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August 2007 ArchivesUCR pitching coach Andrew Checketts is taking a trip to Eugene, Ore. this weekend to interview for a similar position with the Ducks. Oregon is starting up its baseball program after a 26-year hiatus and will name Cal State Fullerton's George Horton as head coach as soon as this weekend. UCR coach Doug Smith said Horton called to ask for permission to talk to Checketts, who has been instrumental in developing the Highlanders' pitching staff into one of the top units in the nation. Checketts was previously a pitcher at Oregon State in Corvallis. Defending women's cross country conference champion UCSB, which placed ninth at last season's NCAA championships, was selected as the Big West favorite in the preseason coaches' poll. The Gauchos received 71 points, with UC Irvine right behind with 70 and UCR with 67. The Highlanders and Anteaters each received the most first-place votes with three. The UCR men, coming off a sixth-place finish last season, were also picked third by conference coaches. Cal Poly, which as won seven of the past nine Big West team titles, was again chosen as the team to beat. From the USC Athletic Department Friday: Fans Asked to Allow Extra Time for Access to Saturday’s Evening Game Fans attending the USC Trojans home football game against Idaho are advised to allow extra time for parking and pedestrian access to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 1. Because of construction of the new Exposition Light Rail line, and construction at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Science Center, the roads and sidewalks around the USC University Park Campus, Exposition Park, and the Los Angeles Coliseum will be especially congested. In addition, pedestrian access through Exposition Park may be significantly impacted – please allow for additional time in the walk from your cars to and from the game. The game will kick off at 7:15 p.m. Cornerback Vincent Joseph will return kickoffs, Carroll said of the speedy sophomore who impressed in the preseason scrimmages. And Desmond Reed, as expected, will get the call on punt returns with Ronald Johnson also getting his shot there, Carroll announced at the end of practice. With the discovery Thursday that freshman tailback Broderick Green might have a stress fracture in his foot, USC was down to four healthy tailbacks, C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson, Allen Bradford and Desmond Reed, plus Joe McKnight in a knee brace, for the Idaho game. Pete Carroll said he would need to know more about what was going on with Green before making a call on how this will affect the season for the 234-pounder from Arkansas. USC has never had a true freshman start at center, not in the modern era anyway, until Saturday, that is. After Thursday's practice, USC Coach Pete Carroll said he'd rethought his position on true freshman Kris O'Dowd stepping in to start for Matt Spanos after a torn triceps knocked Spanos out of the start against Idaho Saturday night. Saying "there's a really good shot'' O'Dowd will get the call and "We're going to take a good look at it,'' Carroll is going against history here. No USC freshman has ever started a game at center much less an opener. The last time a freshman offensive lineman started an opener was 11 years ago when Travis Claridge started at guard against Penn State. The only other offensive lineman to start in an opener for USC as a true freshman in the post-World War II era was Brad Budde, who did so against Missouri in 1976 before going on to a College Football Hall of Fame career as a unanimous 1979 All-American at USC and the Trojans lone Lombardi Award winner as the nation's top lineman. The last freshman offensive lineman to start a game was Byers in 2004 against UCLA, his fourth start that season. The last true freshman to start an opener was Gable at Arkansas last year. This is from the UCLA release. Could be helpful for game days at the Rose Bowl... This year, fans can receive real time game day parking and traffic information by text message on their wireless phones. Fans should text 41-411 and enter rbtraffic for the latest traffic information or rbparking for the latest on parking lot availability. Text messaging rates from your wireless carrier apply. UCLA has one. So do Cal, Oregon State and Arizona State. Then there's Tulsa, which has two, along with Arkansas State, UConn, Syracuse, Colorado, UL Monroe, New Mexico, Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Southern Methodist and Southern Mississippi, Illinois, Toledo, Central Florida and Central Michigan, Northwestern and UTEP. The guys from Troy (Alabama) even have one but the Men of Troy, with those nine USC tailbacks, have