."
• Looking to the future, I spoke with Kyle Prater, who hopes to inherit RoJo's starting spot next year.  He is finally healthy and starting to show off his immense skill set.  "I'm feeling good," said Prater.  "I'm focusing on getting my body right and looking forward to next season."
• Prater will hopefully be a red zone threat in the mold of recent past Trojan greats Mike Williams and Dwayne Jarrett.  "I feel I can fill that void and everything else as well," said Prater, who expects the redshirt year to be a mental advantage going into next season.  "I bring the total package and I'm going to do everything to help my team get better."
• Usually, the old guys council the young pups, but Prater was there to console Ronald Johnson just like the rest of his teammates.  "I told him to keep his head and that we all are not perfect.  Look at it as a learning tool and everything is going to be alright."
• Here is Lane Kiffin on the third to last practice of the season...

• T.J. Simers sat down with controversial USC student/agent Teague Egan.
• Gary Klein checked in on Matt Barkley's progress.
• Apparently, some Bruins have revenge on their minds for last year's late USC TD pass.
• ABC caught a rivalry prank on camera.
  
• The Daily News is keeping tabs on USC's men's water polo team.
• Five Trojans made the NFL Network's Top 100 list (Ronnie Lott, O.J. Simpson, Marcus Allen, Bruce Matthews and Anthony Munoz).
• Marcia Smith believes USC's seniors deserve a proper sendoff.
  
• Scott Wolf looks at the USC-UCLA rivalry from Lane Kiffin's perspective.
• ESPNLA.com's Mark Saxon looks at the Trojans' season.
• Pedro Moura compiled the top ten games in the historic crosstown showdown.
• Finally, check out this cool video made by Thomas Reiten of the Trojan Walk...

Fight On from Thomas Reiten on Vimeo.

• The USC women's volleyball team were five-set winners in Westwood last Friday night.  The Trojans spiked the Bruins 15-13 in the final set.
• Now, Mick Haley's squad will head to the NCAA tournament where they will host first and second round matches at the Galen Center this Friday and Saturday (12/3 and 12/4).  USC will tip things off with New Mexico at 7 p.m. Friday night.  Both games this weekend will be broadcast for FREE on USCTrojans.com.
• In a dramatic sudden death final, USC men's water polo knocked off Stanford to win the MPSF tournament in Palo Alto. 
  
• Jovan Vavic's team will have all the momentum heading into this week's NCAA tournament in Berkeley as they try to defend their back-to-back national championships.
• USC men's basketball will take on TCU tonight in Fort Worth, TX.  The Trojans need a victory after a heartbreaking loss at Nebraska Saturday when they let a 20-point lead slip.  You can listen to tonight's game audio on USCTrojans.com or watch the game on DirecTV channel 616.
  
• Behind Christina Marinacci's 18 rebounds, USC women's basketball salvaged a split at the Vanderbilt Thanksgiving Tournament.
• If you would like to see all the post-game reaction and photo galleries from the football loss to Notre Dame, scroll down.
• Finally, a huge shout out to Trojan alum Amy Rodriguez who fired the U.S. women's soccer team into the 2011 World Cup when she slotted home the game-winner against Italy.

• For the most part, I try to keep the blog fair and (relatively) impartial.  However, what separates this space from others that cover USC is that I get a chance to know these young men.  Ronald Johnson is as good a man as you will ever want to meet.  He dropped a ball on the final USC drive that would have changed the outcome of the game.  He felt the cruel reality of sports tonight just as the Boise State kicker did yesterday.  I feel for him and the Trojan family should support a senior, who did it the right way for four years.

• "It's just part of the game.  You drop balls," said Mitch Mustain about the unforgettable play.  "That one probably would've changed the outcome, but it doesn't matter.  I don't know if there's a worse feeling than that." 
  

• As for the play of the first time starter at quarterback, Mustain was reined in most of the night.  "Obviously, we played pretty conservative," said Lane Kiffin about the gameplan.  The head coach's plan was to avoid negative plays like sacks and turnovers.  Mustain was never sacked and the Trojans were +4 in turnovers until the game-clinching interception.  "If we execute and do our role and our part, we win the game," said Mustain, who applauded Kiffin's plan despite his natural urge to cut it loose.

• Kiffin had trouble assessing Mustain's performance due to the swing nature of the one big play.  "We're talking about him being a hero if we catch that ball," said Kiffin.  "He was a little shaky early, but I thought he settled down."

• The defense's performance is hard to label as well.  They willed the team back into the game behind a ferocious rally, including three turnovers, which set up all 13 second half points.  All the sudden, they were jumping nearly every pass play like they were in the Irish huddle.  "We knew what they were doing the whole time," said safety Marshall Jones.  "We made our adjustments and we were right with it." 

• Jones was forced to play next to walk-on Tony Burnett after T.J. McDonald injured his shoulder (likely a separation, according to Kiffin) on the first series.  Burnett had run track at USC, but this is his first season playing football.  "Tony did great," said Jones.  "At first, I was a little shaky, but he came in making tackles, making plays."

• While the defense was mostly positive, they could not keep Notre Dame from powering down the field on the game-winning drive.  "If you can't finish, none of that matters," said LB Chris Galippo about the good things the defense did most of the night.  Kiffin turned it on the offense though for putting the D in that position.  "You can't let people keep hanging around," said the head coach.

• If things had worked out differently, Manti Te'o and Michael Floyd could have been wearing cardinal and gold tonight.  Both players were looked at as future Trojans, but chose Notre Dame at the crucial moment of asking.  Te'o was everywhere tonight and Floyd hauled in 11 receptions.  Kiffin and Ed Orgeron know as well as anyone in this business that February results set the table for November glory.

• At halftime, I asked senior associate athletic director J.K. McKay what his record was against Notre Dame as a Trojan wideout.  He was 2-1.  Plus, he pointed out the winner of the game went on to win the national championship all three seasons.  In the big picture, both these programs have a ways to go to return the rivalry to what it was.

• USC had another big night on special teams, headlined by senior Joe Houston's career performance.  He made all three field goals, including a 45-yarder, which was the first time he was successful from 40+ yards.  As you can see for yourself below, he had no interest in talking about his individual success...

By USCTrojans.com Blog Contributor Stephanie Graves

It was a tale of two halves against the Fullerton Titans this evening:

• During the first half, CSUF had an answer for almost every Trojan obstacle. Though USC never trailed, it was clear they weren't performing to their potential shooting around 44.4 percent in the first half. Maurice Jones only had four points in the first half while "Trojan Tower" Nikola Vucevic had trouble in the post missing several easy layups.

• In the second half, the Trojans jumped ahead and never looked back. First off, USC's shooting improved to 60.7 percent in the second half. When the damange was done, USC's freshman phenom led all scorers with 20 points and 5 assists. Alex Stepheson finished the game with a double-double despite being in constant pain from a broken hand. By the time the game ended, there wasn't a single starter left on the Galen Center hardwood.

• Looking ahead to the weekend in Nebraska and beyond, Head Coach Kevin O'Neill is putting the emphasis on defense firmly believing that as long as this team continues to improve on the big D they will always be in it at the end of the game no matter what. He applauded the toughness of his injured senior foward and his freshman trio of Mo Jones, Bryce Jones and Garrett Jackson who played extensive minutes tonight, but still feels that toughness is something this team could take to the next level.

Here's the Player of the Game, Maurice Jones, with his opinion on his team's first half struggles, what made the difference and spending Thanksgiving with his new Trojan Family in Nebraska:

If you cannot make it to the Coliseum Saturday for the "greatest intersectional rivalry" in collegiate athletics, you can watch it on TV on ABC at 5 p.m. pacific.

