There hasn’t been a truckload of news items coming out of Rose Bowl practice this week, other than the typical storyline that USC has trouble with mobile quarterbacks (such as Illinois’ “Juice” Williams). The daily Patrick Turner injury issue hasn’t been completely resolved. Because he could only participate in a few drills Saturday, Pete Carroll described his activity as “not enough to really make a dent,” in his chances of actually playing in the Rose Bowl. Freshmen Ronald Johnson and David Ausberry remain on track to play in his wide receiver spot on Tuesday, which is not a huge dropoff in talent considering Turner’s relatively lackluster performance this season.

• Carroll on UCLA’s hiring of Rick Neuheisel on Saturday: “We were waiting for the smoke to come out of the Vatican, and it finally did…I think it’s a terrific choice. His experience in the NFL is beneficial. They got a really good choice. He’s always been a really good recruiter. He’ll do a great job.”
• RB Joe McKnight wore a knee brace in practice Saturday due to stiffness, but it is not considered serious.
• RB Stafon Johnson, the master of self-evaluative percentages, told Scott Wolf he is 95 percent recovered from the bone bruise on his foot he initially hurt against Washington. If only he can play 95% as well as he did against Nebraska.

USC has weakness for Illini duo (Chicago Tribune)
Defense isn’t anything fancy (LA Times)
Washington wants a big finish (LA Times)
USC’s Radovich ignores the critics (LA Daily News)