Jarrett bids sad farewell to USC - Inland Empire Press-Enterprise
As he said goodbye Wednesday, Dwayne Jarrett made it clear through his sobs and tears just how hard it was for him to leave USC...

..."I thank everybody, I love everybody," Jarrett said, accompanied by his mother...and the uncle who taught him how to catch a football...

...Asked how tough the decision was, Jarrett struggled to answer.

"The most difficult part is my teammates," he said...

...he thanked family, friends, all his offensive coaches by name and his tutor, Mimi Butler, who was there to send him off.

For the highlight of his career, Jarrett went back to where he'd left off.

"Just being with my teammates," he said.

And then the tears began to flow...

Also, Jarrett is moving on, but Carroll is not going anywhere - Daily Breeze
Tearful Jarrett says he will leave early - Daily Trojan
Stop and go route - LA Daily News
NFL challenge next for Jarrett - LA Times
Jarrett will make leap to the NFL - OC Register
USC's Jarrett taking next step - New Brunswick Home News-Tribune

Bruce Matthews a finalist for Pro Hall of Fame - Houston Chronicle
When former Oilers/Titans offensive lineman Bruce Matthews found out Wednesday that he was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2007, he was almost speechless.

“To have my name mentioned with so many great players that I’ve admired for so long is almost overwhelming,” Matthews said...

...Matthews, who grew up in a football family in the Los Angeles area and played at USC, was the Oilers’ first-round pick in 1983. He played 19 seasons...and was voted to 14 consecutive Pro Bowls, tying him with former Rams defensive tackle Merlin Olsen for the most in history.

Matthews could be the last member of the Oilers and the first member of the Titans inducted into the Hall of Fame...

Mario Danelo Funeral To Be Held In San Pedro On Friday - KNBC-TV
The entire USC football team is expected at place kicker Mario Danelo's funeral on Friday.

It remains unclear exactly what happened, but the 21-year-old was found dead Saturday at the foot of an oceanfront cliff about a mile from his family home in San Pedro.

His funeral is set for 10:30 a.m. Friday at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church at 870 Eighth St. in San Pedro...

Also, [Smith] Trojans mourn Danelo's passing - OC Register
Semester meeting somber - LA Daily News
[Modesti] Tragedy lessens the games - LA Daily News
Cliffs are alluring and deadly - LA Times

[Barnhart] Projecting next season’s Top 25 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
...here’s an early look at our projected Top 25 for '07:

1. Southern Cal....All-everything receiver Dwayne Jarrett will likely leave early for the NFL, but the Trojans have a ton of other talent back. So loaded is Southern Cal that John David Booty...will have to stave off Mark Sanchez just to keep his starting quarterback job. All but one starter returns on defense.

2. West Virginia...3. Oklahoma...4. Ohio State...5. Florida...6. LSU...7. Texas...8. Michigan....9. Arkansas...10. Virginia Tech...21. Notre Dame...30. UCLA, 31. Arizona State...34. Cal...40. Oregon State...

Also, [Mayo] Trojans have the horses for next season - Grans Rapids Press
[Moredich] Odds are, USC will win it all next season - Tucson Citizen
[Allen] BCS title game bound for 2007 - Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Turning to 2007, Southern Cal should start season at No. 1 - USA Today
Outlooks for the final Top 25 - USA Today
[Schlbach] Booty could return Trojans to No. 1 ranking - ESPN
[Mandel] An early look ahead - CNNSI

[Schad] Southern Cal receiver Jarrett will reportedly enter draft - ESPN
Southern California wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett has selected an agent and will announce that he is entering the NFL draft at a 2 p.m. news conference at the school's Heritage Hall on Wednesday, two sources close to the situation said Tuesday night.

The junior, a two-time All-American, had 70 catches for 1,015 yards and led the Trojans with 12 touchdowns this season.

The 6-foot-5, 210 pound receiver with a track record of acrobatic catches, is considered a first-round prospect...

Also, Jarrett is expected to turn pro - LA Times

USC aide upbeat following meeting - Contra Costa Times
Former Oakland Raiders quarterbacks coach Steve Sarkisian interviewed for the coaching vacancy Monday, he confirmed in a phone call Monday night. He is the first candidate known to have received an in-person interview since Art Shell got fired Thursday.

Sarkisian, 32, spent most of the day at Raiders headquarters in Alameda in a face-to-face interview with managing general partner Al Davis. He left without a job offer but filled with hope.

"It went extremely well," Sarkisian said...

Also, Former assistant back for interview - Contra Costa Times
[Dickey] Young coaches too smart for Raiders - SF Examiner
Raiders interview USC assistant - Sac Bee
Killion: Davis can't go back to same tired history - SJ Merc
Sarkisian, Kiffin drawing interest from other teams - LA Times

Chow hopes to overcome odds - Nashville Tennessean
Norm Chow has heard all the reasons why he shouldn't be hired as a head coach. The two big ones: He's 60, and he's never been a head coach in college football or the NFL.