If you are not in the designated coverage area below, you can watch it on ESPN3.com or ESPN PPV.

Each week, we shift the emphasis to the left side of the hyphen and have a wide-ranging conversation with one of our diverse scholar-athletes.

Sport: Women's Crew

Class: Senior

Major: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

GPA: 3.69

Jordan Moore (JM): I am from New Jersey as well.  Where is West Deptford?  You're not in Snookie country are you?

Kate McFetridge (KM): West Deptford is in South Jersey, I'm about ten minutes away from the bridge to Philadelphia.  Lol.  I had no idea what Snookie country was until I just googled it.  I have never watched Jersey Shore in my life!  I can say from what I've heard from other people I don't think its cast members are much like the people around WD.

JM: So, when I say "The City," do you think Philadelphia or New York?

KM: Philadelphia!!  This is my favorite city in the country.

KM: Cheesesteak of course!  There is nothing like a Philly cheesesteak.  My dad makes the best pizza and cheesesteaks around.

JM: Did you come to USC to be a doctor or a rower?

KM: A doctor.  I got the okay to travel across the country from my parents because I was accepted into USC's Baccalaureate MD Program which guarantees you acceptance into the Keck School of Medicine upon satisfying certain GPA and MCAT requirements.  Learning about rowing was an absolute accident - I walked up to the rowing table at the involvement fair during the first week of school freshman year and was like, "Do you guys have a field hockey team?"  And they were like, "No, but come row!"  "I was like, what's rowing? OK!" :)

KM: There is a tradition that when you win, the rowers throw their coxswains in the water.  I dream of throwing one of my coxswains in the water at PAC-10s or NCAA day in and day out.

JM: Do you have your friends yell at you when you are studying for medical exams?

KM: Haha not quite, but I surely do appreciate all the the support that these women give me.  It's really your teammates that keep you going when school is tough and life is hard.

KM: Haha well the girls on my field hockey team in high school used to call me "McNasty" because of my hockey skills, but I don't think that would be too appropriate or comforting for my patients.  My rowing coach at home calls me "McLovin." It will be interesting to see what the field of medicine brings out.

JM: You were recently accepted into the Teach for America program.  With all that you have going on, why is it important to you to put that on pause so you can help kids?

KM: Could you buy me a single?? : ) To be honest, figuring out how I would support myself financially while training to see if I can even get to the Olympic level is one of my greatest challenges.  I am hoping that while teaching in Philadelphia, I will be able to see if I continue progressing and have any shot at making the national team.  After the two year stint of teaching I can see myself making a more definitive move to either go to medical school or shoot for 2016.

JM: The 2016 Olympics are in Rio de Janeiro.  That sounds like a sign to me...

• Mitch Mustain took about 90 percent of the quarterback reps in practice, with John Manoogian filling the other ten percent. Although Matt Barkley watched the first half of practice in sweats and walking with crutches and a boot on his left leg, Coach Lane Kiffin has not yet ruled him out for Saturday, and was hopeful that the quarterback could practice on Wednesday. "We've had two or three guys who haven't practiced on Tuesdays and start (that week)," Kiffin remarked. He also confirmed that even without taking a practice snap this week, if Barkley were healthy enough to play on Saturday, he will.

• With all the hoopla surrounding the quarterback situation, the defense made sure that it got some attention out on Howard Jones field tonight. Kiffin called it an "aggressive and spirited performance," and unlike any he had seen since his previous tenure as the Trojans' offensive coordinator. They'll need to maintain that intensity - although the Irish no longer have the tandem of Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate, offensive-minded Head Coach Brian Kelly has still managed to help the team average 26.3 points per game, despite a slew of injuries.

• One of the people tasked with shutting down the Irish attack is linebacker Chris Galippo, who was heavily recruited in South Bend before signing with USC. After suffering a concussion against Oregon State, Galippo watched practice from the sidelines, but is experiencing minimal effects from the injury. He underwent the requisite regimen of health measurements, and afterward said that he actually scored higher the Sunday after the OSU game than he did previously this year.

• In preparing for the Notre Dame offense, Galippo knows that he has his work cut out for him. "They're probably one of the top three O-lines that we've faced this year," He said. "Walking off the bus, they look like they're an NFL offensive line."

• Despite not traveling to Oregon State and his status for Notre Dame still unclear because of an incident involving an agent, Dillon Baxter continued to practice. The team is awaiting a response from the compliance department regarding Baxter's eligibility to return on Saturday.

• The team has apparently cut ties with highly recruited freshman Markeith Ambles, as Kiffin declared that he is no longer a part of the USC football program. Ambles struggled to break into the rotation at wide receiver this year, and was ineligible to redshirt after appearing in games earlier this season.

• The Irish are a familiar program to kicker Joe Houston, who was raised in a household of Notre Dame supporters. Since joining the Trojans three seasons ago, Houston's family has made the rare switch of allegiances between rival teams. "We're definitely Cardinal and Gold all the way," Houston said. The contest also represents Houston's final game in the Coliseum, and what better way than to face an old friend. "Growing up rooting for a team and then playing against them is going to be something special. This is as big as they get. It's a dream come true."

In honor of Notre Dame week, we are running a section of Trojans 360: Pat Haden for FREE as he described to me what it was like to call USC's miraculous comeback from the Irish NBC booth.

It's great stuff.  Enjoy...

Compiled by USCTrojans.com Blog Contributor Stephanie Graves

It's all about the Men of Troy, past and present, in today's headlines:

• Ladies first: The world of lacrosse is hoping that USC will become the west coast "hub" for the sport with the addition of a women's team in 2012.
• USC Basketball's freshman trio earned their keep against New Mexico State over the weekend.
• Current USC Offensive Guard Khaled Holmes stepped into the shoes of a modern-day philosopher and started a blog, proposing his thoughts on love using Greek mythology.
• With starting QB Matt Barkley currently rehabilitating a high ankle sprain, Mitch Mustain could make his first start since 2006 against the Irish.
• Speaking of the Irish, the Trojans look for redemption back at home facing Notre Dame.
• Kiffin hopes that redemption is fueled by the weekend's more-than-difficult loss against OSU.  
• And even the USC Trojan Marching Band is gearing up to fight some Irish with a series of events including their traditional "Up the Irish" rally featuring appearances from former Trojan Football legends.
• Turning our attention on our distinguished alumni, kicker David Buehler is making a name for himself in the NFL much like he did at USC.
• Finally, a little over a year after his horrifying accident, former USC RB Stafon Johnson sits down with NBC's Fred Roggin and remembers that "it was just one of those days" in the weight room when he nearly lost his life. He remembers looking back and asking himself "How can I make a negative situation turn positive?" despite being inches, literally, away from death.  

In regards to reports of USC players attending a party sponsored an NFL agent, here is the finding of Dave Roberts, USC's director of compliance.

"Today's media reports about USC student-athletes attending a May 2009 party allegedly sponsored by an NFL player agent and his affiliated company are untrue.

"USC's investigation conducted today revealed that USC student-athletes attended parties in May and September of 2009.  One or both of the parties were allegedly put on by a USC student or his affiliated company;  however, that student did not become an NFL agent until October of 2010." 

"Both parties were open to all USC students.  Our investigation revealed that USC student-athletes who attended the functions paid the same posted cover and refreshment charges that were paid by all attendees."

While I'm in Colorado through Thursday, Jason Pommier stepped in for the weekly chat with Lane Kiffin.

• The streak continues.  The Trojans have now lost their last five games in the state of Oregon and last three at Reser Stadium.  "They always get up for SC," Lane Kiffin tried to explain the Beavers' success against his program.  "Somehow, someway, we ended up exactly like we always do up here, down by 20 in the first half."
  

