USC Football: News, Rumours, Injuries and Updates
As USC continues to find itself in the unwelcome spotlight of NCAA rulings, the program is also facing uncertainty regarding players and how the depth chart shakes out for fall.
To bridge the gap between spring and late summer camp, quarterback Matt Barkley has been directing players-only workouts, which has seen an admirable number of players attending and working hard.
Joining Barkley and the returning Trojans is a cadre of incoming freshmen, including offensive guard Cyrus Hobbi, wide receiver Victor Blackwell and cornerback Ryan Henderson, among others.
While Barkley and crew continue to hone their skills on the field, other news is taking place off it.
This slideshow will exhibit some of the goings-on with the Trojans and provide links for those who want to find out more.
So let's get started, shall we?
The Trojans Are Stripped of 2004-05 BCS Title
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Followers of the Trojans football program knew this day would come and to no ones surprise, it arrived Tuesday when the NCAA gleefully stripped USC of its 2004-05 BCS national championship.
The proverbial "icing on the cake" for the NCAA and its subjective punishment of the program came just days after college football's governing body denied the Trojans' appeal of sanctions handed down related to the Reggie Bush scandal.
For the most part, college football fans understand the nature of this latest move and realize it is only political maneuvering intended to satisfy the political machinations of the NCAA.
In reality, it means little, according to an article by ESPN's Pedro Moura and seconded by Arash Markazi.
Those who follow college football and are intellectually honest, know that USC won the title on the field of play and anyone else who claims the national championship (hello, Tommy Tuberville) for that year would be claiming a hollow honor.
But it's all yours if you want it, coach Tuberville.
Marc Tyler Faces Discipline Arising from Two Separate Issues
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When running back Marc Tyler decided to return to the Trojans for his senior year, it was with the expectation that he would mature as a runner and help USC as the big back that they were lacking with Allen Bradford's graduation.
Instead, Tyler faces discipline for a lack of maturity as he exhibited, not as a player but as a responsible human being.
According to an article by the Los Angeles Times' Gary Klein, Tyler spit on a female while intoxicated in one incident and inappropriately touched another female in another.
Tyler will undergo counseling in an effort to get his life straightened out.
Trojan nation hopes that he is successful for all concerned.
Mitch Mustain Gets a Shot in the Canadian Football League
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Although, in hindsight, it appears that graduated backup quarterback Mitch Mustain made a bad choice when he transferred to USC from Arkansas, there may still be hope for him yet in the great white north.
Hoping to follow the route that former Trojan backup quarterback Matt Cassel took when he found success in the NFL, Mustain has been signed by Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL.
In his three seasons with the Trojans, Mustain was a seldom-used reserve, throwing for 505 yards along with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
After last season, Mustain found notoriety when he was arrested for selling amphetamines to an undercover law enforcement agent.
Mustain eventually accepted a plea-bargain arrangement which required him to undergo counseling.
Hopefully for Mustain, he can take advantage of this new opportunity and find success at the professional level.
Start Time for the USC-UCLA Game Is Announced; Is Late Kickoff a Good Idea?
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Michael Lev of the Orange County Register brings up a valid concern regarding the 7:00 pm start time for this year's USC-UCLA game.
In the article, Lev notes that last year's game left two men stabbed as rooting interests superseded common sense.
Oh, and of course, alcohol consumption was a contributing factor.
With late start times comes the added risk of excessive booze consumption, and the results of that kind of celebratory behavior usually are unwelcome to say the least.
And with earlier start times leaving less room for too much alcohol consumption, Lev questions the wisdom of a late start time.
To be sure, a prime time television match up is more attractive to the powers that be in television, but is revenue worth the risk?
You decide.
Will Super Prep Prospect Arik Armstead Need to Play Basketball to Come to USC?
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Much has been made of 5-star (as rated by Scout.com) lineman Arik Armstead's desire to play basketball as well as football in college.
In fact, Armstead has even gone on record as saying hoops is as important to him as football because he grew up playing the game whereas his introduction to football came a bit later.
The thing is, Armstead is really good at basketball.
So good that he even made noise about playing basketball at Nevada, where his father is good friends with Wolf Pack head coach David Carter.
Whether Armstead is serious is anyone's guess, but according to Scott Wolf, The LA Daily News Trojan beat writer, young Arik had a very nice weekend playing hoops and would love to play for Kevin O'Neill's hoops team if Lane Kiffin will allow it.
Armstead is 6'7", 285 pounds with a nice mid-range game to go along with a very physical style inside, so I'm sure O'Neill would be very happy to take Arik up on his offer.
What Could Have Been: Three One-Time Trojan Pledges Are Playboy All-Americans
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The Playboy All American team has been released and the good news is that left tackle Matt Kalil has been honored as a starting offensive lineman.
But oh, what could have been.
As Scott Wolf points out, offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson, wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey and linebacker Vontaze Burfict, all former USC pledges, made the prestigious team as well.
For one reason or another, all of these players never quite made it to the Trojans and certainly if they didn't want to be here, best of luck to them.
But it does give Trojan fans cause to pause and wonder what if....
Will the Trojans Rescind Any of Their Scholarship Offers Due to Appeal Denial?
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Now that the Trojan appeal of the sanctions handed down by the NCAA has been denied, how will this effect the scholarships already offered?
To be certain, careful consideration will be made prior to future offers, but what about the ones that have already been extended and/or accepted?
As long as letters of intent haven't been signed, the recruiting process is a very fluid situation with both schools and prep players often changing their minds.
USC, unlike many programs, usually does not rescind scholarship offers but it has been known to happen, especially in the Pete Carroll era.
As the recruiting and football season progresses, things will obviously change and this space will try to keep on top of it throughout the year.
Player Profile: Aundrey Walker
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As USC continues to address the unit that has the most questions surrounding it, the offensive line, the early buzz was about the possibility of one of their coming freshman studs, Cyrus Hobbi, starting as a true freshman at offensive guard.
And certainly, Hobbi warrants the attention; he is a very good player.
But lost in shuffle somewhat is the other big (and I mean huge) 4-star prep O-lineman that the Trojans have coming in the fall.
Aundrey Walker, who tips the scales at 355 pounds, was considered by many to be as good or better than the aforementioned Mr. Hobbi.
In fact, Scott Wolf, the well-respected Trojan beat writer for the Los Angeles Daily News, thinks that Walker is one of the two freshmen (along with George Farmer Jr.) who will make the biggest impact for the football team in 2011.
For the Trojans, who desperately need help on the offensive line, a quick debut by Walker could only be good news, assuming that he isn't there because an injury forced him on the field.
In any event, expect Walker to see the field soon for the cardinal and gold.
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