USC Football: Best Quotes and Key Takeaways from Pac-12 Media Days
Friday's Pac-12 media day appearances for USC head coach Steve Sarkisian, senior quarterback Cody Kessler and junior linebacker Su'a Cravens represented a return to familiar territory for the program.
The Trojans are no strangers to the spotlight, and they faced the assembled media in nearby Burbank, California, as a favorite in the Pac-12.
After a few years of disappointment and rebuilding, USC is back to being talked about as a potential title contender.
USC's trio fielded plenty of questions about the preseason hype as well as the future potential of some of its star players. There was also some noteworthy talk about possible changes down the road to the program's classic cardinal-and-gold uniform sets.
Here are some of the highlights from USC's time at media days on Friday.
Trojans Shrugging off the Hype
On Thursday, USC was picked to win the Pac-12 in the conference's annual media poll. The Trojans, who are slotted behind Oregon in the Amway Coaches Poll, edged the defending champion Ducks by four votes.
Naturally, the poll was a major topic of conversation during USC's time at media days on Friday.
But the Trojans aren't paying any attention to the hype.
"We all came to USC to win," Sarkisian said, per Jacob Thorpe of the Spokesman-Review. "We didn't come here to be mediocre, we didn't come here be OK. We came here to win championships. … If the expectations were going to be too big, this wasn't the place for you."
Kessler had an interesting take on all the attention, per Reign of Troy and the Associated Press' Greg Beacham:
It's probably best for USC not to dwell on the high praise it's receiving from the rest of the country heading into 2015. After all, the last time the Trojans were picked to win the conference was 2012—a season in which they finished 7-6.
Cravens Focused on 2015
Cravens moved from safety to linebacker this offseason, but he told reporters (h/t Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman) on Friday that he's willing to play any position for the USC defense in 2015:
His versatility and athleticism could make the junior a strong candidate for early entry into the NFL draft after this season. Cravens has started every game of his collegiate career, recording 120 tackles and seven interceptions in the last two years.
Cravens said that while he recognizes his pro prospects, there's only one thing he focused on right now, and it's not the next level.
"Of course that's in the back of my mind," Cravens said, per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. "But I can’t put too much focus on that until I see how the season goes and how we really do this year. I mean that's not my main priority. I want to win this year and that's really the only thing that's going to be on my mind."
Another interesting note from Klein is how Cravens now weighs 232 pounds. Because of "illness and dental surgery," Cravens weighed in at 198 pounds earlier this year.
But he's bulked up again and is ready to terrorize offenses this fall—no matter where the coaching staff puts him on the field.
Adoring Adoree'
Superstar sophomore Adoree' Jackson's move to play more on the offensive side of the ball this fall has garnered a lot of offseason attention for USC.
Sarkisian gave some of the highest praise to Jackson during his time at the podium by putting him on the same level as a former superstar running back, per the Los Angeles Times' Lindsey Thiry:
According to the Associated Press' Dan Greenspan and Reign of Troy, both Cravens and Kessler had their own stories about Jackson's freakish athleticism on Friday:
The three-way sophomore is coming off a huge season in both football and track. Jackson recorded five all-purpose touchdowns and won the Pac-12's long jump title.
"When the ball’s in his hands, you hold your breath," Sarkisian said, per Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News. "You stop the conversation. You want to see what happens."
All About the Uniforms
A report earlier this week from Scott Wolf of Inside USC stated the program is looking to add an alternate uniform for the 2016 season.
From Wolf's report:
"A Nike source tells me at least six designs are being considered by USC for an alternate uniform, with the boldest a bronze helmet, bronze uniform that is a type of tribute to Tommy Trojan’s outfit. There is also a white helmet, white jersey and white pants outfit. And a cardinal pants, cardinal jersey, cardinal helmet design.
The source said USC wants an alternate uniform for 2016. The reasons are the same as before: To impress recruits and keep pace with other schools. Call it the Oregon effect.
"
When asked about alternate uniforms on Friday, Sarkisian said USC would stick to the classics this season while taking a shot at the defending Pac-12 champions, per CSNNW.com's Brianna Amaranthus and Pigskin Grind's Lisa Horne:
Sarkisian's comments don't rule out the possibility of an alternate uniform in 2016, and Cravens had his own idea in mind for a new Trojans look.
"I love the shiny helmets," Cravens told Reign of Troy's Alicia de Artola. "I’m all about traditions, but I wouldn’t mind a matte black uniform. ... Uniforms don’t make the players great, the players make the team great. They just happen to look good while they’re doing it."
Justin Ferguson is a college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
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