• The small picture lead of the night was that the offense played their worst game of the season.  "I'm really shocked by the outcome of this game," Kiffin said.  "Obviously, our offense was terrible today."  After two dominant performances, the offensive line bore the brunt of the blame.  They allowed four sacks, 43 negative rush yards and several holding penalties.  "Hopefully, we'll go back to playing how we did the last couple of weeks," said Kiffin, who had no answers for why the group struggled.

• In the grand scheme, Matt Barkley's ankle injury is the biggest story.  "If I hadn't worn my knee brace, my knee would've been blown out," said Barkley about getting rolled up on.  The QB will rehab hard in the hope that he can make a miraculous recovery in time for Notre Dame or at least UCLA, but the odds are stacked against him.  "I know how to bounce back and you just gotta stay positive and be there for my team regardless of if I'm going to play or not and be that leader that they need."

• In his stead, Mitch Mustain took his most meaningful snaps since his freshman year at Arkansas.  Despite all the time off, he had no time to ease back in.  "You can't put a guy in a much worse situation," Kiffin said.  While he missed some throws, his composure was impressive.  After a TD drive, he briefly brought life back into the sideline.  "A comeback is always a good story," said Mustain.  "It's always fun, but it just didn't swing our way."

• Patience paid off tonight for C.J. Gable as well.  The fifth-year senior has mostly been out of the running back rotation this season, but he provided the lone spark for a frigid offense tonight.  "I'm just happy that I got the opportunity and that they had the belief in me, so I just went out there and did what I had to do," said Gable, who averaged 5.7 yards per carry.  "Hopefully, they give me more opportunities these last two games to finish it out and help this team get wins."

• He might just get more chances with Marc Tyler's ankle injury acting up, which forced him out of the contest for most of the second half.  Chris Galippo was knocked out early with a concussion and Tyron Smith missed the end of the game with a knee injury.  All three players expect to play Saturday against Notre Dame.

• All week, we harped on the turnover margin statistic on the blog.  Not only did the Trojans finish -2 for the game (now -8 in the last three trips), Barkley threw a killer pick-six on the second offensive drive.  "That play happens and you have the feeling of 'Here we go again,'" said Kiffin, who called a conservative gameplan early to avoid the big mistake.  "I'm sure everybody had that feeling.  It's what we were trying to guard against so much."

• The defense tried to answer back with turnovers, but the Beavers just don't give it up.  "It was a difficult task," said DT Jurrell Casey about prying the ball from Jacquizz Rodgers, who has still never fumbled in a regular season college game.  "A couple times we did strip at the ball, but Jacquizz held on tight."  Wes Horton had  a strip-sack and they almost had two interceptions, but Oregon State still has just seven turnovers on the season, a nation's best.
  

• While we are giving credit to the Beavers, DT Stephen Paea is the real deal.  He spent the night in USC's backfield despite constant double teams.  "He did a good job," said Casey about his counterpart.  "I watched him the whole night and he played a hell of a game.  He shut our offense down."  Paea finished with a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.  You'll hear his name called early in the next NFL Draft.

• The Trojans won't return to Corvallis until 2015 or 2016, so they have plenty of time to ponder the question, how do you beat these guys in Reser Stadium?  "I have no idea," Kiffin admitted.  "Coach [Carroll] didn't figure it out and I don't have it figured out."  This was by far the toughest road environment of the season with a raucous crowd and icy temperatures.
  

• Here is the current quarterback of the Trojans, Mitch Mustain...

• Corners T.J. Bryant and Torin Harris had MRIs on their shoulders this week, but they are expected to be available for Oregon State.
• Dillon Baxter was in the hospital today with an undisclosed illness, but Lane Kiffin expects that he'll make the trip to Corvallis.  Marc Tyler was officially named the starter.
• Jawanza Starling has not practiced all week after missing the Arizona game, so I would not expect to see him in uniform this weekend.  Marshall Jones will likely start again at safety.
• Asked about Washington's black uniforms (currently airing on ESPN), Kiffin admitted that he wanted USC to play with black socks for one game this season and he introduced black uniforms at Tennessee last season, but he did not think the Trojan tradition would welcome the change.
  
• Stanley Havili has emerged as the true leader of this USC team and he's happy with how the team responded tonight after two negative practices.  "I can tell you from the practice today that the guys are on it," said Havili, who is not concerned about the team overlooking Oregon State.  "It does not look like a trap game."
• However, Havili admitted that the younger Trojans need to understand the value of practicing hard every day.  "It just has to be a mentality.  A lot of the younger guys just don't understand how much practice means here.  We can't just turn it on on gameday like in high school.  The way you practice is the way you play."
• The fullback has been a staple of this program for five years, but he only has three games left.  "I have been thinking about it since the first game.  I've got to play my heart out these last three games for USC."
• Asked about his legacy, Havili kept it simple.  "I was dependable.  That I was a good player here and guys respected me on and off the field."
• Havili is renowned for his work ethic, so I asked him about the freshman that are redshirting this season to see who is putting in the most work to get better.  "Kyle Prater is probably one of the hardest workers.  He's always out there early and out there late," said the senior captain, who also acknowledged tight ends Randall Telfer and Xavier Grimble.  "The tight ends are always out here because they have Rhett [Ellison] as their leader and he's probably the hardest worker on the team."
  
• Senior captain Malcolm Smith is also well aware that his college career is coming to an end.  "I have been thinking about it all season," Smith echoed Havili's sentiments.  "Every game is one less opportunity.  It's been a long time coming, but it's definitely come and gone very fast."
• Smith has made it clear to his teammates how badly he wants to get a win this weekend.  "We haven't won there and it's a big deal for us to get a win and not go out as just losing in the state of Oregon."
• Lane Kiffin did not know that Jacquizz Rodgers has never fumbled in a regular season college game, but he described the streak as "phenomenal."  Malcolm Smith tried to explain it, "He's got those arms that lock the ball down, biceps and everything."
• Here is Kiffin explaining the final preparations for Oregon State...
  
  
  
  
  
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• Gary Klein talks about the defensive line's role in this week's gameplan.
• He also profiled Marc Tyler's ascension.
• Marcia Smith focused more specifically on the defensive ends.
• Michael Lev inquires about Matt Barkley's timing.
• Scott Wolf assesses the challenge that is Jacquizz.
• On the basketball front, Baxter Holmes draws a parallel between Kevin O'Neill and Chip Kelly.
• Mark Saxon featured OSU's disruptor DT Stephen Paea.

• USC started its season with three games in five days and a rotation of basically six players.  They never seemed to have the legs tonight to keep up with a sweet shooting Rider team.  "We looked like we were in chill out mode and we can't be in chill out mode against anybody," said head coach Kevin O'Neill.

• The Trojans also showed that youth is a double-edged sword.  USC starts a true freshman tandem in the backcourt in Maurice and Bryce Jones.  After dynamic performances in Monday's win, they were guilty of poor shot selection and decision making tonight, especially as the deficit continued to mount.  "Our youth showed through," O'Neill said about how the team handled adversity.  "Obviously we have a lot to learn and a lot to do to grow up and be a good team."
  

• Kevin O'Neill demands defensive intensity, so he was terribly disappointed in the Trojans inability to challenge shots or get on the floor for loose balls.  "In my two years, that's the worst we have been defensively," O'Neill said.  "We talked about taking the three out of the game and if you look at it, they shot 12 for 19." 
  

