"It’s exactly where we hope and expect to be," Carroll said. "It’s a symbol of what we’re all about."

USC received 62 of a possible 65 first-place votes from a nationwide media panel and earned a total of 1,622 points to easily outdistance LSU for the top spot. The Trojans, also the top team in the coaches poll, are the AP preseason No. 1 for the sixth time.

The Trojans, who will open the season on September 1 at home against Idaho, will be gunning for their third national title since the 2003 season. They were No. 1 in the AP poll that season, sharing the crown with BCS champ LSU, then were undisputed national champs in 2004 and were one game away from making it a three-peat before a loss to Texas in the Rose Bowl after the 2005 campaign.

LSU got the nod at number two with two first place votes heading the Tigers way. Coming off of a 10-2 record from the 2006 season LSU will look to run through the tough SEC unscathed in order to chase their title hopes. The Tigers will face Virginia Tech at home in their second game of the season. A favorable schedule has the Tigers playing South Carolina, Florida, Auburn and Arkansas in Baton Rouge this year

I am so proud to be a USC fan! It is going to be a great season!

This is exactly the kind of encouragement parents holding second mortgages to pay for trainers and summer camps do NOT need:

For the second year running, Southern California basketball coach Tim Floyd offered a scholarship to an eighth-grader.

‘‘Hmmm,’’ Louisville coach Rick Pitino mulled over the news. ‘‘I’m not good enough to evaluate that far ahead. Someday, I might wish I was.’’

The kid’s name is Ryan Boatright, he’s 14 and 5-foot-10, and still not sure which Aurora, Calif., high school, East or West, he wants to attend. But he won’t have that problem with college. Ryan left Floyd’s basketball summer camp at USC last weekend with a promise to return in 2011. It may or may not be part of a trend.

Floyd is barred by NCAA rules from discussing specific recruits, but he said Thursday, ‘‘I don’t want this portrayed as if we’re hovering over some eighth-grader by himself. Families are involved and they view the opportunity for a $188,000 scholarship as something important to them.’’

And indeed, Mike Boatright, Ryan’s father, said about the offer, ‘‘It shocked me.’’

Not long after, however, he told the same interviewer, ‘‘I’m tremendously concerned. It could get ugly as far as kids getting jealous. I also don’t want it to get to his head. I want him to stay humble.’’

About the only thing the recruiting process and real life have left in common is this: When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. So before this goes any further, it’s worth noting that none of what happened — Floyd’s offer of a scholarship, Ryan’s pledge to USC — is binding.

Floyd promised he would make good on his offer — ‘‘I will not back out of any commitment that we make.’’ he said — even though NCAA rules bar coaches from making ‘‘official contact’’ with a recruit before his junior year of high school.

A spokesman for the organization said Thursday that contact between coaches and players at the summer camps was not considered ‘‘official.’’ If that sounds too convenient, at least it still reflects the reality on the ground. NCAA officials know that the kids are no more likely to keep their promises than the coaches and schools are. One of the pioneers of the ultra-early commitments was a McDonald’s All-American named Taylor King who pledged to UCLA and is now set to go to Duke.

‘‘We have a responsibility to get the best players we can find and know what the competition is doing,’’ Floyd said. ‘‘And when they target an eighth-grader …

‘‘In a perfect world,’’ he continued, ‘‘we’d all wait until spring signing date when these kids are high school seniors. But that’s just not the world that we live in in college basketball. Am I supposed to wait until Duke or Kentucky offer, and then it’s OK?’’

Similarly, just because Floyd made the same offer last year to then-14-year-old Dwayne Polee Jr., doesn’t mean the 6-6 high school freshman from Westchester, Calif., still isn’t on other schools’ list. Or that Boatright, who was reportedly being chased by DePaul, Indiana and a handful of other schools, will be at USC until he actually signs a national letter of intent.

‘‘Four years is a long time,’’ Pitino said, ‘‘and way too often, it just doesn’t work out for either side.

‘‘Unless he’s Greg Oden, where you know he’s going to be that good down the road, I’m not sure what’s in it for the school. For the kid, on the other hand, it could be great — unless the school backs out.’’