So does that bother the Titans offensive coordinator, who on Monday interviewed with the Arizona Cardinals for their head coaching vacancy?

"No, because I haven't been a head coach, and I'm aged,'' Chow said with a chuckle during a press conference in Tempe, Ariz. "But I know who I am.

"That question has been brought up about not being a head coach and frankly the opportunities have just not been there where we've had a chance. … This opportunity presents itself to be a head coach and it is an exciting one. It is something that I would really look forward to."...

Also, Agent: Leinart can't tout Chow too much - Nashville Tennessean
Chow wants shot at top job - Nashville City Paper
Leinart pitches in as Cards interview Chow - East Valley Tribune
Chow is intriguing candidate - Arizona Republic

Bucs' bad defensive season claims its second assistant - St. Petersburg Times
...Defensive line coach Jethro Franklin, whose unit's production dropped sharply in 2006, said he was informed by general manager Bruce Allen that he will not be retained for 2007. Defensive backs coach Greg Burns was dismissed Monday and replaced by former Tampa assistant Raheem Morris.

Franklin joined the Bucs last year after serving in the same capacity at Southern Cal, signing a two-year contract...

Jackson bound for Atlanta - Cincy Enquirer
The Bengals are looking for a new wide receivers coach, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh is concerned.

The team's No. 2 receiver confirmed Monday that three-year Bengals receivers coach Hue Jackson is headed to Atlanta to become Falcons offensive coordinator under Bobby Petrino.

Jackson told Houshmandzadeh about the job during phone conversations Friday and Saturday...

Carroll glimpses NFL paradise - Inland Empire Press-Enterprise
Pete Carroll admitted he was wrong.

In his six years at USC, Carroll had said he'd become absolutely certain no NFL team could offer him the control he has as coach of the Trojans. That, he said, is why he never sat down with anyone to talk about going back to the NFL -- until Sunday.

That's when Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga convinced Carroll to give him a chance. He'd jet in to Carroll's get-away-from-it-all vacation spot in the north of Costa Rica and make his pitch.

Huizenga made the perfect pitch, describing a job "where the head coach has the entire say; a one-voice program," Carroll called it. "I don't think there are any others like that."...

Also, [Walder] Don't bet on Carroll departing for NFL - Daily Breeze
Fin for Carroll? - LA Daily News
[Dilbeck] Fans, it's nervous time at 'SC - LA Daily News
Carroll says he's staying at USC - LA Times
Pete Carroll: Intrigued enough? - OC Register

America Ferrera Makes 'Ugly' Beautiful - ABC News
America Ferrera has made it cool to be "ugly."

The Golden Globe-nominated actress has won fans and accolades for her role in the hit ABC show "Ugly Betty." She recently told ABC News' Robin Roberts that she couldn't be happier about her Golden Globe nomination for best actress and for best show...

...While Ferrera's wrapped up in the excitement of the show, she still wants to complete her college education. She's a few classes away from getting a degree from the University of Southern California.

"My mom reminded me just the other day [that] I still owe her my diploma," she said. "I have a semester left."...

Top 20 Wired Colleges - PC Magazine
...#8 University of Southern California...

...Teaching always trumps technology. At least that's one mantra at the University of Southern California (USC), a trendsetting private university in Los Angeles that gets as much cred for its bone-crunching Trojan football team as it does for its sun-drenched campus...

With one of the world's fastest supercomputers on site (students can schedule research time and use access ports from anywhere on campus), USC would seem to deserve credit if only for raw processing power. The campus has 652 wireless access points, and 280 classrooms are outfitted with multiple webcams and microphones. The Blackboard course management system allows professors to post lecture materials and review notes online, and every student gets 200MB of online storage...

2006 ALL-PAC-10 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL TEAM
First Team Offense
QB John David Booty, Jr., USC
WR Steve Smith, Sr., USC
WR Dwayne Jarrett, Jr., USC
OL Ryan Kalil, Sr., USC
OL Sam Baker, Jr., USC
OL Chilo Rachal, So., USC

First Team Defense
DL Sedrick Ellis, Jr., USC
LB Rey Maualuga, So., USC
LB Keith Rivers, Jr., USC

Second Team Defense
DL Lawrence Jackson, Jr., USC
LB Brian Cushing, So., USC
DB Terrell Thomas, Jr., USC

Co-Freshmen of the Year:
Taylor Mays, FS, USC

Coach of the Year:
Pete Carroll, USC

Cushing revels in return - Bergen Record
As Notre Dame lined up for an onside kick Saturday night, Brian Cushing's spider senses told him something big was about to happen.

"I had a feeling they were going to kick to me," the Southern California sophomore from Park Ridge said.