nary a one. Nope, the Doak Walker Award list that goes to the nation's top college running back, doesn't have a single USC Trojan anywhere in sight. Here's the complete list: Tarrion Adams (Jr.), Tulsa Kris O'Dowd will get plenty of time Saturday to prove he belongs on the first unit at USC. And as hard as it should be to play center as a true freshman, maybe the single hardest jump to make from high school, don't be surprised if thr 6-5, 300-pounder can pull it off. If he does, look for Jeff Byers to go back to guard and Matt Spanos, on his return from a torn right triceps, becoming the all-purpose USC offensive lineman who can play all three, or five, spots from tackle to tackle. Normally this is "turnover Wednesday'' but the only turnover on this day was in the offensive line where the top-ranked Trojans were down two starters, center Matt Spanos and right guard Chilo Rachal, as they practiced with only eight bodies on the offensive line. "Everybody has to play everywhere,'' Pete Carroll told his team now that senior Spanos could be out "for at least a few weeks,'' Carroll said, with an unusual triceps muscle tear suffered in a double-team block Tuesday with Jeff Byers against nose tackle Sedrick Ellis. Byers moves over to his original center position for Saturday's opener with Idaho (7:15 p.m., FSN) with freshman Kris O'Dowd, the 6-foot-5, 300-pounder from Tucson, getting a lot of action as the coaches determine if he's ready to move up from a backup spot to the first team. "It's a stressful day for everybody,'' O'Dowd said, with starting left guard Rachal having to take the day off with a bruised right knee. "I'll be back (Thursday),'' Rachal said. And he plans to start Saturday. But in case of problems, O'Dowd said "I can also play guard.'' In the mix Wednesday were second-year guards Zach Heberer and Alex Parsons, who will move over to center today, behind senior Tiny Malu. Senior Drew Radovich can play guard and tackle with Charles Brown, Thomas Herring and Butch Lewis lining up opposite Sam Baker. The coach and the star freshman player were on the exact same page Wednesday. New metal knee brace in hand, Joe McKnight said emphatically that he "will play Saturday.'' USC Coach Pete Carroll repeated the same words; McKnight "will play Saturday.'' As if to reinforce the prediction, McKnight got maybe the most work he's had in a single practice all year Wednesday. Pete Carroll said he didn't think the Wednesday revelation that fourth-year running backs coach Todd McNair, when he was an NFL player, had twice been cited for violations in the care of dogs, rose to the level of "a teachable moment'' for the football team. "I don't know if it does,'' Carroll said, referring to McNair's explanation of the circumstances on the official USCripsit.com Web site Wednesday of the charges involving one dog in 1993 and 22 more in 1996. "More than 10 years ago, I was cited for neglect for improper housing and insufficient licenses,'' McNair was quoted as saying, noting that he was exonerated of charges that he raised dogs for fighting. "I was never involved in dogfighting. I don't condone it in the least bit.'' For both violations, McNair was fined a reported total of more than $25,000 and required to do community service after the 1996 conviction. "I paid the penalty and learned from my mistakes,'' he said. "I got into the business of breeding dogs but eventually I knew I had gotten in over my head and couldn't maintain the business.'' Idaho's Vandals will feature three local players Saturday. Chris Smith (5-9, 179, Sr., Corona HS) starts at free safety after 42 tackles and three interceptions a year ago; Tino Amancio (5-9, 215, Jr., Fontana) is the starting placekicker after hitting on 12 of 17 field goals last season; and Irvin Stevens III (6-3, 267, So., Corona Centennial) is second-team center;. Congrats to C Micah Reed, LB Josh Edwards and DE Tom Blake. The three were awarded scholarships after practice on Wednesday and received a loud ovation from teammates. All three are second-team players. UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell had plenty of walk-ons to choose from to reach his 85-man scholarship limit. Among the others who were considered were QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, FB Trever Theriot and and CB Chris Meadows. Never thought I'd see this day, but apparently the always talkative, always confident Bruce Davis has gotten a talking to about being a little bit more humble in his interviews. Mind you, this is the same Bruce Davis who a year ago walked into an opposing team's offensive line huddle prior to a game, started shaking hands and introduced himself by saying "Hi, I'm Bruce Davis, I'll be hitting your quarterback today." On Wednesday, Davis