And no coach wants his feet held to the fire. Pitino recalled a ninth-grader who committed to Louisville, but wasn’t a good fit by the time his freshman year of college rolled around. He recalled a similar case where Florida coach Billy Donovan, his one-time pupil, had to convince another kid that he’d found three players at the same position in the interim.

‘‘The only thing it’s guaranteed to do,’’ Pitino said about the signing, ‘‘is generate a lot of publicity.’’

Try telling that to all those parents already in debt up to their eyeballs. With dollar signs in their eyes and college scholarships supposedly being handed out at summer camps like consolation prizes, it’s only going to get more expensive still. This is called free enterprise.

Developing athletic talent is not only cheaper, but a whole lot less chaotic when it’s run by the government, or by powerful clubs, such as the soccer teams in Europe. There, talents are identified even earlier than 14, catalogued, sent to academies, signed, trained and delivered to pros a few years later at fixed costs.

When high school prospects were skipping college and pouring straight into the NBA with all the attendant problems, somebody proposed that solution to then-deputy commissioner Russ Granik. He chuckled, thought it over, then pointed out that was never going to be an option.

‘‘It sounds great,’’ he said, ‘‘but there’s no chance people in this country would ever go for that.’’

Not according to one writer. The Los Angeles Times’ Christine Daniels lists the region’s most popular sports teams and the Trojans come out third behind the Dodgers and the Lakers. Having lived in Los Angeles, I can definitely give the nod to the Dodgers here. Their appeal is universal and both Dodger Stadium and Vin Scully are public institutions.

UCLA’s football program comes in fifth, behind UCLA basketball.

Interesting did-you-know: the late Lakers broadcast legend Chick Hearn used to be an announcer for USC football games. He eventually settled with the Lakers and became an institution of his own with all the quirky phrases he invented such as slam dunk and "this game’s in the refrigerator: the door is closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter’s getting hard and the Jell-O’s jigglin"

Question: First question for you, Brian. I heard you got some exciting news about taking part in an ESPN series that showcases some of the top incoming freshman football players from around the country. Can you talk about the Summer House opportunity a little bit?

Answer: I got a call one day from some people at the ESPN production company that‘s going to be doing the show, and they asked me to be on it. It took me a while to discuss it with my family, and they said it was alright. So I jumped on that, and it should be a very exciting experience.

Question: I understand that the show is going into its’ second season this year, and it’s going to be filmed in New York. When are you actually going to be shooting the show?

Answer: I leave (this week) to go to New York City.

Question. That should be a great experience for you, and I know you’ll make Gamecock Nation proud up there. Let’s switch gears a little bit now and look toward the football season this fall. Obviously South Carolina has a pretty solid group of returning running backs heading into 2007 with Cory Boyd and Mike Davis, but I know you’re a competitor, and you’ll do everything you can to earn playing time this fall. What exactly have the South Carolina coaches told you about the possibility of seeing the field early and making an impact this season?

Answer: They’ve told me to just continue to work hard in the weight room, and (when I arrive on campus) come to the workouts and go to class and stuff like that. I need to take the time to study the playbook and all that stuff, and they said I would get on the field fairly early.

Question: It’s no secret that you were one of the most highly touted running back prospects in the country this past recruiting class, and you’ve got a unique skill set out of the backfield. Why don’t you give our listeners a little taste of what they can expect from you this season. What strengths would you say you bring to the football field as a running back?

Answer: The strengths that I would say I bring to the table are that I can catch the ball. I’m a bigger back. I’m very fast. I’m powerful. I’m strong. You’ve got to have all those to be successful in the SEC as a running back.

Question: I’ve watched your film and seen you play some in person, and obviously you can do a lot of exciting things with the ball in your hands. Is there any player that you tend to model your game after on the football field?

Answer: I’d say Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch.

Question: Okay, I’ve got a two part question for you, Brian - When did you first start playing football, and when exactly did you realize that you wanted to pursue a future in football?

Answer: I started playing football when I was eight years old, and I knew starting in twelve and under (league) that football was what I wanted to do with my life - First to get a college scholarship playing football at a D-I school and then to make it to the NFL.

