A couple of interesting stories popped up over the past few days outlining USC's recruiting juggernaut.

I am not a fan of Bleacher Report but this piece says some things about Lane Kiffin and USC that we already know.

Lane Kiffin deserves a ton of credit for bringing the Trojans back from the precipice of doom.

But despite the obvious kudos that should go his way for managing and coaching a proud program that could have—and probably should have—collapsed under the weight of what many believe were unfair sanctions handed down to them by the NCAA, that isn't what this slideshow is about.

No, this is about recruiting and in this area, Lane Kiffin may very well be the best gatherer of prep talent in the nation.

The most important thing to me in this piece is that it is constant in its banging the drum of USC being relevant.

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Please take some time today to remember those who did not return.

This day is for them, not for those who simply served.

My thoughts will be with my fellow Corpsmen...past and present.

I think this case is going to be interesting.

Former UCLA player Reeves Nelson is suing Sports Illustrated for $10 million, citing defamation, false light and intentional infliction of emotional distress over its recent article about problems in the school's basketball program.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in Superior Court in Los Angeles names Time Inc. and writer George Dohrmann as defendants. The story titled "Not the UCLA Way" initially appeared Feb. 28 on the magazine's website and then in its March 5 print edition. Nelson also wants a retraction and public apology.

I will say right now that I hope this lawsuit goes all the way to the end. I don't care if Nelson wins or loses but I do care about the process of how stories get reported.

George Dhormann is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist. There was a time that that mattered, that having that prestigious award on your mantle was enough to be above reproach. But times have changed, with Twitter, blogs and other forms of social media anyone can "break" a story even if some of the details might be a little off.

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ESPN discusses USC in 2012...

ESPN Discuses USC in 2012...

Image Courtesy of the Pac-12

Lots going on as we head into Memorial Day Weekend...

Sadly, the USC Ladies Golf team finished in second place, 1-stroke behind Alabama yesterday at the NCAA Women's Golf Championships.

For the second time in four years, the NCAA Women's Golf Championships came down to one stroke and for the second time in four years, USC had one too many, the No. 3 Trojans finishing in second place behind Alabama on Friday (May 25) at the 2012 NCAA Women's Golf Championships at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn., hosted by Vanderbilt.

The Trojans finished at 20-over 1172 (297-288-294-293), one off of Alabama's 19-over 1171 (286-285-306-294). LSU charged late to put pressure on the leaders and take third at 21-over 1173 (293-294-297-289) while Virginia claimed fourth at 23-over 1175 (288-294-301-292). It was the Cavaliers who lost five strokes in the first round after a player signed for an incorrect scorecard.

I would rather finish in second place than not be in a position to win it all...

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Image Via: College Tennis News

Long evening last night with the weather delays and moving the matches indoors.

Fatigue could be an issue.

USC has had UVA's number in the past. Will they be able beat them again. The matches are not televised but they can be seen on UGA website, provided the weather holds up.

Just like yesterday, So.Cal.'52 will be running the thread.

Join us here!

FIGHT ON!

UCLA stands in the way of USC playing in both the Ladies and Men's Tennis finals.

The Ladies square off at 10am PDT while the Men get started at 2pm PDT.

So. Cal. '52 will be running the thread today...

Join us here!

FIGHT ON!

I didn't know Paul Dee.

I would venture to guess that many outside the upper echelons of the NCAA didn't know Paul Dee either.

At least not the Paul Dee that Ivan Maisel describes here...

Former Miami athletic director Paul Dee, who died Saturday night at age 65, was a gentle man and a gentleman who loved his university and served it in various roles for three decades. Dee, an attorney by trade, shunned the spotlight and valued loyalty. He brought back former ‘Canes assistant Butch Davis as head coach. He promoted assistants Larry Coker and Randy Shannon as his next two hires. USC fans never forgave him for his role as chair of the NCAA Committee on Infractions when it ruled on the Reggie Bush scandal. Yet those who knew him knew a man of integrity and a good guy.

I vehemently disagree about Dee being a man of integrity.

His famous quote of "high-profile players demand high-profile compliance" will live on forever...especially when a mere fifteen months later, the very university that Maisel claims that Dee loved so much was caught in a scandal that was far greater than the one that Dee hammered USC for.

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Congrats to the ladies on their big win yesterday...

USC's victory against UCLA (22-4) was led by four goals each from Monica Vavic and Patricia Jancso. The Trojans held on after moving out to a 9-6 lead after the third period.

Colleen O'Donnell then stretched USC's lead to 10-6 with 6:50 to go, when her shot from deep found the back of the net at the top right corner. Sarah Orozco and Emily Greenwood each had hat tricks for the Bruins.

USC's Flora Bolonyai had nine saves, and UCLA's Caitlin Dement had seven.

Up next is the final match against #1 seed Stanford.

The match is set for 5:15pm PDT.

FIGHT ON!

Junior Seau was buried today.

That doesn't take away the pain of his loss and it doesn't close the book on his legacy.

The questions are just starting and the tributes are starting to come in.

