Here's hoping for a clean, injury free game, both from the players, and the fanbases. It's been an interesting season, but if ucla wins this game, it takes the Pac-12 south outright, so both teams have plenty to play for. Hope it lives up to billing, and hope we can avoid the ugliness the past few contests have provided, both on, and off of the field.

Fight on, and good luck.

USCLink

Apparently he came into my Fraternity brother's leadership class and was a guest speaker for the day. As he was about to speak, his cell phone rang and "Last Friday Night" by Katy Perry was his ring tone.

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Men's Tennis bested undefeated #1 ranked University of Virginia en route to their 3rd straight NCAA title!

More after the jump

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Dear USC seniors,

Thank you for playing hard this season.  You've overcome incredible odds, fought difficult circumstances, and have not given up.  This is an open letter to you.

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Hey everybody!

I'm now officially done with finals, which means I'm a college senior...Which is really weird for me.  I wanted to do two things with this post, commend paragon for running an awesome site that sucks up at least an hour of my life daily, and provide everyone else with a means of getting through the offseason: http://www.centsports.com/?opcode=125536

Its a website where you get 10 cents for free, and then can bet it on whatever you want, NBA, MLB, soccer, doesn't matter.  And the cool thing is if you get up over $20, you can cash out for real money.  It requires no investment other than time and an email address, and its been helping me procrastinate through 28 pages of essays and 2 tests, so if anyone feels like trying it out feel free.

Fight on, beat allegations!

Lots of people say they don't care about it, but I do, and I'm glad we finally won it after building up a seemingly insurmountable lead early in the year.  Although the bruins kept chipping away at it, we held serve and, short of losing men's and women's track, women's rowing (we've never lost to them since the gauntlet was founded), AND playing them in men's baseball in the postseason (very low probability), we've got it back at USC.

Congrats to a great year for USC athletes and athletics!!!

Update [2008-5-3 14:34:46 by USCLink]:Women's rowing beats the bruins to clinch the gauntlet!

There was a riot last night just north of Campus, on 30th st. where many students live.  A block party was thrown, and things got severely out of hand.  I was there early in the night, but fortunately, left long before it exploded into this situation.  Residents in the area took videos, which have been uploaded to youtube.com.  I don't know all of the specifics, but I wanted to bring it up, since I was there, I have friends who were there, and Its a newsworthy issue.

I'll post more when I know more, but its a very big issue, and sure caught me off guard.

WARNING:  Explicit language and material

[editor's note, by DC Trojan] Bumped from the Diaries.

An awesome get, and glad to keep him in house.  Wearesc.com has the story right here.  I don't know much about him, but his dad was a Trojan, he's got a rocket arm, and just committed, so life is good right now.

Fight on and beat the Beavers/Cavaliers!

Update [2008-1-23 23:33:33 by DC Trojan]: This further detail from the LA Times:

Barkley said he visited USC on Saturday and came to the conclusion there was no need to wait any longer on making a decision even though he can't sign a letter of intent until February of 2009.

"With all the success USC has to offer, I feel it's the best opportunity to grow as a quarterback," Barkley said. "The competition is like none other. I've always loved USC and I wanted to get the burden of the recruiting process over before I start back with Mater Dei football."

Barkley's decision offers a boost to the Trojans just as rival UCLA was gaining attention for hiring former USC assistant Norm Chow as its offensive coordinator. On the same day last Saturday that Barkley visited USC Coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, in the afternoon he went to UCLA for an unofficial visit with his cousin, receiver Robbie Boyer, and was taken around campus by Bruins Coach Rick Neuheisel.

Barkley said he considers Chow "a great coach" and had met him previously at a camp, but his ties to USC were strong, considering that his father, Les, played water polo for the Trojans.

Hopefully this is one commitment that sticks!

The Mackey award, presented to the nation's best tight-end, goes to Fred Davis!!!  Congratulations Fred on a fantastic season, and a well deserved reward.  Enjoy the NFL, and the bowl game...you've earned 'em both!

Women's soccer outlasted West Virginia in Morgantown today, posting yet another shutout win 1-0.  The win, coupled with UCLA's double OT win over Portland, sets up a USC vs. UCLA semifinal match in the Final Four.