Question: I’m sure you’re excited about taking your game to the next level this fall and competing against some of the best talent in the country in the SEC. With that in mind, what kind of personal goals have you set for yourself in your upcoming freshman season?

Answer: Just to make a big contribution to the team. I want to get the ball enough times. I would like to score maybe five times or more. It could be even more than that, but we’ll just have to see how things go once I get out there practicing with the team.

Question: I know you’ve got some buddies that have already joined the team workouts like Quintin Richardson, Cliff Matthews and Mark Barnes. But with your obligation to film Summer House, when exactly do you plan to arrive at USC and begin working out with the team?

Answer: I plan to arrive at USC July the 5th, and I’ll begin working out with the team that following Monday.

Question: I know you’re a workout warrior, and you pride yourself in your strength and conditioning. So what have you been doing over the past few months to basically gear up for the 2007 season?

Answer: I’ve been working out a lot. I just recently got my summer workout book from Coach Mark Smith, and I’ve been doing that. (Last week) was my first week doing that. It’s been kind of tough, but you’ve got to do it.

Question: I’ve heard that once you get on campus, those workouts are taken to a whole different level. Has anyone told you what to expect with USC’s strength and conditioning program under Mark Smith?

Answer: Yeah, Travian (Robertson) has told me a whole bunch about Coach Smith and how hard the workouts will be. Moe Brown has too.

Question: I know I talked to you right before signing day, and you said you had been running some pretty impressive times in the forty yard dash. What is the best forty yard dash time that you’ve ever recorded?

Answer: 4.35 is my best time. I ran track in the spring to work on my speed, but I didn’t participate in any meets. I just practiced with the team so I wouldn’t risk pulling anything in a meet.

Question: Okay, let’s take a quick look back at the recruiting process for you. Obviously you could have gone to just about any school in the country, as you had offers from Florida, Florida State, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, NC State and several others. But what was it about South Carolina that stood out to you and helped you decide to commit to the Gamecocks way back last June?

Answer: The main thing is the coaching staff. They do a phenomenal job. Coach Steve Spurrier is going to take us to an SEC Championship and I think a National Championship. Coach Smith is just a workout warrior. He makes us work hard, and it shows on the field. I can’t forget Coach (Robert) Gillespie either. He’s a cool guy. He’s been with me a long time in the process, him and Coach (Fred) Chatham both. They just seem like real great coaches.

Question: You and Quintin Richardson both clearly went above and beyond the call of duty in this past recruiting class and were great ambassadors for the South Carolina football program, talking with other prospects and letting them know how they could be a part of something special at South Carolina. Was it extra special for you seeing how the 2007 recruiting class came together to become arguably the best class in the history of the South Carolina football program?

Answer: Oh yeah, that meant a lot to me. I know it meant a lot to Quintin too. We tried really hard on people like Stephen Garcia, Travian, Chris Culliver and people like that. That really helped.

Question: I know there were a bunch of future Gamecocks down at that Offense-Defense Game in Fort Lauderdale. Was that a pretty fun experience for you getting get to know those guys better?

Answer: Yeah, that was real fun being there with all the other commits. It was just a real fun time to be practicing with each other and getting to know each other better.

Question: I’m sure you built a lot of great friendships through the recruiting process, so have you kept in touch with any of your fellow 2007 signees over the past few months here?

Answer: I’ve kept in touch with Quintin. I talk with Travian a whole heck of a lot. I talk with Stephen every once in a while. That’s basically it.

Question: Alright, I’ve just got a few more questions for you here, Brian. Getting back to the upcoming football season, when you look at South Carolina’s 2007 schedule, is there a certain game that stands out to you where you just say, ‘I can’t wait to play against those guys’

Answer: That LSU game is the game I’m looking forward to. It’s just how loud it’s going to be. I’ve never been on the field in an atmosphere like that. I just think it’ll be a great, competitive game between the two teams.

Question: Being up there in the upstate, I‘m sure you’ve had to deal with your share of Clemson fans, so how sweet was it for you personally to see Carolina knock off Clemson in Death Valley last season?