This one is from Riki Ellison...

The tragic loss of Junior Seau — who exemplified those Polynesian roots, its soul and its traits at the highest levels — has to be questioned by those who also come from these waters and have traveled similar paths.

The loss of Junior Seau has led to much public speculation and oversimplified reasoning. The liberty I am taking to share my thoughts may incite, may bore, may shed light and may shed more rumors; yet a man has the right to speak and if it somehow prevents these types of rare situations. then it must be said.

As I see it, his loss is the result of sustained concussions to the brain together with the inability to control depression that can easily follow after losing the stardom that comes with the achievement of extraordinary accomplishment and the kind of adrenaline one gets when competing at world-class levels. This powerful combination found on the field of the NFL is a volatile mixture, particularly when the mix includes depression sustained by a partially functioning brain caused by repeated concussions.

This really is a touching tribute.

I am still numb from this senseless loss.

Junior will always be missed...

Looks like things have been plodding along with Todd McNair's lawsuit against the NCAA. The judge ordered the NCAA to turn over ALL relevant documents pertaining to the Reggie Bush investigation. Not just emails that specifically pertain to McNair. There is no hiding for the NCAA at the moment.

Read the full 3-page PDF...

Hard to know where this will end up, but I suspect that McNair will take a settlement and that we will never know the full extent of the NCAA's heavy handedness.

Here is the Bio on the Judge.

Judge Frederick Shaller is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where he completed an undergraduate degree in English with a minor in psychology. Next enrolling as a law student at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, he received his J.D. in 1979.

That is really all you need to know.

I heard the NCAA was judge shopping, but who really knows. I think it is pretty clear that the NCAA will try to get this judge removed based on where he went to school. Then again, I doubt few, if any, California judges will rule in favor of the NCAA, many want to see this play out but, that's just me.

This could get real interesting...

Listening to 710 ESPN Radio in L.A. it was all I could do to not tear up on the drive home tonight. I was in surgery waiting for a case to start when I started seeing reports of Seau's death on Twitter.

I was numb.

This was a kid I saw play in high school, saw him play at USC and obviously saw him play in the NFL.

This is one of the all-time greatest Trojans. We all have our favorites, but Seau transcended all generations of USC fans.

While we have reveled in USC's great Heisman Trophy history, Seau IS THE ORIGINAL #55.

Seau would be the beginning of a great run of linebackers at USC, wrestling away the monicker of Linebacker U from Penn St. I mean no disrespect to our friends in PA but since Seau came to USC, the Trojans have had a great run of #55"s.

A run that many will say is unmatched.

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I first heard of Junior Seau when I was stationed at Camp Pendleton from 1984 through late 1987. I was reading the news paper and this article about this kid at Oceanside HS who was tearing it up.

I didn't know anything about high school football in San Diego's North County. I knew the L.A. side of things but as a new father who was constantly on deployments I really didn't have time to follow the local teams. Because the article was so glowing about Seau I decided to go with a couple of friends to see him play.

I don't remember who Oceanside was playing, but I do remember this kid flying all over the field. I had never seen a kid play like that.

It was insane!

We all know about Junior Seau's career at USC and his incredible career in the NFL.

Many of you may have a personal side or story of Seau. I sadly don't other than the story I wrote above, so I would invite you add yours to this thread.

I do not know what Seau's personal demons were and I don't really want to speculate, but anytime someone in the prime of his life, who has lived a full life with so much more give ends that life it is troubling.

There will be many more tributes to Seau written in the coming days. They will all be more eloquent than what I wrote here, but this is mine. I will link to as many as I can find.

Here is one:

Remembering Junior Seau's All-American USC career

I will grab any and all highlight videos that I can find...I hope you will as well and post them here.

This is the first one from the USC Website...

RIP Junior...You will always be one of the greatest!

FIGHT ON!

Any surprises tonight?

Would love to see a few more of our guys get picked picked.

Leave your comments here.

FIGHT ON!!

Really happy for Perry here.

He has a little bit of work to do but he is in a great spot in Green Bay.

He will have Clay Matthews to mentor him.

Congrats Nick!

FIGHT ON!

Minnesota trading down to #4 and grabbing a bunch of picks made things interesting early.

Kalil going to Minnesota finally puts all the posturing by the Vikings to rest. They need to protect Ponder, Kalil helps that cause.

Congrats Matt!!

FIGHT ON!

USC will have one if not two players taken in the first round of the NFL Draft tonight.

Matt Kalil and Nick Perry.

Last year Tyron Smith went in the first round to Dallas, that extended USC's tally of first round picks to 75

Kalil is a lock, Perry will probably go in the first round but it all depends on who trades down. Perry is seen as a tweener at DE or OLB but he never player standing up and a number of teams areb't thrilled about using a first round pick on a tweener. Perry is a hand in the dirt guy, the question is who will take the chance on Perry?

Of course we will keep an on the rest our guys who are eligible to be drafted.

Join us here, this is our 2012 NFL Draft Open Thread.

FIGHT ON!!