Sarkisian alone will make the offensive calls - OC Register
Fans who didn't like USC's play calling last year weren't sure who to blame.

Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin would call the play then relay it to quarterbacks coach Steve Sarkisian on the sideline. If Sarkisian didn't like it, he would kick it back. If he did, he would send it in to quarterback John David Booty.

"If it wasn't a crucial moment, I was going to let it go, because the flow of the game needed to stay going," Sarkisian said.

When the Trojans misfire on offense this year, Sarkisian will field questions. With Kiffin now the coach of the Oakland Raiders, Sarkisian will have sole responsibility for play calling. Receivers coach John Morton will act as his "eye in the sky" from the press box...

USC's Dennis clearing hurdles to play again - Inland Empire Press-Enterprise
Hershel Dennis isn't all the way back. But the former starting tailback jumped over a couple of hurdles the past few days.

After missing two seasons with knee surgeries, Dennis, 22, was cleared medically for full contact Friday, too late to get ready for Sunday's scrimmage.

But Tuesday, the 200-pounder got his chance, in both nine-on-seven work and 11 on 11.

"He looked terrific today," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "He had a couple of sweet runs. I know he's been champing at the bit."

Dennis, who will graduate May 11, will now have to complete that final step before applying for a sixth year of NCAA eligibility...

Also, Dennis makes his return to the field - Daily Trojan
Dennis optimistic about a sixth season - LA Times

The Memory Hacker - Popular Science
...“Watch this,” says Srinivasan, a design engineer working with USC’s Center for Neural Engineering...Srinivasan explains that the chip is sending electric pulses through the needle into the brain slice...this iron-gray wafer about a millimeter square is talking to living brain cells as though it were an actual body part.

Ted Berger, Srinivasan’s boss and the mastermind behind the tangle of coils and electrodes, has arranged this demonstration to provide a small but profound glimpse into the future of brain science...

[Prisco] Better-Than Team: 20 who'll be better than 'they' say - CBS Sportsline
...I believe in these 20 players. And nobody, not even the scouts I talk to, can change my mind...

...Eric Wright, CB, UNLV: He started his college career at USC but was booted from the team for off-field issues...

...Steve Smith, WR, USC: Even before he ran a 4.4 at the combine, I really liked this kid. He has a way of getting open. During his time at USC, he was overshadowed by some bigger-name receivers, but he always got his share of catches...

...Dallas Sartz, LB, USC: He is a long, lean linebacker who plays with toughness. He might not run that well, but he knows how to find the football. He could be a special-teams demon...

Will Ferrell: Hollywood's highest paid star - The Independent [UK]
...Ferrell is the closest thing Hollywood has to a banker - a man who earns his $20m fee on the opening weekend of any movie he deigns to star in...

...Ferrell enrolled in the University of Southern California's sports broadcasting programme, where he was - as a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity - something of a keg-party jock (an experience that he would draw on for his 2003 varsity comedy, Old School). But Ferrell had a change of heart, decided to be a comedian and joined the touring Los Angeles improvisational group The Groundlings.

"[Being a journalist] seemed a little more legitimate than trying to be a comedian or actor," Ferrell says. "But once I graduated from college, I started working for a local cable news show, and I found I liked making fun of the broadcasters rather than actually doing it."...

Incubator for ideas - VC Star
Whether it's testing spit or creating self-arranging robots, the University of Southern California has a new tool to help academic researchers move their innovations off campus and into the marketplace.

The new USC Stevens Institute for Innovation seeks to help innovators develop their ideas into products, services or new businesses...

...Even for established start-ups, USC Steven is beneficial. They might be sought out as business partners to help move forward other innovations at the university...

...Mark Stevens, a USC trustee and venture capitalist, and his wife, Mary, donated $22 million to fund the new center...

Trojans report: Strategy and personnel - CBS Sportsline
STARS OF 2007: QB John David Booty...LB Rey Maualuga...DE Lawrence Jackson......FS Taylor Mays...

...TOP NEWCOMERS
RB Joe McKnight, River Ridge, La. -- The nation's top RB recruit picked USC over LSU on signing day...

...DE Everson Griffen, Avondale, Ariz...

...LB Chris Galippo, Anaheim, Calif...

