Junior wide receiver Patrick Turner, second to only Fred Davis in receiving yards this season with 569, missed practice again Thursday with a hematoma in his right leg and seems even more likely to miss the Rose Bowl.  Though the coaching staff can afford to wait at least another day for him, and Turner was scheduled to have an MRI on his right quadriceps on Thursday night with the hopes of practicing Friday, Pete Carroll told the OC Register, “We’re prepared to go without him at this point, but we’d love to get him back if we can.”

• LB Keith Rivers (ankle) and OG Chilo Rachal (knee) each participated in most or all of practice Thursday and are on track to play in the Rose Bowl.  RB Chauncey Washington, out three weeks with a hip pointer, returned Thursday and told reporters that “I’m back and running great.”
• Long snapper Will Collins will make his 52nd consecutive start on Tuesday. No other player on this year’s team has started more games than this reliably consistent and unsung contributor.
• RB Joe McKnight, who looked sharp on Thursday after missing Wednesday’s practice due to travel difficulties, told Gary Klein that he is somewhat disappointed with his 2007 performance, mostly due to his penchant to fumble the ball, something he said “really should never happen.” He said he hopes to use the Rose Bowl as a springboard to a successful 2008 season.

Inland USC parents form lasting bonds over past 5 years (The Press-Enterprise)
McKnight already has an eye on ‘08 (LA Times)
Illinois’ Mendenhall earns place in spotlight (LA Times)
USC notes: Turner hopes to return (Orange County Register)
USC’s Ellis serves up sacks and jokes (Long Beach Press-Telegram)
Illinois lineman O’Donnell is a big hit (Long Beach Press-Telegram)