Trojans, Booty drawing strength from numbers - NBC Sports
...First came Palmer. Then Leinart. Now Booty.

He is, to hear the girls tell it, sooo handsome. Noelle Van Valkenburgh, who is 16 and blonde and was sporting a No. 10 cardinal-and-gold authentic Trojans jersey...said of Booty, "I was looking through the football program his freshman year, when I was in like the seventh or eighth grade, and I thought he was just the cutest person."

He is, to hear the football types tell it, a pretty darned good quarterback. And getting sooo much better -- indeed, gotten much better throughout this season.

"It's been a great journey for him in his first season," USC coach Pete Carroll said last week. "He's had a lot of great games...

[Schlabach] Trojans, Irish ready to add to storied rivalry - ESPN
...as long as Notre Dame stays competitive with the Trojans, the Irish seem assured of playing in a BCS bowl game, probably against the SEC champion in the Sugar Bowl...

...The importance of Saturday's game certainly isn't lost on Weis. Surprisingly, Weis admitted he was looking forward to the Trojans even before the Fighting Irish beat Army 41-9 on Saturday. And it was evident where his players' attention was directed. After beating the Black Knights, Quinn was shouting, "Beat SC! Beat SC!" with fans sitting in the student section at Notre Dame Stadium...

Also, COLLISION COURSE - Daily Trojan
Why we hate Notre Dame - Daily Trojan
Weis praises Southern Cal - The Observer
Men of Troy have odds on side - Chicago Tribune
Weis fully aware of Trojans' 'wow factor' - Chicago Tribune
At last, California, here we come - NBC Sports
Trip to West coast could define season - NBC Sports

Rivals also battling for recruits - Chicago Sun-Times
Simeon star Martez Wilson is scheduled to leave Friday morning for his first official college visit -- to USC. He'll attend the Notre Dame-USC game Saturday night.

The 6-4, 230-pound Wilson, a five-star prospect, has both schools on his list along with Illinois, Ohio State and Michigan. Wilson said his official visit to Notre Dame is scheduled for Dec. 1...

...The Irish and Trojans are battling over a number of top recruits. Another is Everson Griffen, a 6-4, 266-pound defensive end from Arizona. Griffen is scheduled to visit USC this weekend...

..."This weekend isn't just about this year for Notre Dame, it's about recruiting for the future," Lemming said...

Jarrett Positive - Inland Empire Press-Enterprise
Only one of two blows Dwayne Jarrett took on his leaping touchdown catch against Cal on Saturday was still affecting him Monday.

Landing on the ball and getting his wind knocked out briefly was no problem by the time Jarrett jogged off the field.

But the hit to the head that knocked him out for just a second was causing USC medical personnel to play it safe.

If it was a concussion, he said it was "a mild one." But enough to have him stay out of the short Monday workout...

Also, Jarrett hurt, says he'll play - LA times

Grass at N.D. not an issue to Carroll - LA Daily News
A lot of USC fans remain angry about the long grass at Notre Dame Stadium last year, especially after kick returner Desmond Reed tore knee ligaments without being touched, but coach Pete Carroll said the length of the grass was not an issue.

"I don't think it was the long grass, but the turf was kind of loose," Carroll said.

Linebacker Brian Cushing, who grew up a Notre Dame fan, said the grass surprised him when he arrived at the stadium.

"It was high and it was thick," Cushing said. "I can't imagine they play on it all yearlong like that. If we go back there next year and it's like that, then maybe they did do it on purpose."...

Also, Tireless in Scouting USC - Inland Empire Press-Enterprise
USC's Reed didn't let the grass grow under his feet - LA Times
One big, golden hurdle remains in USC's path - OC Register
[Robinson] Robinson remembers the rivalry - NBC Sports

[Bozich] Give the Trojans a shot against the Buckeyes - Louisville Courier-Journal
Ohio State vs. Michigan was wonderful drama, but if you give me a vote for the national championship game, give me Ohio State-Southern California, not a rematch of Saturday's game in Columbus.

If Southern Cal closes the regular season by defeating Notre Dame and UCLA, that would give the Trojans three victories against top-12 teams in the Sagarin computer rankings and 10 victories against top-40 Sagarin teams.

I'll excuse the Trojans for their slip at Oregon State if they win the Pacific-10 in addition to non-conference victories against Arkansas, Nebraska and Notre Dame.

If USC stumbles?...

Also, [Modesti] It's a stretch - LA Daily News
[Krikorian] It's time for BCS sham to go on the lam - Long Beach Press-Telegram
USC has rebounded from loss to Oregon State - South Bend tribune
Here's what needs to happen for the Wolverines... - Detroit News
[Barnhouse] Beware of BCS' Trojan horse - Ft Worth Star-Telegram
[Mandel] Bowl Projections - CNNSI
[Jones] Ohio State vs. Mich.-Again? - ESPN

Gable latest in line of USC's star tailbacks - Sacramento Bee
...there's a reason USC has long been known as Tailback U.