Answer: It was real good. I was very excited. When Jad Dean missed that field goal, me and my father jumped up and down, high-fiving and stuff, and all the Clemson fans had little, droopy faces.

Question: I remember you donned a #10 jersey at your announcement when you first committed to the Gamecocks last June. Is that the jersey number you’re going to be wearing at Carolina this fall?

Answer: Yeah, that’s the jersey number I’m going to be wearing with the Gamecocks. Coach Spurrier told me that’s OK, and that’s what I’m going to wear.

Question: Speaking of jerseys, what are your thoughts on South Carolina’s new Under Armour uniforms that they’ll be wearing this season?

Answer: They’re sweet. They’re real great jerseys. I can’t complain about that at all. Under Armour’s a great clothing line, and they do a phenomenal job.

Question: I know you’ve seen first hand the excitement that’s brewing in Columbia right now, Brian. Everyone in South Carolina is excited about the direction of the Gamecock football program under Steve Spurrier and the potential to do things that have never been done before in Columbia like win an SEC Championship and possibly even contend for a national championship. How excited are you about coming into a situation like that where you can be a part of something special and help USC reach those goals?

Answer: I’m definitely excited, but you also have to work hard in the offseason and when you report to camp. You’ve just got to work hard to make it there. It doesn’t come easy.

Question: That’s a good mindset to have. I know this class as a whole has a lot of character and leadership qualities that will help you all on the college level. I’ve just got one more question for you, Brian. Obviously the Gamecock Nation is excited about you arriving in Columbia in the next few months here. Is there any message you’d like to pass on to the South Carolina fans before you go?

Answer: Get ready. Here I come.

At its recent summer meetings, the Pac-10 Council, which is comprised of a Faculty Athletics Representative, Athletics Director, and Senior Women’s Administrator from each of the Conference’s 10 institutions, approved the relocation of the women’s postseason tournament for the 2008-09 and 2009-2010 seasons.

In addition, the Council agreed to move back the date of the women’s tournament to more closely coincide with the men’s tournament.

"The Pac-10’s members are anticipating that moving the women’s tournament to USC’s beautiful new Galen Center in Los Angeles, and playing it the same week as the men’s tournament is conducted at nearby Staples Center, will create a synergy which will benefit both of these premier Pac-10 events," said Commissioner Tom Hansen.

"We anticipate fans from each institution will attend the games of both of their teams, and participate in ancillary events for both tournaments. Having them in the nation’s second largest media market also presents opportunities for the Conference, and provides an outstanding showcase for our student-athletes.

"At the same time, we deeply appreciate the manner in which the City of San Jose has embraced the Tournament during the five years it has been there," Hansen stated.

HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., which has been the site of the Tournament since 2003, will host the 2008 Tournament, Friday March 7 through Monday, March 10, before the Conference moves the posts eason event to Los Angeles.

In 2009, the men’s tournament will be held Wednesday, March 3 through Saturday, March 6, while the women’s tournament will be held the same week, and played Thursday, March 4 through Sunday, March 7.

The inaugural Pac-10 Women’s Basketball Tournament was held at McArthur Court on the campus of the University of Oregon following the 2001-02 basketball season.

"I’m going to be 2,000 miles away and you have a new dentist and a new background," said the Huntington High All-American guard. "Here, my doctors know my teeth and my history, but it’s a whole new thing in college."

Mayo has a lot of things to do before he leaves for college, but he said his waning days in Huntington have been less hectic. He has even cut back on his legendary workout schedule, which included daily practices with the Highlanders and additional workouts with a personal trainer either in the mornings or evenings.

"I’ve just been chillin’ and trying to stay away from the court a little bit," Mayo said. "I’m just trying to enjoy my time with my family, because this is the first time I’ve had off since I was like 9 years old. We usually jump from the season to AAU.

"I’m just trying to take care of bumps and bruises and take care of my body. It’s those little things I’ve never had the time to do that I want to take care of before I head off to college."

Mayo played through more pain than he ever let on last season. He missed one game with a pulled hamstring that plagued him the first half of the season, and he also suffered a fractured wrist that hobbled him the second half of the season.