That a 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive end/linebacker is on the front line of the Trojans' "hands" team already says a lot about the "super" athletic powers the former Bergen Catholic star possesses...

..."They didn't realize they shouldn't give the ball to the Bergen County flash," USC coach Pete Carroll said...

Also, Big Day by Jersey Guy - Inland Empire Press-Enteprise

U.S.C.’s Schedule Has Winning Combination - NY Times
...“It’s a little bit of a Rubik’s Cube,” said Steve Lopes, the senior associate athletic director at U.S.C. in charge of football scheduling. “It’s a puzzle that we have to put together.”

And the puzzle piece that best fits this year’s edition of the B.C.S. formula is that U.S.C. is the only team from the six major B.C.S. conferences that did not play a game against an opponent from outside a B.C.S. conference...

...Here is where the luck comes in. U.S.C. scheduled those games about eight years ago...

[Weiss] Trojans have the horses - NY Daily News
USC has taken total control of its rivalry with Notre Dame...

...If there was any year when the Irish figured to stop the streak, it was this one...

...As long as Pete Carroll stays put...the Trojans will be stocked with enough talent to dominate the Pac-10...

... the Trojans already have gained commitments from blue-chip linebacker Chris Galippo of Anaheim and 310-pound offensive lineman James Wilson...

...There were close to 100 prospects from all grades at Saturday's game, and the blowout may have been the best recruiting pitch Carroll could have given to keep the Trojans' dynasty rolling.

Also, [Robbins] USC STAKES CLAIM - NY Post
[Robbins] USC VICTORY CLEARS UP BCS BOWL PICTURE - NY Post
[Bladshun] Trojans seize the moment - Boston Globe
USC shows Irish why it deserves title shot - Chicago tribune
Trojans proclaim their berth-right - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
[Henderson] Trojans are blue-chip BCS title foes - Denver Post
[Keisser] Past not important for USC this year - Long Beach Press-Telegram
[Abrahamson] With convincing win, USC belongs in the title game - NBC Sports

[Walter] Irish lost to a better team - NBC Sports
...What is appalling, all things considered, is how outclassed Notre Dame appeared in both games...

...The last time Notre Dame allowed at least 44 points in two separate games was fifty years ago...

...Notre Dame started 18 seniors this evening and only one starter, offensive tackle Sam Young, is an underclassmen. The Trojans, by contrast, started three seniors and seven underclassmen. You wonder how they do it, the folks at Troy. Sublime weather, beautiful female students, an irrepressibly upbeat coach, the beach due west and Hollywood due north. What's to like?...

Also, Not today, Notre Dame - LA Daily News
[Kelly] Irish face the music vs. USC - South Bend Tribune
Irish return to glory remains on hold - Chicago Daily Herald
Irish believe they should be in BCS - Ft Wayne Journal-Gazette
[Walters] Upon further review: Irish not worthy of BCS - NBC Sports
[Dienhart] What's the fuss about the Irish? - Sporting News

It's time to look ahead to a stacked Pac-10 - Eugene Register-Guard
...For now, a quick preview of 2007:...

...USC

The Trojans could return eight offensive starters, though it seems likely that wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett will head for the NFL. Still, there are a couple of standouts waiting in the wings, though one will have to replace flanker Steve Smith. Also done are two linemen, but losing four last year didn't seem to hurt too much.

On defense, there's only one senior starter in linebacker Dallas Sartz, though end Lawrence Jackson could decide he's ready for the NFL. Punter and kicker both also return. Can anyone say, favored to make it six straight titles?...

John Robinson's shoes - Detroit Free Press
Former USC coach John Robinson recalled a recruiting trip he took to Michigan on a cold winter day.

He showed up at the home of a recruit but discovered there was another coach already inside. Yes, it was Bo.

When Robinson finally got inside, Schembechler put his arm around him and told the parents Robinson that is a fine man, but he added that "you can't trust a man who wears shoes like that."

And Robinson said all during his visit, the parents and their son kept looking at his shoes. The recruit went to Michigan.

Years later, Robinson said, Bo and wife Cathy traveled to California and Robinson met him at the airport.

He said Bo was dressed for vacation, but "damned if he didn't have my shoes on!"

[Johnston] 7 reasons why Notre Dame must beat USC - MSNBC
...1. Rivalry Games. If Notre Dame loses to USC, it will be 10-2. Almost undoubtedly, that will mean a trip to the Sugar Bowl. How can that be considered a disappointing season for the Irish? Here’s how: that would mean Notre Dame lost to its two biggest rivals...

...4. Drive for Five. Notre Dame can avoid the dreaded five-game losing streak against USC, which has happened only one time (1978-82) in this rivalry...

...6. Weis Guy. The Irish lack a marquee victory in Weis’ two seasons...

...7. Last Season. Ah yes, last season. We’ve saved the best for last. What was your favorite nightmare, Irish fans? Bush running wild? Fourth-and-9? The Push?...