Fight On, Forever!

Fight On!

USC Football
'Unusual Situation' at USC - LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-carroll26feb26,1,7734682.story
USC Coach Pete Carroll knows the most loyal person on his staff is the guy coaching the tight ends. It's his son Brennan, 26. Brennan, who played tight end at Pittsburgh, joined the USC staff as a graduate assistant after his father's first season and is in his fourth year at the school, his second as a full-time assistant. "The thing that's fun about it for me is competing together," Pete Carroll said. Brennan called it "a blast." "I came here to get an opportunity to work with my father," he said. "I don't have aspirations to be the next head coach." Coaching is something of a family business at USC...

They Inherit the Wins - LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-nepotism26feb26,1,7685312,full.story
..."I think it can be more dangerous in athletics than other areas — in part because the high-profile nature means you put a very special pressure on these relationships," said former Florida State president Talbot D'Alemberte, who allowed Bobby Bowden to hire his son Jeff as offensive coordinator, making Bowden one of the cadre of elite college football coaches who employ their offspring, including Penn State's Joe Paterno, South Carolina's Steve Spurrier and USC's Pete Carroll...

Leinart Looks to Prove Himself During Workout - LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/sports/football/nfl/la-sp-leinart25feb25,1,5505330.story
He has a Heisman Trophy, a pair of national championships, and perhaps is as marketable as any player ever to emerge from college football. So what does USC quarterback Matt Leinart have to prove? Plenty, evidently...

Low Profile, Top Pro File - LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/sports/football/nfl/la-sp-bush24feb24,1,5523641.story
...to realize that colossal payday — more than $20 million guaranteed for the first player chosen — Bush knows he needs to concentrate on the now. That's why he has passed on more than a dozen marketing opportunities since the Rose Bowl, opting to focus his attention on securing a place with the Texans atop the draft...

Athletes Making the Grade - LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-sp-hssondcol26feb26,1,3750853.story
...Some being honored are among the most well-known in the region, proving again that you can be a standout in the classroom and on the field. USC-bound quarterback Garrett Green of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Stanford-bound offensive lineman Sione Fua of Encino Crespi will each pick up scholar-athlete awards...

Revamped O-line on Cards' mind - East Valley Tribune
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=59847
...Many of the rookies-to-be also seem to understand the value in versatility. "I played my first year at right tackle and I started there on Matt Leinart's blind side," said USC guard and Mesa High School product Taitusi Lutui. "I was asked to move to left guard. . . . It's a job so you have to do it. (But) I adapted real quick."...

One dream but different realities for local backs - Rocky mountain News
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_4499493,00.html
...He will be one of those rare runners who will carry the ball far more in his NFL rookie season than he did in his last one in college. "I still think I've got to convince people a little bit I can get in there and do it," White said. "Nothing is set in stone, you know. But I feel like I can take the ball and be the guy. I just didn't have that opportunity at USC with all of the other guys we had on offense. "I feel good about where I'm at."...

Bush's rush hour begins - Dallas Morning News
...Bush's stature goes beyond college dominance, including the Heisman Trophy and the Doak, which he will accept tonight at the Hilton Anatole. His ability to deliver excitement on demand has swayed the skeptical eyes of NFL scouts. The Houston Texans are considering taking Bush with the draft's first pick despite the presence of two potential franchise quarterbacks – Houston native Vince Young and Bush's USC teammate, Matt Leinart. Bush's talent so far has trumped red flags about his lack of size and durability...

Former Breck star Byrd has his eye on Vikings - Minneapolis Star-Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/510/story/271164.html
Former Breck High School star Dominique Byrd left the Twin Cities to play college football, but he'd love to come back as an NFL player. "That would be great," the USC tight end said Saturday at the NFL scouting combine. "One of my tattoos is 'Minneapolis' finest.' And I have the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome right here on my left arm. Minneapolis will always hold a great place in my heart." The interest definitely goes both ways. Although the Vikings won't discuss specific players that they are interested in, Byrd said he spoke to team officials at the Senior Bowl and at the combine. He said other teams showing interest are Denver, Miami and Tampa Bay...

White ready for draft day - Detroit News
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060226/SPORTS0101/602260401/1126
..."I thought about it, but a lot of stuff weighed on me and my family," White said in an interview at the NFL combine. "And I thought this was the best situation. It was time to take care of my family."...