...C Kristofer O'Dowd, Tucson, Ariz...

...WR Ronald Johnson, Muskegon, Mich...

Also, Notes, quotes - CBS Sportsline
Inside slant - CBS Sportsline

Risers and Sliders - CNNSI
Pro days for 2007 are just about in the book as several major schools hosted NFL decision-makers last week. A number of first-round prospects worked out and the results were varied.

Risers

...Dallas Sartz/LB/USC: Weighing 232 pounds, the Trojan defender ran his 40 times in the high 4.5 area and also touched 33 inches in the vertical jump. Sartz looked solid during linebacker drills. With a thin crop of outside linebacker talent available in the draft, Sartz could sneak into the late part of the draft's first day...

[Miller] Pac-10 football loaded for '07 - Seattle P-I
IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL, USC is here.

And everyone else is here.

Or here -- stuck at varying degrees below the Trojans...

...USC's spring football media guide celebrates the number "5," as in: five consecutive Pac-10 titles, five consecutive BCS bowls, five consecutive top-four finishes and five consecutive 11-win seasons

But it's really about "3," as in: the Trojans appear poised to play for their third national championship since 2003...

Also, [Forde] Welcome to the Megaprogram Era - ESPN

Gable continues solid play - Daily Trojan
...A bright spot...was the play of running back C.J. Gable, who has put together an impressive spring thus far.

"I'm more comfortable now than I was at the beginning," Gable said. "I'm just ready to start the season because I feel like I'm improving every day."

If the season started today, Gable would most likely get the starting nod. Gable said his increased patience has paid off with improved play.

"Last year I wasn't patient," Gable said. "The holes and everything were all there, (the running backs) just weren't patient enough."...

Also, Green watches practice with interest - LA Times
Fullback Havili is carrying the load - LA Times

Holland tries to get on fast track - LA Times
Receiver Jamere Holland, perhaps the fastest player on USC's roster, finally got his football career out of the starting blocks Sunday. The redshirt freshman, who sat out last season after shoulder surgery, participated in a scrimmage for the first time as the Trojans marked the midpoint of spring workouts.

On a day that featured bungled snap exchanges and timing issues between quarterbacks and receivers, Holland showed flashes of what made him such a pass-catching threat for Woodland Hills Taft High.

The former high school sprint champion caught three passes, scored a touchdown, carried the ball on a reverse and returned kicks.

"A few plays I messed up on, but I think I did OK," Holland said...

Also, Trojans Sport Some New Looks - Inland Empire Press-Enterprise
Torn labrum sidelines WR - LA Daily News
Bad break for Holland - LA Daily News

Harbaugh trades barbs with Carroll: `We bow to no man' - SJ Mercury News
...rather than claim he was misquoted, Harbaugh has said in subsequent interviews that he was only repeating what he heard.

"It's been widely publicized that he has interviewed for other jobs, and that is what I've heard," Harbaugh said Monday. "I definitely said that. But we bow to no man. We bow to no program here at Stanford University."

Harbaugh was talking about the importance of having a stable coaching staff when he made his initial comments about Carroll. He pointed out that Carroll has had a lengthy stay at USC, but added, "He's only got one more year, though. He'll be there one more year. That's what I've heard. I heard it (from) inside the staff."...

Also, Harbaugh springs into action - SF Chron
Harbaugh says Carroll is gone after 2007 - LA Times

[Hayes] Inside Dish: Trojans set to use the shotgun - Sporting News
Both of Southern California's losses last season can be traced to deflected passes at the line: one against Oregon State that stopped a 2-point conversion, the other against UCLA that ended with an interception. But instead of tweaking QB John David Booty's mechanics or throwing motion this spring, the Trojans will use the shotgun set occasionally for the first time under coach Pete Carroll. The change will be enough to force defenses to adapt when facing a team that has had its quarterbacks strictly under center...

Also, Scrimmage is a little sloppy - LA Daily News
Sanchez looks good in USC scrimmage - OC Register
Booty, Turner are adjusting to one another - OC Register

[Gold] THE THEORY OF REGGIE'S EVOLUTION - New Orleans Times-Picayune
The transformation of Reggie Bush from college football star to NFL luminary to global icon came suddenly and spectacularly after last April's draft.