Congratulations to the Women of Troy, on what has been an absolutely outstanding season.  Now, BEAT THE BRUINS!!!

We are having a banner year in terms of 'SC athletics.

Women's soccer is a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament, and are currently in the elite 8, having beaten the Florida Gators on Saturday night 1-0, in a game that really wasn't that close, as the Women of Troy dominated throughout, and had 2 squandered scoring opportunities late in the game.  Frankly, we were better conditioned, and it showed when we kept beating them to balls in space.

Women's Volleyball is a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament as well.  They host the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, and defending the homeground has always been easy for this team, which went undefeated at the Galen Center.

Women's Cross Country brought the Emergence of a star freshman named Coco (can't remember first name and don't have time to check now).  She won 3 races, and helped us finish above the bRuins in the conference standings.

Men's Golf has shown its talent in early exhibitions, and is poised for another strong year.

Men's Water Polo won the MPSF tournament, and is well-positioned to compete for another NCAA title following an 18-2 season.

Men's basketball, after early season setbacks, has grown fantastically.  A young, talented team that got blown out at home by Mercer, just stomped a tournament team from last year by 25.

Football, considering all of the injuries, hardships, penalties, losses to Stanford, etc. are having a damn good season poised for another Rose Bowl berth  (The rose Bowl...6 more miles!!!).  And what makes me most proud of them is that there has not been a SINGLE off the field issue involving the team.  No rape allegations, no robberies, nothing, not so much as an unpaid parking ticket.  That is a track record we can all be proud of.

We're having a banner year, I hope we're all enjoying it for what it is...this sort of athletic dominance doesn't come very often.

Fight on Trojans, and beat the bRuins!

I haven't posted in a while, but i needed to say something.

The Pete Carroll era has two distinct qualities:  1.  Rare losses, if any and 2.  extremely close losses.  These two qualities have come to mean that any loss is especially excruciating...we don't know how to deal with them, and we're not prepared for when they happen.

Our guys got beat last night.  We played poorly, and got the ending we earned.

I'm still behind them 100%.  And for the first time since I've been at USC, the entire Trojan Family was behind them, trying to will them on to victory.  It didn't work, but we were all there collectively, together.  There was no "lets root for our team to lose so our coach gets fired," or anyone who turned their back.  It was us doing the best we could to make a difference.

We have a tradition in the band, and at the university to immediately move on from the last game.  As soon as the clock hits 00:00, we start our next chant, "Beat the Wildcats," in this case.  And while it still hurts, and I'm still used to saying "Beat the Farm," we didn't, its over, and we have work to do.  So, analyze all we can, discuss, talk, but lets be honest here.  We have one big role this week:  Support the team so when the Wildcats come into our house, this doesn't happen again.

So despite all of the negatives, despite the wrenching, soul-crushing pain of this loss, be glad we're all still Trojans.  We're all in this together.  We have one of the greatest histories of college football.  One loss doesn't undermine that.

Besides, that's why the play the game.  If you want to throw our guys under the bus, do so, but I will defend them, because that's what I'm in the band to do.  To support them at all costs, because tearing them down doesn't help them play better, or make us win more.  They feed off of support, and that's what I'll do.

Dr. Bartner said something that rang very true last night, after the game. "Its easy to be a Trojan and support the team when they're winning. Nows the time that they need us most, when its hard, after this loss. So fight on, keep the spirit up, and beat the wildcats!" I don't agree with him much, but he's dead on.

Fight On, and Beat the Wildcats!

On the field he had an awesome day yesterday (especially that 9 yd td run).

Off the field, he is a really cool guy.

Earlier today, I went to Pete's a local place with cheap, good food that's right next to my house.  While ordering my friend and I saw Chauncey Washington.  We figured would wouldn't have another shot to say hey, so we went over and introduced ourselves while waiting for our food.

Chauncey is an amazingly cool guy.  Football aside, he's entertaining to talk to, and very easy-going.  He also reinforced a fact that I find very entertaining.  The football team is as impressed with the band as the band is with the football team.  When he said, "you guys are on scholarship right?" and meant it, that definitely made my week.

We talked a little about the game, not mentioning too many specifics, but wished him good luck against UW, and had an overall very enjoyable time.  He was on his way to physical therapy, and was walking with a noticable limp, so hopefully he recovers by competition Tuesday.

