Updates from August 31st, 2007

We’ve seen this warning posted with increasing detail and frequency as the week has progressed, so it is worth passing along to those of you going to tomorrow’s USC-Idaho game who haven’t seen it: Allow even more time than normal to get to the game–including in your car and on foot from your car to […]

Eric Sondheimer of the LA Times profiles Servite offensive lineman and USC verbal commit Matt Kalil (brother of Ryan), who, since his decision to attend SC, has dedicated himself to hitting the weight room (he now weights 285 pounds), attending camps and continuing to become bigger, faster and stronger. Kalil also has a nasty streak that coaches […]

In yet another profile of SC quarterback John David Booty, Joel Anderson of the Louisiana Gannett News Service writes that growing up in Shreveport, Booty was always “fascinated by the bright lights, sunny skies and endless opportunities of Southern California.” Having made the move, waited his turn at quarterback, and embraced Los Angeles and his […]

Columnist Bill Plaschke of the LA Times chronicles the journey of USC RB Stafon Johnson from his debut as “The Great Dorsey Hope” who wouldn’t adjust to Pete Carroll’s practice demands, to grudgingly accepting his role as the scout team running back in 2006, to the Trojans’ most consistent tailback in 2007.  The death of Johnson’s grandfather, affectionately known as “Big Dad,” […]

Sam Farmer of the LA Times surveys the status of 11 local college athletes attempting to survive the NFL mandated deadline for teams to cut their rosters down to 53 players. Among Trojan rookies still on NFL rosters are OT Kyle Williams (Seattle), LB Oscar Lua (New England), WR Steve Smith (NY Giants), LB Dallas Sartz […]

The big news coming out of the Trojans’ Thursday football practice is that true freshman Kristofer O’Dowd will start at center against Idaho on Saturday. The coaching staff had announced on Wednesday that Jeff Byers would get the start at center (his high school position) as a replacement for the injured Matt Spanos (torn triceps), […]