Maiava chasing job with Browns - Akron Beacon-Journal
When the subject of hunting was broached to Browns rookie linebacker Kaluka Maiava, he wasn't sure how to respond.

"What do you mean, on the field or actual hunting?" Maiava said.

That's because the fourth-round draft pick from USC honed his skill for chasing down opponents as a teenager, hunting wild boar in the the mountains of Maui.

And there were no guns involved, just a of couple dogs and presumably a long knife.

"We don't use guns, that's cheating," Maiava said...

Also, New Browns LB has ‘wild’ hobby - Warren Tibune-Chronicle
Mangini makes a point - Warren Tibune-Chronicle
Maiava takes part in first Browns practice - Maui News

David Buehler: 'My initial thought was, how many people are dead in this?' - Dallas News
David Buehler, the kicker/special teams player the Cowboys drafted in the fifth round, was standing on the sideline when the team's indoor facility began to collapse. He bolted out a side door and was sprinting across a practice field when a pole crashed down on him.

Buehler, dazed by a blow to his head, wriggled out from under the pole and crawled approximately 15 yards through pools of water before turning around and looking at the wreckage.

"My initial thought was, how many people are dead in this?" Buehler said tonight. "I thought I was the lucky one."

Buehler thinks he actually suffered the worst injuries among the players, although he wasn't severely hurt...

Also, Buehler No Ordinary Kicker - DFW Star-Telegram
1 Cowboy, 11 others injured in collapse - San Antonio News-Express

Todd Marinovich: The Man Who Never Was - Esquire
...Marv had engineered his son's transfer to Capistrano Valley High, a public school in Mission Viejo. The team's head football coach, Dick Enright, was a USC alum and longtime friend of Marv's. As head coach at the University of Oregon, Enright had groomed quarterback Dan Fouts. Under Enright, Todd would go on to break the all-time Orange County passing record. He was named a Parade magazine All-American and the National High School Coaches Association's offensive player of the year.

Then the January 1988 issue of California magazine hit the stands with Todd's picture on the cover. The headline: ROBO QB: THE MAKING OF A PERFECT ATHLETE. A media onslaught ensued. They called Todd the bionic quarterback, a test-tube athlete, the boy in the bubble. All over the world, people were talking about Todd's amazing story. In truth, he was leading a double life...

Matthews' rise gives USC an impressive linebacker trifecta - USA Today
...Then there was the walk-on, Clay Matthews from Agoura Hills, Calif., the son of the former USC great and NFL linebacker Clay Matthews Jr. and the nephew of Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews.

He had his own path to trod, from redshirt to special-teams player to valuable substitute to, last season, starter on the outside at a hybrid defensive end/linebacker position for the Trojans.

And now here they all are, ready for their NFL close-up, a trio of linebackers from the same school all expected to be first-round draft picks...

Happiness Is a Warm Football Coach - NY Times [Play Magazine]
...the guy who runs his Web site, said if I came onto the field during warm-ups I could run up the tunnel and into the locker room with the team so I could hear the pregame talk. I’ll admit it was a thrill. I was a U.S.C. fan in my youth. I loved all those great running backs...Now I was going to run through the Coliseum with the Cardinal and Gold. As I did, I didn’t even realize Carroll was behind me until a security guy tried to stop me at the entrance to the team’s dressing room.

“He’s with us,” Carroll said. “I don’t even know why I’m saying that, but he’s with us.” He punched me on the arm, perhaps for the third or fourth time that day. He was like a kid, all excited. It was game day...

...they gathered around him in a huge huddle, I was thinking, I’m glad I’m not an Oregon Duck...

Rey Maualuga keeps hits coming for USC - Portland Oregonian
..."I want people to fear me," says USC middle linebacker Rey Maualuga.

Fear may be too strong a word, but the 6-foot-2, 260-pound Maualuga has the undivided attention of every team the No. 1-ranked Trojans play.

When coaches prepare for USC, they must account for No.58.

Or start warming up their backup quarterback.

"Oh, my," is the immediate reaction of Oregon State coach Mike Riley when asked, "What do you think about Rey Maualuga?"

"Scary," said Riley...

Also, [Ledin] PRO: Will USC go undefeated in football this season? - VC Star
[Lassen] CON: Will USC go undefeated in football this season? - VC Star

[The Quad] SEC Notebook: Remembering 2003 - NY Times
There is some serious bluster going on around the Southeastern Conference this week...

...remember what happened the last time the Trojans showed up in SEC territory.

It was 2003. 23-0. Over Auburn. On the Plains. In the heat.

That was an Auburn team that had the nucleus of the group that went 13-0 in 2004. It was a young team, but U.S.C. also started a young quarterback, Matt Leinart...

...until an SEC team gets even with the Trojans on a national stage, that 23-0 is hanging out there, a bright red flag of a reminder...

[Waldner] Former Redondo standout Ellison quick to make imprint - Daily Breeze
...Name the quickest player on the USC football team.

Quick now.

No doubt Joe McKnight is on the top of your list. You saw the way he quick-stepped around the Ohio State defense for 105 rushing yards.

Actually, Kevin Ellison goes to the head of the line...

..."He's so smart," Seto said. "He's the glue who holds our defense together."

Great attitude. Great leader. Great awareness on the field. Great player.

"He leads by example," Seto said. "He's in the film room...all the time...