Garry Paskwietz of WeAreSC.com sat down with USC strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle.  The topics discussed focused on the competitiveness and intensity of practice, including safety Taylor Mays’ running down speedster Travon Patterson in the final spring scrimmage: “[T]hat’s the difference between 10.4 and 10.5. I think it’s a testament to the desire and work ethic of that young man. Remember, that wasn’t a Rose Bowl play, that was a practice.”

Carlisle added that now that John David Booty has taken care of his back problems, he’s assumed a “barfighter” attitude in being able to take a hit or tuck and run when necessary. He opined that Sedrick Ellis is the best interior defensive lineman in the country, and that Lawrence Jackson “may be the best defensive end in the country.”  Commenting more generally on the football program’s culture under Pete Carroll, Carlisle summarizes his philosophy about who chooses SC and who does not:

I’ve got 3 rules written on my greaseboard about why a kid wouldn’t want to come to USC. #1, he’s afraid to compete. #2, he’s afraid to work. #3, he’s afraid to win. If a kid is deciding between USC and another school, and he chooses the other school, it’s probably because we didn’t offer him or he’s afraid to compete.

Q&A with Chris Carlisle - Part 1 (WeAreSC)