"I have a lot of bumps, bruises and fractures that I really never had a chance to take a look at because I didn’t want to hear the end results," Mayo said. "I just want to take care of those bumps and bruises and get ready for college."

But how many bumps and bruises did he play with?

"A whole lot," Mayo said. "I fractured one of my wrists, I think in the Artesia game. But it’s not something I want to dwell on. You can either play or you can’t play. You’re either hurt, or you’re not hurt."

And an injured O.J. Mayo is better than 90 percent of other players.

He hasn’t been given a report date by USC coach Tim Floyd, yet. But Mayo said he wants to arrive as early as permitted to acquaint himself with the campus and accumulate as many summer credits as possible to enable him to take a reduced course load during the season.

Finding a new dentist for that future million-dollar smile is probably high on his to-do list, too.

The kickoff times and television plans for 8 of USC’s 2007 football games have been determined.

USC’s Sept. 15 game at Nebraska, Troy’s first visit to Lincoln since 1969, will kick off at 7 p.m. Central/5 p.m. Pacific and be shown live nationally on ABC.

The Trojans will have 6 other live appearances on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 in 2007. Five of those games will kick off at 5 p.m. Pacific as part of the network’s primetime package: the Sept. 22 home game against Washington State (ABC split regional), the Sept. 29 game at Washington (ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 national/split national), the Nov. 3 Homecoming game versus Oregon State in the Coliseum (ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 national/split national), the Nov. 10 contest at California (ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 national/split national) and the Thanksgiving (Nov. 22) game at Arizona State (ESPN national, with a 6 p.m. Mountain start). Also, the Dec. 1 crosstown showdown with UCLA in the Coliseum will kick at 1:30 p.m. and be shown live nationally on ABC.

USC’s Oct. 20 game at Notre Dame will kick off at 3:30 p.m. Eastern/12:30 p.m. Pacific and be shown live nationally on NBC.

Kickoff times and television plans for USC’s remaining 4 games (home games versus Idaho on Sept. 1, Stanford on Oct. 6 and Arizona on Oct. 13 and at Oregon on Oct. 27) have yet to be determined. FSN, USC’s other television partner, will announce it selections on June 1.

2007 USC FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 1–Idaho, TBA

Sept. 15–at Nebraska, 7 p.m. (ABC)

Sept. 22–Washington State, 5 p.m. (ABC)

Sept. 29–at Washington, 5 p.m. (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)

Oct. 6–Stanford, TBA

Oct. 13–Arizona, TBA

Oct. 20–at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)

Oct. 27–at Oregon, TBA

Nov. 3–Oregon State (Homecoming), 5 p.m. (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)

Nov. 10–at California, 5 p.m. (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)

Nov. 22–at Arizona State, 6 p.m. (ESPN)

Dec. 1–UCLA, 1:30 p.m. (ABC)

All times are local to game site

For the second year in a row, a prominent Trojans football player plummeted down the draft Saturday. This time it was Dwayne Jarrett, the Pacific-10 Conference’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions, who suffered through the long wait and awkward television moments as he fell out of the first round before being taken 45th overall by the Carolina Panthers.

"It was definitely a long wait," said Jarrett’s agent, Darin Morgan, who spoke on Jarrett’s behalf. "… He told me his desire is to prove 31 teams made a mistake today."

Morgan had warned Friday that Jarrett might not speak to the media if he slipped in the draft. He did do a brief interview on ESPN after his selection.

Seven receivers were selected before Jarrett went with the 13th pick in the second round. He was the first of three Trojans drafted in the round, followed six picks later by receiver Steve Smith to the New York Giants, then center Ryan Kalil 59th overall, also to Carolina.

Last year, Matt Leinart dropped from the third pick to 10th when the Titans passed on him for Vince Young, and two others projected as first rounders - Winston Justice and LenDale White - fell into the second round.

But like Leinart, the end result for Jarrett may be less money in the short term in exchange for a better situation. In Carolina, Smith can learn from former Trojans receiver Keyshawn Johnson, then take his place in a few years when Johnson retires.