was asked about how UCLA's simulated crowd noise would compare to Saturday's game at the typically quiet Stanford Stadium, and after pointing out that he almost said something that wasn't humble, he was asked about the new crackdown. Asked if he liked it, Davis just shook his head and tried to fake a smile. "No," he said. Asked if he thinks he needed to be told to be humble, Davis again shook his head no. "It's really hard, you see my jaw is getting tight right here," Davis said. "You can see this. I just can't say it." The past several days, QB Ben Olson has looked increasingly sharp heading into Saturday's season opener at Stanford. Olson is beginning to throw the ball where only his receiver can catch it and a defender can not. I've always believed that's a sign of a very good quarterback and something a lot of people largely overlook. Olson said he feels very good heading into Saturday's game and several offensive players have commented on the fact that he has brought a commanding presence into the huddle this fall, letting it be known he is in charge. If that's the case, it could be a very good sign for the Bruins. UCLA is practicing today with its fake crowd noise pumped through one-too-many speakers here at Spaulding Field. Normally, I understand the reasoning behind this, even though players despise it and say it does nothing but give them migraines (they arent the only ones). But come on....Stanford is not a place known for its noise. Save for the crazy band, its known for older alumni in red sweaters using football games as a meeting place for discussing the golf and tennis teams. Sad to see this, but former UCLA QB Drew Olson was waived by the Baltimore Ravens earlier this week. Olson finished eighth in the 2005 Heisman Trophy voting after putting together one of the best seasons ever by a UCLA quarterback. He spent last season on the Ravens' practice squad and played in Europe in the spring, but was beat out for the No. 3 spot on the Ravens roster by 2006 Heisman winner Troy Smith, despite DO having far superior numbers. Not sure if Olson will sign with another team, but it would be nice to see. He's one of the most upstanding, intelligent athletes I have ever come across and will always be one of my favorite athletes I have ever covered. He's a guy who went through you-know-what and back during his time at UCLA, and did it all with class and integrity and never once made an excuse. Plus, you have to respect a quarterback who away from the practice field -- and sometimes on the practice field -- was more comfortable talking about political and social issues and other things that mattered much more in life than football. UCLA LB's Reggie Carter and Christian Taylor were added to the watch list for the Butkis Award, given annually to the nation's top linebacker. There are 66 players on the watch list and the list will be trimmed to 10 semifinalists on October 18. UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell said he expected to announce by the end of the week the walk-ons that would earn scholarship money for this season, saying he thought he had about six players who were deserving, but did not have that many available scholarships. Among the players who could see playing time this season who are walk-ons are FB Trevor Theriot, DE Tom Blake, QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, LB Josh Edwards, C Micah Reed and PK Jimmy Rotstein. "Our walk-on program has come a long way from what it is now compared to what it was when I first got here," Dorrell said. "The quality of players...mmm...it's not even close to what it was when I was here in 2003. They are very deserving." Highly-touted freshman running back Raymond Carter had surgery on Tuesday to repair his torn ACL that he sustained the third day of training camp. UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell said there was nothing significant beyond Carter's ACL that needed to be repaired. The Westwood Bruin Touchdown Club will have its first breakfast of the season on Friday at 7 a.m., but will be in a new location for the first time in nearly 30 years. The new location is at The Olympic Collection at Olympic and Sawtelle Boulevards in LA. Head Coach Karl Dorrell and LB Reggie Carter, DE Bruce Davis, RB Chris Markey and OL Shannon Tevaga are slated to apepar. Fore more info, contact Claudia Hart at 310-348-UCLA I thought this was a fantastic profile of Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh by SF Chronicle Reporter Jake Curtis. Definitely worth taking the time to read. With UCLA's season-opener at Stanford just a few days away, the Bruins, for the most part, are fairly healthy. Stanford, however, is still nursing some wounds that could play a big role in how Saturday's game