• The Beavers are coming off an embarrassing home loss to Washington State, while the Trojans are riding high on the heels of their big win in Tuscon.  No worries, right?  Wrong.  After seeing USC's energy level in practice this week, Lane Kiffin is concerned that the Trojans are looking ahead to the two upcoming rivalry games.
• Despite the flat practice, Kiffin singled out Jurrell Casey and Stanley Havili as two players who always bring their best effort.
• Chris Galippo won back the starting middle linebacker job the old-fashioned way.  He kept his mouth shut and played hard.  "It's a combination of my patience throughout the year and having a good attitude," Galippo surmised why the coaches moved him up.  "When you're patient, I guess good things come."
• Devon Kennard has moved positions twice in his young USC career, but he is not expected to go back to defensive end anytime soon.  "Devon Kennard is the future of our program at the 'Mike' linebacker position," LB coach Joe Barry said.
• Both players are expected to contribute a lot on Saturday against Oregon State, where they'll be tasked with tackling Jacquizz Rodgers.  "He is a dangerous, dangerous football player," Barry said.  "No doubt about it."
• "I wouldn't even say his quickness is his strength, I'd say his balance and his vision," Galippo said about Rodgers.  "He's just a heck of a competitor.  He's got a chip on his shoulder and he talks a lot."
• At only 5'6", Quizz can be hard to find behind massive offensive linemen.  "Where it's tough is when he takes a hand-off, trying to choose which hole he is going to run through," said Galippo, who explained that the Trojans need to be sound in their gap discipline.
  
• Both Barry and Galippo acknowledged that the linebacking corps has been boosted by the healthy return of Malcolm Smith, who has forced three turnovers in the last two games.  "We are seeing glimpses the last two weeks of what I was hoping to get for 13 straight games," Barry said.  "It's good to see #6 out there running around and making plays."
• Barry played at USC when Mike Riley was a coordinator on the staff.  He has always been a big fan of Oregon State's head coach.  "Mike Riley is a lot nicer than I am, I guarantee you that," said Barry, who is one of the nicest coaches you will ever meet.  "He might be one of the kindest humans that I have ever run across."
• Here is a less than pleased Lane Kiffin...

• Lane Kiffin listed the injury omissions from practice in the video below.  Most notably, Ed Orgeron is walking without a boot, which is probably bad news for the defensive line.
• As for the players, the offensive tackles are finally fully healthy on the heels of their best performance of the season.  Matt Kalil is happy to get back to the weekly grind.  "I hate it," Kalil said about missing practice.  "I have to practice.  I can't sit and just watch.  It kills me.  I want to be out there practicing."
• Tyron Smith and Kalil have been the unsung heroes of this offense.  Matt Barkley has been sacked just 13 times in 10 games.  "Our line has been doing a great job.  No sacks last week was huge," said Barkley, who did credit his own "escapability" for keeping the clean sheet.  "I kind of let them off on that one play."
  
• Kalil and Smith shutout the Pac-10's first and third best sack artists.  "Me and Tyron, we both did a great job of watching our film and studying those guys up," Kalil said.  "Those are probably the best guys we'll face all year."  Oregon State does have 25 sacks in nine games this season (Arizona has 27 in 10).
• Offensive lines tend to struggle on the road due to crowd noise, but the Trojans have played their most consistent football away from the Coliseum this season.  "We've played fairly well on the road and it's going to be another challenge for us," Kalil said about Corvallis.  "It's going to be cold and they are looking to get back on track after losing to Washington State, so I'm sure they are going to get after us."
• Kalil does not want the seniors to end their careers having never won in the Beaver State.  "It would be good to break our little Oregon losing streak.  I'm feeling pretty confident and we're going to come out flying."
• Matt Barkley was hardly flying on Saturday when he tweaked his hamstring, but he's fine.  "I don't really stride out all too often and it kind of got me right there," joked Barkley, who called Kiffin off a play late in the game because his mobility was hampered.  "I wanted to give our offense the best chance to convert.  I'm looking out for my team."
  
• Barkley found a creative way to rewrite the standard "one game at a time" coach's line.  "There's a big 1 at the end of this week, which is what we're trying to get and the next week it will be the same thing.  Hopefully, those three will add up to 10 at the end." 
  
• I was dead wrong in one of my keys to the game last Friday.  Barkley simply managed the game against Arizona and the offense was just fine.  "I was proud of how we controlled the ball," Barkley assessed the offense's performance.  "We were really physical.  I'm proud of our o-line.  They came back and were cutting guys and were downfield blocking."
  
• This Saturday's forecast is calling for cold and wet weather.  In anticipation, the Trojans drenched the footballs in practice today, but Barkley thinks the simulated water is more difficult than actual rain.  "When you know it's raining, when you know it's wet, then you can adapt.  You can't have the mindset of changing your gameplan at all."
• Last week, Barkley announced his plan to not throw any interceptions for the rest of the season.  Of course, it came to an abrupt end when Jordan Cameron whiffed on a pass and the deflection off his helmet landed in Arizona hands.  "We're not talking about that," Barkley smiled when I asked him if he forgot to tell Cameron about his no pick plan.  "I'm not focusing on the negatives."
• Here's Coach Kiff...
  

• Gary Klein calls it Lane Kiffin's best victory.
• The OC Register saw positives in Matt Barkley's game management.
• Bill Plaschke called it USC's bowl game.
• Mark Saxon feels for USC's players missing out on a real bowl game.
• Marc Tyler earned a helmet sticker from Ted Miller.
• Mo Jones carried USC to victory last night says Baxter Holmes.
• Michael Lev likes the Trojans' MoJo.
• Playing 40 minutes with a broken hand, Alex Stepheson inspired the Trojans.
• Back on the gridiron, USC needs to break the Corvallis curse.
• Scott Wolf breaks down the road atmosphere with Tyler.
• USC LB Devon Kennard was named 2nd team All-Academic in the Pac-10.  Matt Barkley, Khaled Holmes and Michael Reardon were honorable mention.
  

• USC's rock in the middle took a chip on Saturday when he broke a small bone in his left hand.  He played tonight with a soft cast, but will hard cast it when he is not playing.  He expects it to be fully healed in three weeks.  "To play 40 minutes with a broken hand says a lot about him," head coach Kevin O'Neill said.  "It was his choice and he wanted to play."  Stepheson was obviously limited, but he made up for his one-handedness by setting hard screens, deterring shots and tipping the ball to teammates.

• The Trojans have found their MoJo and it did not take long.  Diminutive freshman Maurice Jones carried USC past a solid Broncos team by pouring in 29 points and dishing out five assists.  "That looked like a high school rerun to me," said O'Neill, who watched Jones play many prep games in Michigan.  "He's impossible to guard one-on-one."  For most of the second half, O'Neill trashed the set offense in favor of Jones using a Stepheson screen to penetrate and create for himself and teammates.

• Depth is the number one issue facing the Trojans right now.  While Jio Fontan counts the minutes until he's eligible, O'Neill has trimmed his rotation to seven players, including three players (Stepheson, Nikola Vucevic and MoJo) who never came out.  Bryce Jones also played 38 of a possible 40 minutes.  USC will have issues with foul trouble and leg weariness (8 games in 16 days to start the season) until Fontan returns.  O'Neill's practices are nothing but walk-thrus and shoot-a-rounds during this brutal stretch.

• The women's soccer team dominated Illinois on Friday 3-1 in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but they were knocked out by the Fighting Irish two days later 4-0 in South Bend. 
  
• "The character that this team showed was remarkable," head coach Ali Khosroshahin summarized the season.  "The growth and maturity that came to this team throughout the season was remarkable.  I'm very proud of them and couldn't be happier to be their coach."  Click here to watch Ali's entire post-game interview.
• The men's basketball team tipped off their season Saturday afternoon with a 13-point win over UC-Irvine.  Nikola Vucevic led the way with 19 points and 14 rebounds.  Click here for the blog recap and Kevin O'Neill's post-game presser.
• The Women of Troy are currently in Durham preparing to play the Blue Devils after they won their opener last Friday against #22 Gonzaga.  Briana Gilbreath posted a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds.  (Check out this pic of the Trojans practicing inside famed Cameroon Indoor Stadium.)
  