From Mike Garrett to O.J. Simpson to Charles White to Marcus Allen to Reggie Bush -- Heisman Trophy-winning backs all -- the Trojans have taken a perverse pride in pounding the ball, be it student-body right, student-body left or grinding it up the middle.

C.J. Gable may not have the accolades of that celebrated Troy quintet -- yet -- but the freshman from Sylmar High, about 30 miles north of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, took major strides toward that elite company Saturday night in No. 4 USC's 23-9 defeat of No. 17 Cal.

Gable gave Sylmar more name recognition than simply being remembered as the epicenter of the devastating 1971 earthquake...

Also, Gable comes through for Trojans - Daily Breeze
Freshman seizes the moment - Inland Empire Press-Enterprise
Gable on the run for USC - LA Daily News
Trojans' Gable is more than able - SF Chron

[Mayo] If Southern Cal wins out, it deserves title shot - Grand Rapids Press
...the Pacific-10 Conference, which has qualified nine of its 11 teams for bowls, doesn't lack for conference depth. Just look what Arizona has done in recent weeks. If USC wins the Pac-10 with one loss and nonconference wins over Arkansas (10-1), Nebraska (8-3) and Notre Dame (10-1), how could anyone justify selecting a second-place Big Ten team over the Trojans?

Fortunately, the season doesn't end today, and the likelihood is that USC, if it can win its final two games, over Notre Dame and UCLA, will score enough style points and gain enough computer advantage to overtake Michigan and play for at least a share of the national championship for a fourth consecutive season...

Controversial nominee turns out to be defender of investor protection - Seattle Times
During more than 16 years in the House of Representatives, California Republican Christopher Cox was the quintessential conservative.

After a stint as a lawyer in the Reagan White House, Cox was elected nine times from the Republican stronghold of Orange County. After Republicans took control of the House under Speaker Newt Gingrich in the 1994 elections, they chose Cox to lead the party's legislative policy-setting committee.

When President Bush picked Cox, 54, in June 2005 to replace William Donaldson as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the move set off alarms among investor advocates...

The $29 million man - Manchester Guardian
According to Will Ferrell, comedy is not science. After years of practising the dark arts of making people laugh, the only theory he's come up with is: 'There's just something funny about a guy standing on a street, yelling.'...

...they're showing clips of the upcoming jamboree. Among the worthy world cinema offerings, French fancies and gritty British life slices, the name of Will Ferrell stands out like a pork pie at a bar mitzvah. But the reverent atmosphere in the...cinema palpably lightens when Will appears on screen in the trailer to his latest film, Stranger than Fiction. He stands on a street corner, looks to the heavens and yells. The cinema erupts in giggling fits and I'm beginning to think Will's right...

...He went on to study sports journalism and broadcasting at the University of Southern California. Ferrell was the son of Lee Ferrell, a keyboardist for the Righteous Brothers...

Defense emerges as a big-play unit - LA Times
Last week's shutout did not count. Not really...

...this Saturday night the question was: How would the Trojans fare against the Oregon offense, ranked ninth in the country in rushing and 19th in passing?

The answer came in the form of a convincing 35-10 victory over the 21st-ranked Ducks, a win powered by big defensive stops and even bigger turnovers.

"It's just an attitude we have," USC cornerback Terrell Thomas. "We're trying to finish things off and not just get by."...

Also, Van Blarcom shows some leg - LA Times
[Plaschke] Path to championship game is a straight line for Trojans - LA Times
Back in the BCS business - LA Times
Trojans are on the brink in BCS - LA Times
USC rolls over Oregon, 35-10 - OC Register

Trojans look their best - Daily Breeze
...The Trojans face California, another of Saturday's Top-10 upset victims, next week in a game that will determine the Pac-10's No. 1 team.

"All in all, a really strong win for us," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "It puts us in a really good position.

"We controlled the game throughout. There were a couple of questions in the third quarter, they might come back, but the defense wouldn't allow it. The guys did a good job in the red zone."...

...it was difficult to decipher if the Trojans should have been up by more or if the game could have been closer...

Also, [Waldner] It all falls into place for USC - Daily Breeze
BREAKING OUT - Daily Trojan
Back in the race - LA Daily News
[Dilbeck] All the breaks are going USC's way - LA Daily News
Jackson breaks through - LA Daily News
Trojans back in BCS picture - LA Daily News

[Bellamy] Ducks pull off another flop on the big stage - Eugene Register-Guard
...they found a way to mess up just about every chance they had to make a game of this, before 92,000 in the Coliseum, and a national television audience.

Once again, they weren't ready for prime time...

...And give No. 7 USC some credit for that.

The Trojans began a streak of four hugely important games...by demonstrating that all that the loss to Oregon State two weeks ago did was make them really mad...