"This guy is much like me," said Johnson, who was visibly excited about the pick on ESPN, where he was serving as a draft analyst. "I can teach him how to be physical."

Jarrett will continue to play next to a Steve Smith, though it will probably be as second fiddle to Carolina’s star wideout.

USC’s Smith, a former Taft High of Woodland Hills standout, also enters a promising situation in New York, where the Giants will soon need to replace 33-year-old Amani Toomer.

Smith said earlier in the week that he’d love to go to San Diego to stay close to home, where it’s warm. While New York is about the furthest away from that ideal, he’ll get to play in the No. 1 media market.

"I was hoping to go in top 40 picks, but I’m happy to be going to New York," said Smith, who watched the draft at former high school coach Troy Starr’s house. "Playing with Eli Manning will be a treat. That’s one of the things I’m most excited about. I know he has great potential."

Former USC cornerback Eric Wright, who transferred to UNLV after being arrested on suspicion of rape and drug possession (the charges were later dropped), also went in the second round, 53rd overall to Cleveland.

Jarrett, who set the school record for receptions in USC’s Rose Bowl victory over Michigan, had teams concerned about his speed when he ran the 40-yard dash in a disappointing 4.62seconds at USC’s Pro Day last month.

That time only exacerbated the unfavorable comparisons to Mike Williams, the receiver he took over for at USC.

Williams, who has been a failure in the NFL so far with the knock that he’s too slow, even ran a better 40 at 4.56seconds back in 2004.

Williams was traded from the Detroit Lions to the Oakland Raiders in a draft-day deal Saturday.

"It got tiresome to hear," Morgan said of the Williams comparisons. "If he didn’t go to USC, he’d never have been compared to Mike Williams. I like the comparison instead to Michael Irvin, Jerry Rice and other greats who didn’t run the fastest 40time."

Before the San Diego Chargers picked at No. 30, ESPN showed clips of Jarrett’s play at USC and a live shot of him with family and friends in New York. Then the Chargers went on to select Craig Davis, the No. 2 receiver at LSU. Jarrett scored 41 touchdowns in his USC career compared to seven for Davis.

Jarrett had to wait through the longest first round in NFL history, clocking in at 6hours, 8 minutes.

The slippage will lead to second-guessing on whether Jarrett should have returned for his senior season.

"I think everybody has his own path," Jarrett said on ESPN. "I did this for me and my family, and I thought it was the best decision for us."

"I’m looking to hear I’ll be a first-round pick because of the guaranteed money," Pruitt said of what would keep him in the draft. "If it’s not looking like I’ll be a first-round pick, I’ll obviously stay in school. If it is, I’ll have to look over my options."

Pruitt missed the first 11 games of the past season because of academic ineligibility but resumed his roll as a team leader upon his return.

Once back starting at point guard, Pruitt took command of the offense and the turnovers that had plagued USC to begin the season took a sudden nose dive.

At 6-foot-4, Pruitt offers intriguing size for a point guard.

He improved his NBA stock in the NCAA Tournament by playing lock-down defense on a trio of smaller, quick guards. He was particularly impressive against D.J. Augustin of Texas, forcing him into committing as many turnovers — six —

as points scored, to lead a USC upset.
With players like Augustin and North Carolina’s Ty Lawson — whom Pruitt held to four points in the Sweet 16 — opting to return to school, a weak draft for point guards could benefit Pruitt.

Players have until Sunday to announce their intentions for the draft.

"It was tough, but I talked to my parents and felt this was the right decision," Pruitt said. "They told me why not go for it, weigh my options and play it out, see what happens."

Pruitt has scored 1,102 points in his three years, 27th on the school’s all-time list.

He ranks sixth in USC history for steals with 158.

The Trojans have already had Nick Young forego his senior season for the draft and are losing senior Lodrick Stewart. If Pruitt follows, USC will have to replace its three leading scorers next season.

You were one of the first commits in your class. Talk about how you got sold on USC so early on in the recruiting process.