Meeting the players is really cool.  Living in LA with celebrities is also really cool.  Being considered a celebrity by the players you meet?  Priceless.

Hope everyone had a good gameday (I know I did), and I'll be at UW this coming weekend, so I'll keep an update on any decent stories.

I'll post more tomorrow, but 'SC won in 3 after a closer than necessary 3rd game.

FTFO!!!

Beat Idaho!  And everyone but us!

Hmmm, more characters.

Short summary, after winning game one and two handily by 30-18, and 30-22, the last game was much closer as we trailed almost the entire game, and ended up winning 31-29.

That is the only way to describe this blog post from Gilbert Arenas, the Wizard's superstar.

There Are No Such Thing as Shark Attacks

I know this is random, but I just want to clear this up for people out there.
There are these things called shark attacks, but there is no such thing as a shark attack. I have never seen a real shark attack.

I know you're making a weird face as you're reading this. OK people, a shark attack is not what we see on TV and what people portray it as.

We're humans. We live on land.

Sharks live in water.

So if you're swimming in the water and a shark bites you, that's called trespassing. That is called trespassing. That is not a shark attack.

A shark attack is if you're chilling at home, sitting on your couch, and a shark comes in and bites you; now that's a shark attack. Now, if you're chilling in the water, that is called invasion of space. So I have never heard of a shark attack.

When I see on the news where it's like, "There have been 10 shark attacks," I'm like, "Hey, for real?! They're just running around? Sharks are walking now, huh! We live on the land, we don't live underwater."

I don't care who you are...that's so ridiculous its funny.

Arenas also has some good stuff to say about Nick Young:

Keep showing me something, Nick
Mitchell Layton/NBAE/Getty Images

0-10 Doesn't Cut It, Guys

I've been watching the summer league here and there. Dominic McGuire looks very good. Nick Young is coming around, he looks good too. That second game he really came into his own. I like Aaron Miles a little bit, he did a great job running the team. I like Chase, the back-up guard. You know, they just got to get some wins. The last two years, they're 0-10.

Of course I hooked Nick Young up with the Gil Zeros. I'm trying to make him an adidas guy. I called him right before he left for Las Vegas and told him to play like we used to play back in Cali. Then, when he was playing their second game out there I was watching it on TV and I saw the Wizards security guard, Jackie Miles, he was digging in his ear and I called him and I was like, "Yo, we can see you on TV digging in your ear." And Nick Young was sitting in front of him and I told Jackie, "Tell Nick that he needs to go ahead and show me something. I didn't see nothing last game, I need to see something this game." And that's when he got like three dunks in a row. I'm like, "Three dunks? OK, here we go!"

Also, he's trying to buy an island:

Back from Vacation

I'm really serious when I say this: I'm trying to buy an island.
Diana Ross has one. You know, if you look at property in the states, if you look at my house, I paid $2 million for it and then there's an island for $1 million. I'm like, "Woah, I have to buy an island."

I'm really looking into that.

Some of these quotes remind me of EDSBS.com's articles about the Iron brothers from Auburn, especially Kenny who infamously said, when referencing his luggage:

"I got a midget in here to suck my dick.

Man, athletes are awesome.  Good luck to Nick, and his new amazingly entertaining teammate.

HT Deadspin, and Gilbert Arenas' blog

For the best, most thorough preview this side of SMQ's, check out Phil Steele's site.  Right in the middle is a huge graphic that has a 6 page in depth preview of USC.

That's right, six whole pages of awesome USC goodness in beautiful, stylized PDF format, ready to be download, printed out, read, and cherished throughout the painfully anxious days of the offseason.

Get yours now!  Limited offer while supplies last!

...niiiiice!

[editor's note, by USCLink] sorry bout the picture, fixed.

Everything I seem to be reading about this kid impresses me.  He's candid, honest, and human.

Even though he's wearing the wrong colors, I can't help but like him

USC Alum Arash Markazi interviewed him over at cnnsi.com.

Here's what Love had to say about Matt Leinart:

"Hopefully I could do it big like Matt Leinart but not get in trouble with my girlfriend like he did," said Love. "I'll take what he got. As far as that goes, I'm going to take whatever comes to me and see what happens. The women out here are very nice, there's a lot to choose from. I'm obviously focused and here to play basketball but all the other stuff is going to come if I work hard."