• Nikola Vavic fired in a hat trick in a 10-4 men's water polo win over Long Beach State.  The #2 Trojans are now 22-2 with one game left in the regular season.
• Both men's and women's swimming and diving swept Arizona State this weekend, while the women also defeated Arizona, but the men lost to the Wildcats.
• As you probably know, the football team secured a solid road win in Tuscon.  For all the post-game coverage and Jon SooHoo photo galleries, scroll down.
  
• Finally, the women's volleyball team closed their home regular season schedule with a sweep of the Arizona schools.  Saturday was "Senior Night," so Geena Urango, Zoe Garrett and Kimmee Roleder were honored by the Galen crowd.  The video is below...

• The Trojans were finally able to grind out  a victory.  After a season of shootouts, USC won a game fairly comfortably in which they only scored three points in the second half.  As I mentioned in the scouting report on Arizona, the best way to beat them is to control the clock.  The Trojans held the ball for 15 minutes more than the Wildcats (an entire quarter), including 12:24 of the final period.  "They were like the #10 rush defense in the nation and a top 20 team and we came out here and beat them up on the ground," said Marc Tyler, who ran 31 times for 161 yards.
  

• Marc Tyler has always been a talented back.  Even in limited opportunities the last few years, he made plays, but he could never stay on the field.  After a soft night in the Oregon loss, RB coach Kennedy Pola blasted his tailback and apparently the message got through.  Tyler was an absolute workhorse tonight, including shaking off a recurrence of his ankle injury.  "It felt good to go out there and run the ball 31 times.  That's the most I've ever run in my life I think," said an exhausted Tyler.  "Obviously, tomorrow it's not going to feel that good, but we got the win."
  

• Matt Barkley was not sacked tonight.  Against the best defensive end tandem in the conference, Tyron Smith and Matt Kalil pitched a shutout despite combining for zero practices this week.  "It was just the preparation.  We were challenged again this week and we really took it to heart in our individual work," said Kris O'Dowd about the offensive line's stellar play.  "Everyone is banged up, but these guys can play through it because they are tough."

• Arizona is now 0-11 when they lose the turnover battle.  USC took advantage of two key fumbles, which led to 10 Trojans' points, and stopped one Wildcats drive in the red zone.  "You are talking about running 82 plays today with only one turnover and no sacks, that's a very clean day," said Lane Kiffin about his offense.  

• I do not understand why Shareece Wright does not shadow the opponent's best receiver.  To use a basketball analogy, you put your defensive stopper on the other team's best scorer.  Arizona's star WR Juron Criner killed the Trojans on 3rd down tonight and by my recollection, all six of his catches came against Torin Harris, USC's third best corner. 

• Many of you may not know Ross Cumming, but the back-up linebacker made the biggest play of the night.  "Right when he kicked it, I knew it was going to go 10 yards with the force behind it and if I waited, I was going to get blown up," recounted Cumming, who said that they have practiced that exact onside kick situation countless times this season.  He's symbolic of a special teams unit that continues to produce magic week after week, including a faked field goal and another blocked PAT returned for two points (yeah yeah, offsides, whatever).
  

• Joe Houston outkicked Alex Zendejas and it was the difference in the game.  The math is simple.  USC won by three.  Houston made his one attempt, while Zendejas missed.  "Joe kicking that field goal was big," said Kiffin, who has stuck with the former walk-on despite his struggles.  "You just felt going in that we had not kicked many field goals all year and we were going to need a big boost."
  

• The locker room was as celebratory tonight as it has been all season.  While the head coach does not let his guard down often, he shared a great moment with the ESPN Radio broadcast team when Pete Arbogast told him the Oregon/Cal score.  "No that's the score at the end of the first quarter," Kiffin contested.  "They must have let Cal play with 15 guys on defense."

• The 2010 Trojans have their signature win.  While Arizona may not be Oregon or Stanford, the Wildcats were a top 20 team in their own stadium with a big name quarterback.  If USC had lost, they would have failed to avenge any of their four losses from last season.  Now...

• They have a chance to win out and finish 10-3, which is looking all the more likely after Oregon State lost to Washington State in Corvallis.  "We're going to have to go up there and it is a tough place to play, but there is some light here," Kiffin broke down the schedule.  "The picture is starting to clear, so we need to just keep improving."

• Here is a spent Marc Tyler after his career night...

• Marc Tyler and Matt Kalil returned to practice on a limited basis, but Jawanza Starling is still out.
• Nickell Robey made the biggest play of practice ripping away a Matt Barkley pass for a pick-six.  The corners will need confidence going into battle with the best pass offense in the conference.  "We expect them to throw the ball a lot," said CB Shareece Wright.  "They are going to come after us."
• Instead of waiting to be picked apart, the Trojans' plan is to go on the attack.  "When you put your hands on receivers, it changes their whole game." said Wright, who prefers to jam receivers at the line.  "It's easy to run routes when nobody's touching you."
  
• Wright would prefer to lock up with Arizona's top target, Juron Criner, on every play.  He remembers Criner's catch over his buddy Josh Pinkard to win the game last year.  "I didn't like the way the game ended with him scoring on Josh, so I'll make sure that doesn't happen this year." 
• Watching tape, Wright noticed that Foles locks in on his big receiver.  "They throw him the ball a lot.  When they throw the ball to you that many times, you better have a lot of catches." 
• The Wildcats hope to spread USC out and force the Trojans' secondary to make tackles in one-on-one situations.  "We just have to make tackles after they catch the ball and deflect some of those short passes," Wright explained.
  
• Matt Barkley spent some time with Nick Foles before the season when the Pac-10's top quarterbacks took a trip to the East Coast.  "He's a big kid, slings the rock out," said Barkley about Foles' reputation.  "I heard they get it out quick.  They are the #1 [pass] offense in the conference, so they must be doing something right."
  
• USC's QB believes turnover margin will be the key stat down the stretch this season.  "One of my goals for finishing out this season is to not throw any picks," said Barkley, who contested the notion made by Kiffin that he lets his emotions lead him into errors.  "I usually don't let emotion get into my play in games.  It's one of the things that I pride myself on." 
  
• Having spent time with Barkley after wins and losses, he is the type of quarterback that struggles to remember the touchdowns, but can explain every detail of his interceptions.  When you ask him about picks, he gives specific answers and rarely speaks in generalities.
• A healthy Robert Woods would make Barkley's life easier.  "He's getting there.  I don't think he's 100% yet," Barkley reported.  "You could definitely tell without his presence how much are offense was changing."
• While the Wildcats offensive stars get all the press, their pass rushers have caught Barkley's attention.  "Nothing gives me nightmares, but they are a fast, up-field rush team with their ends.  They are really good and probably the best we're going to see this year."
• Here is Lane Kiffin's post-practice media session...

• T.J. Simers profiles Lane Kiffin.
• Baxter Holmes writes about Kevin O'Neill's latest recruiting class.
• He also previewed the women's basketball team.
• Scott Wolf checks in with USC's safeties.
• Marcia Smith breaks down the science of the kick return.
• The Daily Trojan features Matt Barkley as a leader.
• Michael Lev puts Armond Armstead under his microscope.
• Mark Saxon scouts Arizona's weapons.
• A USC football dad is now writing about college football for the Deseret News.
  
• You can take your holiday photo with Traveler.
  