Now that I think about it, I think I might have actually been Coach Carroll’s first commit that he ever had. When you are recruited by the Trojans, it’s a pretty special thing. Not many people represent the University the way Coach Carroll and his staff do, the way they perform, and how they recruit. I was just fortunate enough to be able to get a scholarship from these guys. I figured if I got offered from these guys and Coach Carroll was going to be the head coach, and I felt comfortable with the coaching staff, I knew it would be a special place and it would behoove me to commit. I was so excited just to be able to be here and be with all these guys. It’s a pretty special thing.

Talk about the moment you were offered, and did you commit on the spot?

I was offered my junior year. It was at school. I was talking to Coach Carroll on the phone at my then-head coach Ernie Cooper’s desk. We were talking about football and when we got done, he said something along the lines of, “Do you want to be a Trojan?” and, “We’re going to offer you a scholarship.” It was one of the first scholarships I earned. It was one of the coolest moments, but I didn’t commit right away. For the most part, just about every school was offering me. I knew I wanted to stay in the west coast. I liked Oregon quite a bit, and also liked Washington, but I knew none could compare to what USC could offer, the football team, and also academically.

You’re often described as a “cerebral” player.

That’s a good compliment, definitely. That’s what I try to be out there, a smart player, a headsy player. I think one of my strengths is being able to go out there and figure out what is going on, and try to look around and find some stuff and help some people out, and point out some tendencies. I think that is one of my strong points. That’s the way I play my game.

Your father also played football at Oregon State. How might that have impacted your mental and physical game?

Just being raised by him and my mom helped. Not necessarily playing football, it was just the way they raised me, the way they taught me to be a man, to be a competitor, and an athlete. The way they pushed me when I was growing up, from playing recreational soccer all the way to high school football. The way they pushed me and made me the athlete I am today.

Was your grandfather pretty influential as well in your sports life?

Yes, definitely. He played a little football. He was a big inspiration to me. He was a man that did it all and loved life. He was a fighter pilot, a gold glove boxer, a professional hydroplane racer. He did everything he wanted to and definitely is a big part of my life, made me who I am today.

You are a rare two-time captain. Talk about what that honor has meant to you.

It is definitely a great honor, to say I have been that. The cool thing is that it’s not voted by the coaches, it’s voted by the peers. That makes me feel pretty special inside that those guys thought that highly of me two years in a row, to be the leader, the representative of the team. I was pretty blessed to be that.

You’ve been part of a pretty incredible run at USC. What kind of memories will you take with you?

There’ve been so many great memories, I don’t know where to start, really. The games have been great. I definitely look back and tell stories about the games like stopping Oklahoma. Nobody thought we had a chance and we went out there and shut them down. Also, the Michigan game last year at the Rose Bowl. There are plenty of memories. But also, one of the big things is meeting all of the people out there throughout the process. I met a lot of nice people, great people, and best friends. I’ll take those relationships with me for the rest of my life.

You mentioned meeting a lot of people and that being an important part of your time here at USC. Many former Trojan athletes come back and visit campus. Do any stand out who you’ve gotten to meet?

The Trojan Family is very close. So when people come back, players come back, you’re talking to them, seeing how they’re doing. There’s a common bond, players come back and chat and work out, whether it’s players I never played with, or guys like Matt Cassel who come back for a couple of work outs and act like we did back in the day. Matt Cassel was back a couple of weeks ago, just a great guy, and pretty fun to have around.

You’ve had many memorable moments. Describe your favorite play at USC. Do any tackles or sacks stand out more?

I’d say my sack at the end of that first Rose Bowl versus Michigan. It was pretty cool to get that last sack out there at the Rose Bowl as a sophomore.

What about your favorite game?

I’d say this last year’s Rose Bowl was pretty cool, with all of the hype between Michigan and USC, two big powerhouses coming together. To be able to go out there and basically dominate and do whatever we wanted to do to them was a pretty cool thing. The way the defense came together at the end there, and the way we played. It was kind of fun to let it all develop and come together. It was a great game for us.

One of the more memorable games that you’ve been involved in is the 2005 Orange Bowl, where you basically shut down the highly touted Adrian Peterson, and made it look easy.