False score gives Young wrong kind of buzz - Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3687374.html
...Kubiak was impressed with Young, too. "We had a great interview with him," Kubiak said. "I wanted him to tell me why football's important to him. I wanted to talk to him about his leadership qualities. We talked a lot about offense. "I was very, very impressed with the kid. But I was impressed with Reggie Bush, too."

[McClain] Leinart would be good fit with Titans, Chow - Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/mcclain/3686140.html
...If he falls to third, Leinart will be reunited with his offensive coordinator at USC, Norm Chow, who has the same position with the Titans. "I missed him this past season, but he had a great opportunity to go to the NFL," Leinart said about Chow. "He did well, and he's going to continue to do well...

THROWING IT OUT THERE - New Orleans Times-Picayune
http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-22/1140853482163710.xml
... there's also the question of which quarterback is more ready for the NFL. "I think my overall preparation at USC is going to be an advantage," Leinart said. "First playing behind Carson Palmer, who's a Pro Bowl quarterback, and learning from him. Playing against an NFL style defense and Coach (Pete) Carroll for five years -- Troy Polamalu, Lofa Tatupu, guys that I've played against. "I think I've been prepared the best you can be prepared."...

Intuition's better than 40-yard drill - Ft Wayne News-Sentinel
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/13973392.htm
...Feel still carries NFL draft day. Feel explains why Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian picked Peyton Manning over Ryan Leaf in the most famous example of intuitive drafting. Feel rules as the reason I'd have no problem picking USC quarterback Matt Leinart if he didn't throw a single football in Indy (as he chose not to) or at his "Pro Day" (where he will display his arm). "I'm just a winner," Leinart said, asked to describe his strengths...

Winston's stock on rise as Browns inspect draft beef - Canton repository
http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=271688&Category=17
...Analysts have Justice rated around the middle of Round 1. Browns General Manager Phil Savage warned that while Justice might become a good left tackle in the NFL, he played right tackle at USC, protecting the blind side of lefty Matt Leinart. Savage is concerned about how long it would take Justice to re-learn footwork at left tackle, where he would have to play to justify a No. 12 overall pick...

No rest for the defense - Cincy Enquirer
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060226/SPT02/602260383/1066/SPT
...Safety is not one of the draft's strongest positions. Early-entry junior Donte Whitner of Ohio State is the top-rated safety and is expected to go before the Bengals pick. There are some intriguing prospects who could be available in the second round - especially Southern Cal's 220-pound Darnell Bing, a junior known as a big hitter and with good ball skills...

Leinart learning from Palmer - Cincy Enquirer
http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060225/SPT03/602250363/1022
...As Palmer did, Leinart stayed at USC and completed his eligibility. He could have come out for last year's draft but decided to return for his senior year. "I can honestly say I had the best time of my life," said Leinart, who took one class last season. "I lived at college, had a great time, met tons of people, and all the football stuff speaks for itself...

Rumor: Jets seek Leinart - Newark Star-Ledger
...new Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, asked recently if he would have any qualms about trading up from the team's No. 4 spot, said, "We're going to consider all our options."...

Cutler Has Joined Leinart and Young in Exclusive Draft Huddle - NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/27/sports/ncaafootball/27nfl.html
...according to league personnel at the combine, Cutler has solidified his position as one of the top three quarterbacks, and could move ahead of Young, or perhaps even Leinart. The top three quarterback prospects are so different in their abilities, teams must carefully evaluate which one best suits their system...Cleveland Browns General Manager Phil Savage said: "If you were asking today, and took a poll, I think people would say Leinart...
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/02/26/sports/28nfl.chart.gif

Bush Starts Campaign to Carry a Full Load - NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/24/sports/football/24combine.html
...During his three seasons at Southern California, Bush played just three games in which he carried the ball from scrimmage at least 20 times. He was also U.S.C.'s primary return man for those three seasons. LenDale White, a more physical ball carrier at 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, did much of the Trojans' inside running, leading some N.F.L. personnel people to believe that Bush must be used judiciously to be most effective. "At least in my opinion, with Reggie Bush, more may be less," Phil Savage, general manager of the Cleveland Browns, said Thursday. "At S.C., they had he and LenDale White together, and they complemented each other. Whichever team takes Reggie, if they utilize him the right way, he can still be the Heisman Trophy winner at the pro level, even if he's only touching the ball 10, 15 times a game. "At his size, 200 pounds or so, when you're carrying it 20, 25 times a game, for 16 games? I think that's almost an impossibility."...