• Finally, Matt Barkley was on the Dan Patrick Radio Show this morning, which is also now broadcast on DirecTV channel 101 and FSN.  Click the following link to download the mp3 of their conversation! 
  DP-Matt_Barkley-11-11-10_Interview.mp3

• Ronald Johnson returned to practice and looked good, but he had a disconcerting wrap around his hamstring.  RoJo and Robert Woods are expected to be good to go for Saturday.  Lane Kiffin commented again that he could feel a difference in the offense without the threat of Woods against ASU.
  
• Kiffin has not named a starting running back for Saturday.  He is waiting to see how Marc Tyler progresses, which leads me to believe that he is the favorite.  Allen Bradford seems to be stuck in no man's land.  "It's been tough for him," Kiffin said about Bradford.  "He's battled through some injuries and he's not had much success as of late in the limited carries that he's had and he's put the ball on the ground."
• Kiffin was extremely complimentary of Juron Criner, Arizona's best receiver.  "He's just special with the ball in his hands," Kiffin praised.  "He's just one of those NFL-type guys, who gets the ball in his hands and is dangerous with it."  Criner has been banged up, so the Trojans might catch a break there.
• Freshman corner Nickell Robey was the target of much early criticism this season from the media and fans, but Kiffin is happy with his recent play.  "He's settled down," Kiffin said.  "As a true freshman, we probably tried to do too much with him initially.  We've rotated him in over the last five games, so he's not out there every play and I think he's done really well."
• Yesterday, we ran a great photo spread of Shane and Wes Horton with their father Michael, who was "Gemini" on the original American Gladiators.  "I remember running around and it just being really loud," said Shane Horton, who is two years older than his brother.  "When the show was over, I would go on the last event and play on all the mats."
• Horton did not know at the time that most babysitters are not named "Nitro" and "Malibu."  "Those guys were rough man.  They were big old dudes and they were always roughhousing.  I got good memories with those guys."
• USC's defense has struggled tackling this season, but Horton always stands out as the exception from the linebacking corps.  "I have good experience with it playing safety.  You have to make more open field tackles," Horton explained.  "Some dudes are fast, some dudes can jump high, I feel like one of my good attributes is tackling."
• Monte Kiffin was one of the first defensive minds to emphasize speed over size at linebacker and Pete Carroll borrowed that philosophy when he converted Trojan great Matt Grootegoed from a safety into a backer.  He did the same thing with Horton.  "The first thing I thought of when Coach Carroll moved me down was, 'Man, I don't think I'm big enough for this.'"  Kiffin and Joe Barry have given him examples of undersized linebackers like Bucs' legend Derrick Brooks.  "Coach Monte is the guy I want to do it under; he's the guy that knows it."
• As we mentioned yesterday, Joe Houston is laboring again.  "100% mental," he said of his struggles. 
  
• Houston feels a little snake-bitten by some good kicks that have missed by the narrowest margins.  "If you were to watch all my kicks throughout the season, the total feet that I have missed by has to be one of the best in the country," said the bewildered kicker.  "It's hard to swallow, but I've got to live with it."
• The Trojans schedule is not going to let up anytime soon, so Houston will likely be back in the cauldron.  "We're going to be in some ball games this year and it's going to come down to me again," he said.  "You've just got to be mentally tough and I am willing for the challenge."
• Here is Lane Kiffin on the coldest night yet...

• Marc Tyler, Ronald Johnson, Robert Woods, Jawanza Starling, Matt Kalil and many others took in practice from the sidelines.
• However, WR Markeith Ambles and LB Simione Vehikite returned to the practice field after serving their academic suspensions.  "He showed that he wants to do things right," said Lane Kiffin about Ambles.  "We'll give him a chance and see if he can do it."
• C.J. Gable was the star of practice.  He showed a healthy burst on several explosive runs, which proved that his knee is close to full force.  "He looked very good today," Kiffin said. "If he's the best guy at the end of the week than he'll play the most."
• Marc Tyler is happy to be in the rotation at all after he thought he heard his ankle pop last Saturday.  Instead, he was diagnosed with an inside sprain and hopes to be back this week.  Tyler had a rod inserted into his left ankle when he broke his ankle years ago and he believes the rod kept the joint from snapping again.
• Before the injury, Tyler had his most explosive performance in weeks.  "I expected to play well because Coach P, he really ripped me after the Oregon game and I knew I had to go out there and play well," Tyler said. 
  
• As for Kennedy Pola's message that got Tyler's attention, "Just representing the whole running back room when I go out there.  Just playing tough and doing the things that I am supposed to do and not making up stuff during the game," Tyler said.
• As far as we know, Dillon Baxter is in line to start again Saturday.  "I got in a groove pretty good for my first time and I'm pretty excited for this week coming up," Baxter evaluated his first start.
• While Kiffin was pleased with Baxter's running, he was disappointed that the freshman missed a protection assignment, which mirrored a mistake that he made earlier in the season against Virginia.  Both plays led to Matt Barkley interceptions.  "Coach P has been coaching me up on how to block big linebackers," Baxter explained.  "This is my freshman year, so coaches are going to see if I can block and I am working hard on that."
• Coming out of Fall camp, Baxter was knocked for being too loose with the football, but he has not put the ball on the ground yet this season.  "Ball security is a big thing.  I have not dropped a ball yet, have not dropped a pass yet, so hopefully I can keep that streak going," the freshman said with pride.  "If a coach can count on you to not put the ball on the ground then he will throw you in there."
• Woods sat out practice with an injured back, but he is feeling better.  "It's a little sore," said Woods, who was battling illness and vomiting last week.  "I think it was from a stomach virus.  Once that was out of my system, it was gone."  
  
• The freshman has had a year full of new lessons.  Now, he's learning how to play through pain.  "I did have to gut it up a lot.  I was feeling it during warm-ups, but I felt like I had to go give as many reps as I could," Woods recounted.  "I have not missed a game yet in my life, so I just had to go."
  
• Woods was supposed to be one of a trio of freshman wideouts, but Ambles has struggled off the field and Kyle Prater has never been physically right.  However, Prater is starting to open up some eyes in practice including Woods'.  "He's feeling a lot better," his teammate reported.  "Coach Mo (John Morton) said, 'He looks a lot faster.'  I heard he had a deep ball in one-on-ones and he ran right past the defensive back, so he's looking healthy."  
  
• Joe Houston's psyche was back on full display at the end of practice.  The former walk-on missed three consecutive 38-yard field goals at the end of practice with John Baxter encouraging, "Hit the target!" after each one.  After the third miss, Jake Harfman stepped up and shanked a 38-yarder.  Then, Houston stepped back up and made the kick to end practice.  "It's an ongoing concern," Kiffin said of his kickers.  "It's disappointing this late in the season to still be where we are at with that."
• Here is Lane Kiffin on a chilly night...

• Clay Matthews was profiled by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Wall Street Journal features Steve Smith.
  
• Michael Lev sees USC's close win as a possible turning point in the season.
• Ted Miller explains how the Trojans finally won a close one.
• The OC Register graded out the lineup changes.
• Mark Saxon looks at Lane Kiffin's rebuilding project.
• The LA Times gets you up to speed on the men's basketball team's fast tempo.
• Gary Klein looks ahead to Nick Foles and Arizona.
• Bleacher Report called USC the nation's best QB factory.
• Lev wants to see more man-to-man coverage going forward.
• USC DE James Boyd is considering walking on to the basketball team, according to the LA Times.
  
• Scott Wolf noticed that Kiffin backed off his 2001 analogy after looking at the new and improved conference landscape.
• The Pac-10 profiles USC women's basketball great Tina Thompson.
  
• In case you missed it, the Spirit of Troy delighted the fans Saturday with their tribute to "The Ladies of Pop."
  
