September 22, 2000
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This week I've been getting prepared for the San Jose State game. We had two hard weeks of practice and I'm anxious to finally get back in the mood of playing. It really gave me a chance to fix all the little nicks and bruises I had.
Other than that, I just had the baby shower. The baby shower was on Saturday and I wound up getting up at 8:00 in the morning because my girlfriend Marina got up and told me to go get my hair cut. So I got a hair cut, came back, and her sisters were getting the baby shower set up, so I just sat there and did nothing. Then I went down, spoke to everybody and then just went back upstairs and laid down. I was tired. I was excited about the baby shower, but on my day off I was planning on just resting. Everything was good. It was a nice baby shower. The baby got some nice stuff. It makes me want to have my own little shower. The baby has a lot of stuff, you know. Lots of name-brand clothes and little outfits to get her prepared for when she goes to see my parents in Ohio. Now we don't have to go out and really buy her too much stuff. Just get a couple big things. That's about it. Everything else was taken care of at the baby shower.
I watched a bunch of games last Saturday--the Purdue vs. Notre Dame game was a good one which came down to the last seconds. I watched some of the Texas vs. Stanford game. I watched Cal vs. Illinois. That is the game I paid particular attention to. Cal, you know, has the great defense, but it was just Illinois' day. So I am thinking that SC has a similar defense like Cal, so you know you just never want to let down your guard. If we go out there and just practice hard everyday and just try to maintain, when we go out on the football field it will be just easy access for us.
I looked at Chris Lewis, the Stanford quarterback. I paid attention to the defensive tackle, #77, Willie Howard. I was looking at all different kind of weak-side linebackers. I watched a lot of SportsCenter just to see how the competition was.
UCLA is looking real good now. Right now the whole Pac-10 is really looking good. I think we are really gaining the respect that we wanted. This is USC and we are somewhat getting the respect back, but we want to take over the conference. You know, we are last in turnovers, probably second or third in defense overall, so we have to play that much harder just to get back up to the top. So the Pac-10 is getting the respect, but we just want to take over the Pac-10.
The morning of the game, I stay in bed and watch the games that are on. Then I do the test that the coaches give us that we have to turn in. The tests cover the plays and formations and we put down where we are supposed to be. Basically, I just keep to myself. I put my headphones on and just listen to any type of music. It can be slow jams or rap. Once we get to the Coliseum it is just basically waiting for the USC band to play the fight song. That is the best time--when I hear the band--because I know it is time for the game. When they play the fight song and come through the tunnel, I know it is time to really turn it on and play--that it's showtime now.
Just before we run out, my whole thing is the prayer. We have a team prayer, but I also sit in my locker and say my own. This one is for me, but it is also for my grandmother who passed away. I pray to her and to God to help me do well.