Combine notes: McKay stays optimistic on CBA - USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/draft/2006-02-26-cba-combine-notes_x.htm
... When Southern Cal tight end Dominique Byrd was attending Breck High School in Minneapolis, he served as a summer intern for Minnesota Sen. Mark Dayton, a job that had him roaming the halls of the Senate Hart Building in Washington and the federal building in Minnesota. It also piqued his interest for a possible career after football. "I was helping to resolve the problems of everyday Minnesotans," Byrd said. "I feel it (politics) is something I could do. Maybe he (Dayton) can help me on my campaign when I run for the Senate in Minnesota."...

[Pompei] Bush gets ripped - Sporting News
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=66716
An interesting piece of information that won't show up in any of the Combine reports given to NFL teams: Southern California RB Reggie Bush, who weighed in at 201 pounds, was so lean and fit he had six-pack abs when he took off his shirt for scouts. His USC backfield mate LenDale White did not. White, who owned up to tipping the scales at 258 pounds at the end of the season but says he played as light as 233, weighed 238 at the Combine...

[Kirwan] Being where they want to be - NFL News
http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/9266687
...As for the punters, Tom Malone, the man who decided to return to USC last year instead of leaving school early, was the most impressive performer in the dome. His high, towering punts reminded me of the year Todd Sauerbrun impressed every team looking for a guy who could change the field-position battle...




Pac-10 and 2006 Opponents
SPRING TRAINING - Ft Worth Star-Telegram
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/13972749.htm
...How do you like the Bill Callahan era? You can't make more of a 180-degree turn from what they were doing with the power I, option football to spreading the field with four wide receivers on first down. They're making a lot of progress, but sometimes when you don't see it, you lose patience...

QB contender steps right up - Portland Tribune
http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=34060
..."Sean can make all the throws," Oregon State coach Mike Riley says of Canfield, a Carlsbad, Calif., native who redshirted his freshman season in 2005. "He has all the physical stuff you need to be a quarterback. The next big step is to be able to handle all the things you have to handle to become a quarterback. I'm confident he'll do that in time."...

Cal Poly linebackers coach Hammerschmidt leaving Mustangs for Stanford job - SLO Tribune
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/sports/13961117.htm
...Hammerschmidt, who came to Cal Poly last year after spending the previous two seasons as defensive coordinator at Montana, said he accepted the Stanford position Wednesday and will coach special teams and outside linebackers for Walt Harris' Cardinal...

Stanford Stadium to open with Navy game - SF Chron
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2006/02/24/SPGTJHDP1J1.DTL
Stanford will debut the new Stanford Stadium on Sept. 16, with the football team's third game of the season against Navy. Construction continues on the $90 million project, which is now scheduled to be finished a little less than 10 months after groundbreaking, which began moments after the 2005 season finale against Notre Dame on Nov. 28. Crews have been working on the facility 16 hours a day...

First priority for Dixon: Fun in the sun and surf - Portland Tribune
http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=34057
It'll be an uncharted excursion for Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon when he goes on vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for spring break. He plans to let his hair down, so to speak. "I'm actually going to have some fun," says Dixon, who will be accompanied by teammates Garren Strong and Kyle Weatherspoon and other friends. "It's the first time actually doing something" during a break from school. Usually he goes home to San Leandro, Calif., or visits his uncles in Portland...

Leaf gears up to fight for QB job - Portland Tribune
http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=34059
Oregon quarterback Brady Leaf has watched videotape of the game-deciding interception he threw in the Holiday Bowl "about 20 times," and admits he still dwells on it. He also realizes the Oklahoma defender made a great play, and he has received many supportive calls, e-mails and comments, like "If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have been in it." The Sooners beat the Ducks 17-14...