He's got his head on straight, he's honest and he doesn't seem to have an axe to grind, unlike some who take the rivalry to an unhealthy level.

His comments about OJ Mayo are an excellent example of how people should (at least in my opinion) look at it:

"O.J. and I have a great friendship," said Love. "We're real cool but when we step onto the court we're enemies. We're going to go at each other and try to beat each other's ass but it's going to be a team thing. It should be about UCLA against USC, not me against O.J."

May he lead us to the highest of heights

Its nice to have 'SC basketball in the spotlight, and you can guarantee OJ and K-Love are going to provide at least two absolutely amazing battles in LA.

Here's to the upcoming basketball season!

Steele is releasing his 6 page previews, and is up to number 1, where he has slotted USC.  Tomorrow, for one day only, he'll put out his 6 day regional preview of USC, which goes more in depth than anything the vast majority of us could think to write, so make sure to check it out!

Not USC news, but this is an issue that really bothered me and I wanted to see what other's thought.

Three football players were accused of raping a girl at Villanova, and were subsequently kicked off the team, and expelled from the school (they were incoming freshmen who's admission was rescinded).

Under most circumstances, I completely and totally behind this decision.  However, that is based upon the alleged act actually occurring.  If those three guys are guilty, I have absolutely no hesitation to throw them in jail.

However, the alleged victim is not pursuing charges.

The way I read this, is that a girl made an accusation which may, or may not be true (I do not know the details, so I'll withhold judgment).  Regardless of whether it is, or not, the three men are expelled.

By not pressing charges, and taking the case to trial, the men are put in the position of having to prove their innocense.

Frankly, that's bullshit.  What happened to the concept of innocent until proven guilty.  As much it we are enjoying watching BN squirm over the Eric Scott issue, I think we all know and understand that all that exists now are accusations.  Being put on paid leave is fine.  Additionally, his punishment will come not necessarily from this event, but from his prior 4 arrests, and his refusal to disclose them to UCLA.  His issues are not merely his most recent transgressions, but his entire history.

This case, on the other hand, has no such middle ground, or (to the best of my knowledge) prior history or lack of disclosure.  She said they raped her.  The university expelled them.  She chooses not to press charges.  Case closed.

Is Villanova justified in thier actions?  I guess so.  They have the option of admitting or refusing to admit any students based upon their subjective standards as they see fit.

Do I agree with their actions?  Not by a longshot.  This sets a very dangerous precedent.  We often hear the phrase, "tried by the media."  In this case, that is all that will happen, unless the players file suit against the alleged victim and university.

Either way, damage has already been done, as their reputations are irreperably repaired, and even if it does go to trial, it will be damn near impossible to find an impartial jury.  So if they did it, I hope they get what's coming to them, and they didn't I hope they prove their innocense.  The thought that they must do that makes me shiver.

Thoughts?

wearesc.com has the details.

In Ayles, 'SC picks up an athletic TE prospect considered #5 overall in CA.  He also further cements our hold on Southern California, being the third highly touted recruit from Orange County to commit to us.

He hasn't signed anything yet, but I'd rather have his verbal than nothing.

Ayle's, #88, commits to USC

Way to go Pete...keep reeling in the talent.

Here's the money quote:  

"A lot of it was Coach (Pete) Carroll," said Ayles, referring to the Trojans' coach. "That, and it's close to home, and USC looks like it's going to be on top for the next five or six years, and I want to be a part of that."

Welcome to the Family!

Here's a link to another article discussing his commitment.

HT:  WeAreSC.com

Thank you to Superbruin and UclaDJ for having the balls and brains to engage people (particularly us over here) in a civil manner.  You represent your University well, and its always good to hear your perspective. Thanks for making your voices heard and giving us a different perspective. Cheers, to, what has up to this point, been a relatively tame offseason for the Los Angeles area.

During the slow offseason, nothing quite like Youtube to make you smile...case in point:

Its nice to have one of the greatest guitarists ever in your corner...

We really do real in the star power.

As an aside, thank god football season is getting closer...all this summer waiting is dragging on and on and on...