  
  
  
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• The women's volleyball team split their weekend in the Bay Area, but they came away with a resounding victory against the #2 ranked Cal Bears on Friday night in four sets.  The Trojans have handed the Bears their only two defeats this season.
• In front of a huge crowd at McDonald's Swim Stadium, the Trojan Family roared the men's water polo team to a dominating 8-5 victory over UCLA in the Crosstown Splashdown Saturday afternoon.   Tobias Preuss tossed in a hat trick of goals.
• While the women's soccer team was dealt an early blow on their desert swing, they responded with a 5-0 blasting of Arizona to finish the regular season.  They await selection into the NCAA tournament today at 1:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
• On the other side of the country, USC senior Maria Sanchez knocked off the #1 seed in three tights sets to win the National Indoor Tennis Championships.  Steve Johnson, USC's men's #1, lost in the final of the same tournament.
  
• In case you missed it live on USCTrojans.com, the men's basketball team closed their preseason in impressive fashion racing out to a 20-point halftime lead on Point Loma Nazarene en route to a 69-49 victory.  Freshman Bryce Jones impressed by knocking down four consecutive threes in the first half. 
  
• Finally, the football team capped Saturday night with a dramatic one-point win over Arizona State.  If you missed the photo galleries, please scroll down.  If you missed the post-game press conferences, they air as always on the SC TV video page on USCTrojans.com.

• John Baxter was hired for games like this one.  In a game decided by a single point, the special teams unit generated two on a blocked PAT, three on a game-winning field goal and two more on one of those "silly formations" that drive the critics nuts.  And oh yeah, they blocked two punts.  "Coach Baxter did a great job preparing us all week.  Hats off to him," said T.J. McDonald, who got his hands on two punts and drew a holding penalty on another.

• Joe Houston may not be a Lou Groza candidate, but he showed courage when it counted the most.  After missing two short kicks, he had to be battling inner demons lining up the game-winner.  "I'm human.  I was anxious," Houston reflected.  "I believe in myself and I believe in my teammates.  That kick was for my teammates."

• Of course, ASU's kicker Thomas Weber had a chance to trump Houston and provide USC with a "deja vu all over again" moment.  "Flashbacks came here and there," Barkley compared the Sun Devils drive to the last second losses earlier this season.  Lane Kiffin felt a sense of poetic justice when the kick sailed wide left.  "I really kind of felt like 'Finally!'," Kiffin said.  "It was really good for our players just to see them have something go their way."

• With all the crazy plays that happened tonight, can we please take one moment to reflect on the ambidextrous punting performance by Jake Harfman?  On his first attempt, he rolled right and punted with his right foot.  On his second chance, he rolled left and punted left-footed.  I could not believe my eyes, but he was unfazed.  "I feel comfortable and I can do it again hopefully," said Harfman, who can kick field goals left-footed as well.  How many people have ever punted with both feet in a game though?  "I have no idea!  Probably zero," Harfman laughed.

• Lane Kiffin pointed to Malcolm Smith's interception return for a touchdown as the moment of the game.  All week, he had talked to the defense about making more game-changing plays, so he was fired up by Smith's pick and then the convoy of blocking defenders paving his way to the end zone.  "The guys threw blocks and I had just enough energy to get in," Smith recounted.  The senior enjoyed a much easier pick-six last year against UCLA.

• The night of shocks really started with the starting lineups.  Out of nowhere, Dillon Baxter was announced as the lead tailback.  "I was hoping that it would give us a spark in our run game that had kind of staled out a little bit," Kiffin explained.  Baxter was solid, but unspectacular on the night.  He combined for 78 yards from scrimmage, while Marc Tyler shined (12 carries for 119 yards) before leaving the game after injuring his ankle.  Baxter never broke the big run, but he secured the ball tightly on all 21 touches, which is the reason that he's passed Allen Bradford on the depth chart.

• Brice Butler is a talented guy.  He makes a play per practice to remind everyone that he could be a force.  Of course, coming into the game, he had just six catches for 63 yards on the season.  With Robert Woods ailing (the freshman was hospitalized earlier this week with a back injury that caused him to vomit repeatedly), Butler led the receiving corps with 49 yards on three catches.  Kiffin would like to see someone grab a hold of the third receiver role.  Maybe tonight was the start of something for Brice Butler...

• While Woods finished with just 18 yards receiving, he could have had a whole lot more on one play...the first play.  With his man on the ground, Woods had the freedom of the Coliseum to run under Matt Barkley's deep ball, but the quarterback overthrew it.  "I think it took him awhile to get over the first play of the game whether he admits it or not," Kiffin assessed Barkley's performance as "roller coasterish."  Of course, the sophomore leader delivered the winning drive when the game was on the line.

• I apologize to Rey Maualuga.  All week, I compared ASU LB Vontaze Burfict to the former USC middle backer.  While Maualuga struggled with anger issues early in his career at Troy, he never behaved like Burfict did tonight.  I'm not sure that I have ever seen anyone act like that on a football field.  From picking fights to "airplaning" down USC's sideline to taunting the crowd, he was a one man band of negative karma.  The Sun Devils paid their karmic debt at the worst time.  Burfict's personal foul for a late hit on Butler sparked the game-winning drive for the Trojans.
  

• At 2-5 in 2001, Kris Richard's pick-six against Arizona propelled the Trojans to a galvanizing victory in Pete Carroll's first season.  USC would go on to run the table in the regular season.  Lane Kiffin told this story to the team and then the media after the game.  Tonight, fortune favored the Trojans.  Now, Kiffin wants to see his team take that momentum and streak to the finish. 
  

• Here is my player of the game, T.J. McDonald, who dominated on defense (12 tackles) and special teams (two blocked punts and one punt downed inside the five-yard line)...

• USC appears to be as healthy as they have been in a while.  I would expect to see LB Malcolm Smith, RB Dillon Baxter and RB Allen Bradford make more than token appearances in Saturday's game.
• The Trojans' mental mindset coming off the Oregon loss has been the story of the week, but Lane Kiffin continues to reiterate that he is not worried about it.  "We're not good enough to overlook anybody," he said after practice.
  
• However, he is worried about the physical toll the Ducks game took on his limited roster.  "I'm concerned that we are a little bit tired," Kiffin admitted.  "We have tried to shorten things down a little bit after the track meet last week.  Hopefully, we will have our legs back."
• Allen Bradford is finally happy to have his toe back.  The bruising runner has been hampered by turf toe since his breakout performance against Washington.  "I am feeling 100%," said Bradford, who broke off a long run near the end of practice.  "The week of practice against Cal, I got turf toe and since then, I have been fighting injury."
• In my scouting report below, I failed to recognize ASU's standout cornerback Omar Bolden.  "Speedy guy, likes to fly around," Robert Woods gave me the scouting report.  "He's a physical corner, who definitely jumps routes."  He was one of the best corners that Woods has seen this year.
• Woods is the breakout star from this year's freshman class.  On Facebook, we ran a contest to give him a nickname that elicited almost 300 responses.  (By the way, he liked "Serra Terror" the best, but he's sticking with "Woody" since it was his dad's nickname.)  "It is pretty fun and nice to hear," said Woods about his fan popularity.  "I'm happy to put on a show for the fans, but I just come out here and play and do what I can."
• The Sun Devils struggle in kickoff coverage, so the "Convoy" sees an opportunity to make some plays this weekend.  "It actually does [get me drooling]," he said after watching the film.  "Coach Baxter told me I 'better end up taking one back this week because it's one of those games.'"
• While ASU has tapped into the Los Angeles area for much of their talent, the Trojans have a Phoenix-native in Devon Kennard at middle linebacker.  "I am familiar with a lot of the guys on the team," Kennard said.  "I'm excited to get a chance to play them this year and get a win."
• Kennard will likely meet up at some point with Sun Devils WR Gerell Robinson, but it won't be for the first time.  The two Arizona stars went to rival high schools.  "He's a year older than me, but we always played against each other.  It will be good to go against him again this year."
• Kennard admits that ASU's offense could pose some problems.  "They are going to spread you out and they have some shifty backs, so we've got to come ready for that."
• There is a chance that Chris Galippo will start over Kennard in Saturday's game, but Kiffin has not told the two players.  "We've just been competing," Kennard said of the week.  "I'm never one to shy away from competition, so I'm excited."
• Here is a shorter session with Coach Kiff... (That's Christian Thomas screaming in the background!  I don't know why.)
  