Markey is marquee - LA Daily News
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_3548047
...The 5-foot-11, 211-pound Markey averaged 9.2 carries per game in 2005. He said he must prepare his body for the increased workload of the coming season. "It's better eating," Markey said. "I got with my nutritionist. I'm drinking more water. No In 'N-Out."...The Bruins have only three quarterbacks - Ben Olson, Patrick Cowan and Osaar Rasshan - on their roster, so they are looking to bring in a walk-on or two come August. One potential walk-on is K.C. Patterson, who signed with the University of San Diego out of Oakmont High, but is now at Fullerton College...

An intense beginning - LA Daily News
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_3544795
... Walker, a former NFL assistant, is charged with remaking one of the worst statistical defenses in the nation the last seasons. "The intensity is up there," UCLA safety Chris Horton said. "Guys are flying around, getting to the ball. Coaches are already demanding to get to the ball. The tempo is fast. Real fast. It's like we're practicing at game speed."...

Offensive Coordinator's Duties Are Nothing New for Svoboda - LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-uclafb24feb24,1,6670801.story
..."Watching the whole staff work today was pretty impressive … the players seemed really excited about getting this opportunity to practice," Coach Karl Dorrell said. "The defense got in a lot of good work and the quarterbacks looked pretty good."...




NCAA Football
None




Recruiting
Weis lands first recruit of 2007 - South Bend Tribune
http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060225/NDSports02/602250433/-1/NDSPORTS
...Weis was watching a film of Neal at 5:30 a.m. Friday when he called Bunn coach David Howle and left a message that he was offering Neal a scholarship. Later Friday, Neal accepted the offer, despite having never visited South Bend. Nor did he have any inkling that an offer from the Irish was on its way...

Geathers still weighing commitment - The State
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/13970991.htm
...Not in attendance were quarterback Jimmy Clausen (6-3, 190) of Westlake Village, Calif., and some of his teammates who had talked about attending. Clausen is considering Notre Dame, Southern Cal and USC. The Gamecocks have offered at least two of Clausen's teammates, defensive back Marshall Jones (6-1, 190) and running back Marc Tyler (6-0, 220). Jones also has offers from Michigan, Mississippi, LSU, Arizona, Tennessee and Oregon State. Tyler, the son of former NFL running back Wendell Tyler, has 15 offers including USC, Southern Cal, Notre Dame, Tennessee, UCLA and Michigan...

Junior league - The State
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/13948448.htm
Duane Wages expects to put some serious mileage on his new SUV this spring. Wages, an assistant football coach at Richland Northeast, is taking the Cavaliers' Gary Gray and Mark Barnes - two of the country's top juniors - on a college-football odyssey. Their itinerary reads like a fan's ultimate road trip, with stops in South Bend, Ind., Austin, Texas, and several ACC and SEC towns and cities...The spring process is particularly important for recruits — such as Gray and California quarterback Jimmy Clausen — who are graduating high school in December in order to enroll in college early...




Trojans in the Pros
Owner's focus is to win immediately - Ft Worth Star-Telegram
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/football/13972485.htm
...Jones said concerns at right tackle are behind his recent about-face on Jacob Rogers, the second pick from 2004 who has yet to play an offensive snap for the Cowboys. After not getting on the field as a rookie, Rogers was the favorite to win the right tackle job in training camp last year. But that was before he was dogged by shoulder and knee injuries, raising questions about his toughness...Jones is now looking at Rogers as a possible answer at right tackle, although Jones said doesn't know if Rogers will be ready to practice before training camp in August...

Holmgren undecided on future - Tacoma News-Tribune
http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/story/5551954p-4997689c.html
...Three weeks after leading the Seahawks in their first Super Bowl, and after seven sometimes tumultuous seasons, Holmgren is worn out. This week he'll join his wife Kathy on a beach in Hawaii and figure out whether he wants to coach beyond 2006, the final year of his contract...




Misc.
Ex-USC Football Player Serving Life Sentence Found Dead in Cell - LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mccowan25feb25,1,7414797.story
...McCowan, a standout player at Carson High School, was a starting safety for USC when he and teammate Marcel Brown robbed several pedestrians in Westwood in 1991...

Stem Cell Institute's Legality Goes to Trial - LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-stemsuit27feb27,0,1589199,full.story
...Philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad donated $25 million last week to build a stem cell research center at USC. The Broad Institute for Integrative Biology and Stem Cell Research is expected to be the largest such center in the state when it opens in 2008, the university said. Klein wistfully called it "the highest-quality model of what Proposition 71 should be funding."...