Basically what it comes down to is if you give Coach Carroll and his staff a month to prepare for a game, it is going to be a good thing for us, because he is a mastermind up there with his guys. We didn’t do anything too special. I think we actually just ran a couple of base plays, and played really good, solid defense, and just shut them down. It wasn’t anything above and beyond what we knew we could do. We basically just went out there and played the game, and shut them down.

What was it like playing with Matt Grootegoed, Lofa Tatupu, Shaun Cody?

It was pretty cool. It’s fun to watch those guys right now and see them on Sunday playing. Really great guys, and great football players. They were always there to just talk to, to help out. When they come back, you’re going out to dinner and lunch with them, and catching up. Grootegoed was the guy in front of me when I got here. He definitely contributed to my development. He’s a really good player, a smart player, a headsy player, and taught me a lot about the game, strategy, and techniques. He was the guy who I looked up to when I was here, and the guy who I wanted to try and beat out. He taught me a whole bunch, and he is really just nice guy.

Describe the different coaching styles of Coaches Seto and Norton. What have you learned from them?

Those guys are tremendous coaches. They compliment each other perfectly. Rocky is a great guy. He hasn’t been around as long as Norton has but he’s a great coach and loves his job, and is a smart, smart coach. He knows the schemes, and is just a great guy to play for. He makes you want to go out there and play every day and get suited up and play for him. And Norton is Ken Norton Jr. He speaks for himself. He’s an awesome guy and I’ve just been so blessed to able to say that I played under that guy. He’s one of the greatest linebackers ever to play the game, and I also feel he’s one of the greatest coaches. He also makes you want to go out there and practice every day. He lights that fire in you and gets you motivated. He wants to get you better, and you want to get better for him. It’s just amazing to be able to say I played for both of them, they’re both great guys.

What is your favorite off campus eating spot?

Fatburger is always good. Every once in a while I can splurge and get it. (Laughs.)

Talk about USC’s future at the linebacker position, and the people you’re leaving behind.

I was watching spring ball a couple of days ago. They all looked amazing. Rey and Keith are really solid at the inside spots. I think Rey has definitely stepped up into the role he knows he needs to be in, in that Mike linebacker spot. The sky’s the limits for that guy. I think Keith Rivers is always definitely going to be a solid player out there. He’s a good playmaker for us, and is just big time. Cushing is coming back to linebacker this year and he too is just going to be awesome. I know he’s a little dinged up right now but he’s a tremendous player, and has a lot of talent, and a lot of skill. Kaluka is a tremendous player with a great nose for the ball. He reminds me a lot of Troy Polamalu out there, the way he plays, the way his instincts take over, and the way he goes after the ball. Luthur Brown is starting to come into his own right now and be the player that he wants to be.

You had a pretty impressive Pro Day performance. What teams have been talking to you and what kind of buzz has there been?

I had a private workout with the Patriots. Their west coast scout and linebacker coach came out here, so it was pretty fun to go out there and run around a little bit with the Patriots. I’ve been chatting with Matt Cassel a little bit throughout this process. You hear stuff all the time about whether you’re moving up or down in the draft, but I really try not to pay attention to that. What matters is if a team or a coach likes you out there, and that’s what counts.

Are you graduating?

Yes. I’m all done. I walked last May, but I finished my minor last semester. I have a communications degree and a business law minor.

After football, what are your career goals? Or maybe more schooling?

Definitely no more school for me. (Laughs.) Five years was enough. I just want to see where football takes me. Hopefully I’ll be able to do that for a little while, and then, if not, I think USC prepared me for a lot of different aspects of the world. I’ll figure it out when it comes to it.

Did you know Mario Danelo well?

Yes, pretty well. Everybody knew him pretty well. He definitely touched everybody’s life. He was a pretty cool guy, and always had a smile on his face. You’d walk in the locker room and say something, and he would come back with something funny, just being a goof. He was always the guy who would lighten up your day. Everybody on this football team I can honestly say knew him pretty well, he touched so many people’s lives.

Any departing words to the USC fans out there?

I just want to say it’s been a great ride with all of you guys for the past five years. I couldn’t imagine how much fun I would have out here and how many great people I’d meet. I never thought it would be as special as it has been, but you guys out there made it special for me. Thanks to everyone out there who came