• Gary Klein details Chris Galippo's quest to win back his middle linebacker spot.
• Klein also notes the battles at left guard and safety.
• Back to football, the OC Register broke down the MLB battle from Devon Kennard's angle.
• Kevin Carden looks for improvement out of the offensive line.
• Scott Wolf chatted with Dillon Baxter about improving in the classroom, so he can star on the field.
• USC tennis has one man and four women set to compete in the ITA National Indoors in New York starting today.  Yesterday, they were on the set of The Early Show on CBS.
• Saturday is National College Football Day, which commemorates the first ever college football game back in 1869 between two schools from my home state, Rutgers and Princeton.  All good things come from Jersey...
  
• The #2 USC men's water polo team has a Saturday showdown on campus at the McDonald's Swim Stadium with #3 UCLA at 4:30 p.m..  This is the hottest water polo ticket of the year, so take a break from tailgating and come by for a little pre-football polo.

• Allen Bradford and Nickell Robey both missed practice for undisclosed reasons, but they should be fine for Saturday. 
  
• Live tackling drills raised the energy level today.  On the positive side, Shane Horton was the best tackler for the linebacking corps with Devon Kennard a strong second.  In the secondary, corners Torin Harris and Brian Baucham earned Lane Kiffin's praise for wrapping up.
  
• As for the negative, safeties Jawanza Starling and T.J. McDonald really struggled getting their footwork right, which caused them to whiff or lunge awkwardly.  "I stop my feet sometimes breaking down," said Starling about what he needs to work on.  "If you miss, miss full speed and don't be afraid to go low."
• With Malcolm Smith back, Chris Galippo is now working in at middle linebacker alongside Devon Kennard.
  
• Starling is being pushed this week by Marshall Jones for his starting spot.  While tackling is an issue, coverage is the problem.  "I kinda got into the run too much," Starling described his Oregon struggles.  "I'm a safety, so I've got to stay back and play pass first."
• As has been the case with most of the in-season competitions, neither player really knows where he stands during the week.  "I'll just be there when I'm called on," Starling said, but he's embracing the spirit of the position battle.  "It's always got to get you going.  We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for competition."
• Coaches preach competition at the start of the recruiting process, so they don't end up with sulking athletes when their starting spot is challenged.  "That's what the thing is about SC," Starling said.  "I don't ever back down from competition, so it's only going to bring out the best from me."
• Starling has all the physical tools, so hopefully competition will help him free those gifts.  "You've got to stay hungry and it helps feed that hunger."
• Michael Reardon is getting his shot at the starting left guard spot this week.  "You always strive to be a 1, so if the opportunity comes, you can't look back," he said of his chance. 
  
• Reardon's USC career has been marred by injury.  "Been healthy, knock on wood," said Reardon, who was also working at back-up center when Abe Markowitz was out.
• Lane Kiffin called out the offensive line's effort earlier this week.  "We were disappointed with how we played," Reardon admitted.  "We have to start getting cut blocks and giving extra effort."
• As they say, the tape doesn't lie.  "We could all see it and we were all disappointed by it, especially the guys that have been around," he said.  "We see that effort and we know what we are capable of and that was subpar."
• Freshman QB Jesse Scroggins announced on Facebook that he is growing out dreadlocks.  He expects it will take "about two years," which is right around the time that he might be competing for starting quarterback.
  
• Here is Lane Kiffin talking about Arizona State...

• The injury list was extensive again, but there's no new news to report on that front.
• Lane Kiffin intimated that at least two spots were up for grabs this week.  Marshall Jones will compete with Jawanza Starling for the safety spot alongside T.J. McDonald.  And, Michael Reardon will get a chance to move Butch Lewis out of the left guard spot.  Kiffin called Lewis's production "completely unacceptable" and said Starling's position is "definitely" up in the air.
  
• Kiffin was extremely disappointed with the offensive line play on the whole.  "We don't even look the same," Kiffin compared film of the line from earlier in the season to last week.  "Our effort...taking the easy way out instead of getting them on the ground.  We better get it fixed."
• As for the controversy around the errant snap in the 2nd quarter that gifted Oregon a turnover, "It was a throw-off play, so I looked under and gave a false call," Kris O'Dowd explained.  "I looked under again and usually, he would give us a call, but he gave me the speed count, which is his leg, which tells me to snap.  So, I'm assuming that the clock is running down, so I snapped it.  As you see on the tape, Matt was looking at Coach Kiffin, so I don't think he was really paying attention to his foot."
• As for Colbert, he was really the first great receiver in the recent lineage of Trojan targets.  Now, Robert Woods is next to carry the torch.  "He has developed a lot faster than a lot of guys who have come through these gates and played on this field," Colbert praised.  "He's shown that he has some special qualities.  I love watching him play."
• Colbert is second all-time on USC's career receptions list, but he only had 33 catches for 480 yards as a freshman.  Woods has 39 receptions for 574 yards already.  "He studied a lot coming in," said Colbert about Woods accelerated progress.  "Being a local guy, he was up here always wanting to watch film, always wanting to meet with coaches.  He's naturally talented, but he's set himself up by knowing what to do."
• Matt Barkley is on the same kind of advanced learning curve.  "He's just as polished and developed as those guys were as a sophomore," Colbert compared Barkley to his quarterbacks, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.  "A lot of these things with football, you either have it or you don't." 
  
• Colbert's job is to focus on the tight ends.  The unit is led by experienced vets like Rhett Ellison, Jordan Cameron and Blake Ayles, but the future of the position is in the freshman class with Randall Telfer, Xavier Grimble and Christian Thomas.  "The sky is definitely going to be the limit for them," Colbert expects them to benefit greatly from this season's work on the scout team against the best defenders.
  
• As we have mentioned before, Telfer works as hard after practice as any player.  "He wants to be better," Colbert said about Telfer's work ethic.  "He's a sponge.  He loves to be out here.  He takes the extra time to help him in his craft and that's going to help his game in the future."
• Christian Thomas will not be redshirted this season because he appeared as a defensive end in a game.  Now, he's working with the fullbacks, but he came in as a tight end.  "He's one of those athletic guys that you can move all over the lot," Colbert described.  "We'll see if I can steal him away from Coach Pola!"
  
• As someone who went to USC at the same time as Colbert, I can only hope that these young pass catchers understand how good he was.  "They hear it a lot from these coaches," said Colbert, who does not brag about his own achievements.  "I was a big SC history guy.  I could tell you about all the guys that came before me.  Some of these guys can, but some really don't know."
  
• Finally, it was 92 degrees at USC today.  As my Sun Devil friend said, "It must be ASU week."
• Here is Kiffin who spoke bluntly about the week's position battles...

• Bill Plaschke has the Ducks at #1.
• Kevin O'Neill was on a radio show talking about dressing for success. 
  
• The USC Trojans Examiner previews the men's basketball team.
• USA Today ran a feature on Matt Barkley late last week.
• Gary Klein breaks down ASU.
• Klein also changed the expectations for the season.
• Marcia Smith profiled Matt Barkley for the Register.
• Our very own Chris Roberts wrote this profile on Robert Woods.  Click below to download! 
  All the Right Tools.pdf