And it will allow the USC coaches to get out on the recruiting trail this weekend.

USC returns to the practice field Monday after taking off Saturday and Sunday, for the regular game-week buildup to the Ohio State game Sept. 13.

Here's a part of the story:

Jim Tressel just made it official on his weekly call-in show: Chris Wells won't play Saturday when Ohio State hosts Ohio U.

No word on Wells' status for the Sept. 13 showdown at Southern California.

Here's the link to the story: http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/buckeyes/entries/2008/09/04/its_official_beanie_wells_wont.html

There are two purposes here: It gives the USC coaches time to get out on the road to recruit and it allows the players to finish in time to get to their 8 a.m. classes.

USC will not practice on Saturday or Sunday.

"The following updates were made to the statistics from the
USC-Virginia game after review by the sports info offices at both schools:

1) USC's final touchdown should be a 10-yard pass from Mitch Mustain
to Marc Tyler (instead of a 10-yard Tyler run)

2) Scott Stephens should be credited with the tackle on USC's second
kickoff of the third quarter (not Jordan Campbell)

3) Cary Harris was credited with a pass breakup on the second play of
Virginia's third drive in the first quarter.

"I don't think I've ever seen that before,'' Garrett said.

For those who thought that was a forward pass from Mitch Mustain to Mark Tyler from the 10 for a touchdown pass, turns out it was.

The UVA stat crew was sure it wasn't on the scene, that it was a lateral and a run, but after enough replays, and agreement by the two schools, will apparently change that today and give Mustain a one-for-one passing day for 10 yards and a TD. Take 10 yards away from Tyler's rushing but he still gets a TD.

Barkley did throw for six touchdowns, including the game-winner to end the third overtime.

Carson tight end Morrell Pressley als looked good at times with a 31-yard TD catch.

Mark Chris Galippo down for one of the "Oregons,'' the redshirt freshman middle linebacker from Corona (Servite) said. He first said Oregon State (Sept. 25) "since I really am ahead of schedule'' but to be safe, and to get as well-conditioned and strong as he can after having a second disc removed in July, maybe it won't be until the Oregon game Oct. 4.

Freshman offensive tackle Matt Kalil is "day-to-day'' Carroll said after hyperextending his knee Tuesday. "Nothing serious,'' Carroll said.

Here's the press release:

Mark Sanchez named O'Brien Quarterback of the Week

Sanchez bounces back from pre-season injury in season opener

FORT WORTH, Texas (September 3, 2008) - The Davey O'Brien Foundation has named Mark Sanchez of the University of Southern California the O'Brien Quarterback of the Week for week one. The junior quarterback opened the season with an outstanding performance against the Virginia Cavaliers Saturday in front of a record crowd of 64,947 at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Sanchez put up a solid performance completing 26 of 35 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns leading the Trojans to a 52-7 victory over the Cavaliers. During the post game press conference, Sanchez stated that the win felt good and that his preseason injury was not a factor during the game.

"You only get one first game each year and this is a good way to start," Sanchez said. "I left it all on the field."

Sanchez took over the starting position for the 2008 season after earning the respect of his coaches and fellow players. As a redshirt freshman in 2006 and then a sophomore in 2007, he held the No. 2 position behind John David Booty and even started three games during the 2007 season when Booty was injured. The 2005 Mission Viejo High School graduate received numerous accolades after both his junior and senior seasons, including the 2004 Parade All-American Player of the Year and one of the most highly coveted recruits out of high school.

Each week a subset of the Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee will name the quarterback of the week who exemplifies the award's standards. The O'Brien honors the nation's best college quarterback of the year. Currently all 119 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) quarterbacks are candidates for the award until Semifinalists are announced on October 27. Finalists will be announced November 24. The 2008 Winner will be announced December 11.

About The O'Brien Fan Vote
Fans can now register and vote for The O'Brien Fan Vote online at www.VoteOBrien.org to show their support for their favorite college quarterback. Fans will be able to choose from any of the 119 FBS quarterbacks beginning on Tuesday, September 2, leaving room for the possibility of a quarterback who is not on the Watch List to win the award. The top three quarterbacks who garner the most votes will be added to The O'Brien Semifinalist List, and the Fan Vote will then count as 5% in determining the Finalists and Winner. The 2008 Winner will be announced during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show airing December 11 on ESPN. The recipient will be honored February 16, 2009, at the 32nd Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

About The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award®

The O'Brien honors the nation's best college quarterback of the year and inspires student-athletes to triumph both on and off the field. By recognizing and honoring athletes who excel in both sports and academics while exhibiting strong character and leadership, The O'Brien aims to help instill a lifelong moral fiber in each candidate. The O'Brien is overseen by the Davey O'Brien Foundation, which was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The Foundation has given away more than $750,000 in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit www.DaveyOBrien.org.

Sept. 2, 2008

FORMER USC ALL-AMERICAN ELMER WILLHOITE DIES

LOS ANGELES-Elmer Willhoite, a 1952 consensus All-American guard on the USC football team, died on Aug. 19 in Hawthorne, Nev. He was 78.

Willhoite, a two-year Trojan letterman (1951-52) out of Merced (Calif.) High, was a member of USC's team that defeated Wisconsin, 7-0, in the 1953 Rose Bowl to give the Pacific Coast Conference its first victory over the Big Ten since the two leagues began their Rose Bowl agreement in 1947. His second-half 72-yard interception return set up USC's game-winning touchdown against UCLA in 1952, with the 14-12 win sending the Trojans to the Rose Bowl.

He also earned All-Conference honors in 1952 and played in the 1953 Hula Bowl.

He was drafted by the Browns, but instead spent two years playing in the Canadian Football League before a knee injury ended his football career. He then briefly boxed professionally and appeared in some Hollywood films before starting his own salvage contractor business, H & S International.

He is survived by his son Edward (and wife, Jackie), his stepson Bill Vassalo (and wife, Jackie) and 6 grandchildren.

Willhoite was cremated and a memorial service is pending. Donations can be made in his name to the USC Athletic Department (Heritage Hall 203, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0602).

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