Taking a tour of New Orleans a year ago with his marketing agent, Mike Orenstein, and Sports Illustrated writer Peter King, the Saints' running back began to realize his potential as a salesman...

...On Friday, Bush was rated by Sports Business Daily as one of the top five athletes in terms of potential endorsements over the next five years, joining global superstars Tiger Woods, LeBron James and Peyton Manning...

..."The sky's the limit for us," Bush said. "As long as I stay on the straight and narrow and stay focused and keep football first. Without football, the marketing wouldn't happen."...

Young defensive backs see action - Daily Trojan
At USC's first practice in full pads, Trojan defensive backs were more likely to be seen in sweatpants than shoulder pads.

Some of the Trojans' most experienced cornerbacks and safeties sat out Sunday's practice. Josh Pinkard, Terrell Thomas, Kevin Thomas and Kevin Ellison were among the players sidelined.

Mozique McCurtis also missed practice with an injury...

...Most of the injuries have been to the veteran defensive backs.

"Those guys are experienced, so we don't worry about them missing time," said Cary Harris...

Trojans put on a performance - OC Register
The USC Trojans are accustomed to all eyes being on them. Two national titles in the past five years will do that.

But those eyes usually are focused during high-pressure bowl games, not at ordinary spring practices, as they were on Friday.

USC welcomed several hundred coaches for the USC coaches clinic - estimated to be near 500. They were witnesses to Friday's spring practice, the first time the Trojans wore shoulder pads.

The running backs and linebacker Thomas Williams helped entertain the coaches, both on and off the field. The Trojan tailbacks made several sharp cuts and long runs while Williams snagged an interception near the end of practice...

Mario Danelo's parents have an emotional visit - LA Times
Joe Danelo surveyed the scene as USC players ran from one drill to the next during practice on Sunday, the flurry of activity stirring fond, cathartic memories for the father of late Trojans kicker Mario Danelo.

"This is just where Mario used to be," Joe said. "Part of his memory is out here. It's good to be out here with the kids."...

...On Sunday, Coach Pete Carroll, several players, other players' parents and Trojans fans greeted and embraced Joe and Emily Danelo, who visited practice for the first time since their youngest son's death.

Joe Danelo said the outpouring of support from the USC community had been, "overwhelming."...

Also, Kicking game has setbacks - LA Daily News

Sanchez shows his stuff - OC Register
...Mark Sanchez got the majority of the snaps with the first team in USC's first practice in full pads as the first week of practice ended.

"We had a really good week and we just wanted to mix the guys up today," Carroll said. "Mark worked with the first guys quite a bit; we wanted to give (starter) John David (Booty) a break."

Sanchez took advantage of Booty's spring break, leading the first-team offense to several first downs during a controlled 11-on-11 scrimmage.

It was the former Mission Viejo star's second spring practice as a Trojan, and Sanchez said he feels that he can finally stop thinking and just start producing...

Big hole left for Howell - LA Daily News
As USC's starting center in spring practice, Nick Howell might naturally feel some pressure. His predecessor, Ryan Kalil, left a hole, in terms of talent and leadership, that won't be easy to fill.

Fortunately for Howell, coach Pete Carroll isn't asking for too much.

At least not yet...

...Howell, a redshirt sophomore, has inherited the starting spot for now. Jeff Byers, a standout center in high school, could challenge, as could Matt Spanos...

O.J. Mayo not spoiled despite heat of last year - Akron Beacon-Journal
When O.J. Mayo was in eighth grade, he already was dealing with comparisons to LeBron James.

Five years later, it is remarkable that Mayo has fulfilled the expectations of becoming one of the the best players in his high school class. He has been the most high-profile senior, too. It is not surprising that the path has been fraught with adversity, especially this year.

It has gotten hot and heavy recently, not unlike at the end of James' prep career. While trying to lead his Huntington High School team to a mythical national title, Mayo couldn't avoid negative headlines. First, Huntington, in West Virginia, was Mayo's third high school. He abruptly left Cincinnati North College Hill High School last fall before the start of the season, when he could've joined James as the only Ohio player in history to win three Mr. Basketball Awards...

Also, USC's run just a start of things to come - Daily Trojan
Bright future leaves USC no room for regret - OC Register
Hold the Mayo, please - Florida Times-Union