Also, To err is fatal for Oregon's defense - Eugene Register-Guard
UO winged by USC - Eugene Register-Guard
Force hasn't been with Ducks on road - Portland Oregonian
Oregon couldn't compete in the zones - Portland Oregonian
Long night in Los Angeles - Portland Oregonian
USC pounds Ducks 35-10 - Portland Tribune

Athletes Get New College Pitch: Check Out Our Tutoring Center - NY Times
Chris McFoy, a wide receiver at the University of Southern California, answers to about half a dozen coaches. Off the field, his coaching staff has been much larger.

Like many U.S.C. athletes, Mr. McFoy has had a lot of help during his five years as a student. During his freshman season, he met weekly with four tutors, one for each of his classes. He also met with a learning specialist who composed “action plans” to organize his schedule and help him plan for tests and papers. U.S.C. and most other N.C.A.A. Division I-A universities also use student “class checkers” who traverse campus to make sure athletes are where they are supposed to be...

...Mr. Carroll tries to make academics competitive, like football. U.S.C. has instituted a points system in which athletes can get in trouble with their coaches if they are not attending class or handing in assignments...

[Holtzman] Trojans, Bruins staring at different challenges - Daily Breeze
It's a getaway weekend to the San Francisco Bay Area for local college football fans. UCLA is at California and USC plays at Stanford, marking the first time the two have played in the Bay Area on the same day.

The games will be on opposite sides of the Bay, but neighbors could run into each other tonight in San Francisco...

...Especially since both games appear to be one-sided. USC should get back on track against a winless Stanford team and UCLA is a double-digit underdog at Cal.

At least, the drinking establishments should be interesting with the influx of tourists...

Playing USC is no way to get your first victory - SF Chron
..."I know it sounds like a broken record, but this is our situation. We've got to start fast, play good, play smart," Stanford coach Walt Harris said. "We need to put a complete game together."

USC's last four games have been decided by a touchdown or less. But the idea that the Trojans are vulnerable, ripe for the kind of 31-28 scare that Stanford gave them in 2004, seems like a stretch considering the Cardinal's average margin of defeat against Pac-10 opponents is 28.6 points.

In order for the Cardinal to have any hope of playing close, they are going to have to put points on the board. And that means jump-starting an offense that's stalled out in recent weeks against a team that leads the Pac-10 in scoring defense...

Also, For Stanford, here's USC - SJ Merc
Carroll OK on Harris' poll - LA Daily News
Stanford struggles to make the grade - OC Register

USC status is day to day - LA Times
As he often does, Pete Carroll turned to the NFL for a lesson when USC began preparations for today's game against winless Stanford...

...a hard look at three recent pro football case studies.

In the aftermath of their turnover-laden performance against the unbeaten Chicago Bears a few weeks ago, the Arizona Cardinals and former Trojan quarterback Matt Leinart lost to the winless Oakland Raiders the following week. Buoyed by the victory, the Raiders returned two interceptions for touchdowns the next week and beat the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers...

...Meanwhile, the Cardinals, who were on the verge of beating the Bears, continue to struggle...

Also, No. 9 USC at Stanford - Inland Empire Press-Enterprise
Another chance to bounce back - Inland Empire Press-Enterprise
Trojans look for growth at the Farm - Daily Breeze
Scouting Report: USC vs. Stanford - Daily Breeze
USC hopes to win by playing it cool - LA Daily News
USC keys to the game - LA Times
Carroll stands tall amid USC's storm - SJ Merc

Trojans report: Strategy and personnel - CBS Sportsline
USC at Stanford, Nov. 4 -- A perfect game for USC to rebound in...The Trojans don't have to play their best game... this game will be over at halftime.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
RB Chauncey Washington -- He fumbled twice in the loss at Oregon State...Other than that, he's doing well...

...QB John David Booty -- He passed for 406 yards last week...Pete Carroll said, "I think he made great progress." Having Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith healthy helps, as will going against a Stanford secondary that won't be able to...cover all of USC's weapons.

MLB Rey Maualuga...

Also, Trojans report: Notes, quotes - CBS Sportsline
Trojans report: Inside slant - CBS Sportsline

Jarrett undecided about immediate future - OC Register
Dwayne Jarrett said he still has not decided whether he will remain at USC after this season.

Slowed by a separated shoulder, the junior All-America candidate has caught just 31 passes for 335 yards in six games.

After the Trojans lost at Oregon State last week, Jarrett's chances to play for a second national title team likely vanished.

But he said neither of those factors would persuade him...

[Fryer] Rollinson has been here before - OC Register
Forty years ago to this very day, the first football game was played at Anaheim Stadium.

It was Mater Dei vs. Servite. Tonight, in the same location now known as Angel Stadium, it is Mater Dei-Servite again.

Bruce Rollinson was on that field 40 years ago as a Mater Dei player, and he will be there tonight as the Mater Dei coach...

...Rollinson was a fast one at Mater Dei - he was one of the county's top sprinters at the time - and later at USC.

"I still remember I sort of conveniently slid off that knee brace before the Servite game," he said, "and just went for it."...