turns out. Stanford's top wide receiver, Mark Bradford, is reportedly nursing some left knee tendonitis and has not practiced in several days, San Francisco Chronicle reporter Michelle Smith wrote. Safety Bo McNally returned to practice this week but has pins in his surgically repaired right hand. Free safety Carlos McFall is out with a shoulder injury and coach Jim Harbaugh is not revealing the severity of it. UCLA RB Chris Markey was put on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation's top tailback. Arkansas RB Darren McFadden won the award last season and heads an insanely talented list of players on the watch list, that also includes West Virginia's Steve Slaton, Rutgers' Ray Rice, Michigan's Mike Hart and Boise State's Ian Johnson. Needless to say, this is one of the best crops of RB's in recent college football history. USC's trio of starting linebasckers, Keith Rivers, Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga, have all made the Butkus "Watch List'' for the award to the nation's top college linebacker. So have a pair of UCLA linebackers, Christian Taylor and Reggie Carter, as well as Moreno Valley's Prince Hall at Alabama. Here's the Butkus Award "Watch List'' release. IMMEDIATE MEDIA RELEASE August 28, 2007 ORLANDO - The Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. (DACO), the organization which annually presents the prestigious Butkus Award ® to the nation's best collegiate linebacker, has announced the preliminary list of 66 candidates for this year's award. The Butkus Award ® Watch List will be trimmed to 10 semi-finalists on Thursday, October 18. That semi-finalist list will be cut down to three finalists and will be announced on Thursday, November 9. The winner will be announced in December in Orlando, FL. The independent Butkus Award ® Selection Committee for the 2007 Butkus Award ®, comprised of some of the nation's foremost journalists, is solely and exclusively responsible for all voting in the Butkus Award ® selection process. Additional Watch List candidates may be added in the coming weeks due to outstanding in-season play. Voting for the three finalists and the Butkus Award ® winner will be conducted by exclusive confidential ballots of the Selection Committee. The Butkus Award ® is regarded as one of the most elite individual honors in college football. Past recipients include such outstanding linebackers as: Patrick Willis (2006-Mississippi) Paul Posluszny (2005-Penn State) Derrick Johnson (2004-Texas) Teddy Lehman, (2003-Oklahoma) E.J. Henderson (2002-Maryland) Rocky Calmus (2001-Oklahoma) Dan Morgan (2000-Miami (FL) LaVar Arrington (1999-Penn State) Chris Claiborne (1998-Southern Cal) Andy Katzenmoyer (1997-Ohio State) Matt Russell (1996 Colorado) Kevin Hardy (1995-Illinois) Dana Howard (1994-Illinois) Trev Alberts (1993-Nebraska) Marvin Jones (1992-Florida State) Erick Anderson (1991-Michigan) Alfred Williams (1990-Colorado) Percy Snow (1989-Michigan State) Derrick Thomas (1988-Alabama) Paul McGowan (1997-Florida State) Brian Bosworth (1985 and 1986-Oklahoma) Created in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando Inc., the Butkus Award ® carries the name of one of the greatest middle linebackers in football history. BUTKUS WATCH LIST Adibi, Xavier-Virginia Tech At USC's home opener Saturday at the Coliseum, there will be more than football. 1) There will be a tribute to late record-setting USC placekicker Mario Danelo, who died in a tragic fall from a cliff in his hometown of San Pedro (Calif.) this past January following his junior season, prior to kickoff. 2) The late Oscar-winning actor John Wayne, who played football at USC in the 1920s under his real name of Marion Morrison, will be saluted at halftime to recognize his 100th birthday, with family members in attendance. 3) It’s Poster Day, as USC’s 2007 football schedule poster will be handed out free to fans. 4) More than 2,000 local disadvantaged youths will be in attendance as part of the “Touchdown For Youth” program conducted by USC and the Los Angeles Sports Council Foundation and some 2,000 more underprivileged youngsters will attend the game as part of the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital Kid’s Corner program. 5) The USC women’s soccer team, guided by new head coach Ali Khosroshahin, will be recognized during the Office Depot Trojan Spotlight. 6) Women’s volleyballer Diane Copenhagen will be honored during the Lowe’s Senior Salute. Courtesy of the USC Sports Information Office, here are three FUN FACTS for Saturday's home opener against Idaho. Who said football isn't fun? FUN FACT I Only 2 USC lettermen in history claim Idaho FUN FACT II This is just the third time that USC has FUN FACT III The last time USC opened its season with |