USC Football: 2009 NFL Draft Results

The Men of Troy faired very well in the 2009 NFL draft.  As expected, four Trojan linebackers were chosen.  What was not expected, by some, is the order with Rey Maualuga going behind both Cushing and Mathews.  This may be more of a reflection of the NFL’s move away from inside linebackers rather than Maualuga’s skill level. 

This is the list of USC players drafted this year:

• Mark Sanchez – New York Jets, Round 1, No. 5 overall
• Brian Cushing -Houston Texans, Round 1, No. 15 overall
• Clay Matthews – Green Bay Packers, Round 1, No. 26 overall
• Rey Maualuga – Cincinnati Bengals, Round 2, No. 38 overall
• Fili Moala – Indianapolis Colts, Round 2, No. 56 overall
• Patrick Turner – Miami Dolphins, Round 3, No. 87 overall
• Kaluka Maiava – Cleveland Browns, Round 4, No. 104 overall
• Kyle Moore – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Round 4, No. 117 overall
• David Buehler – Dallas Cowboys, Round 5, No. 172 overall
• Cary Harris – Buffalo Bills, Round 6, No. 183 overall
• Kevin Ellison – San Diego Chargers, Round 6, No. 189 overall

Not a bad showing for USC.

yojoe Fight On!

The Rose Bowl: USC And Penn State Preview, Predictions, And Odds

The 2009 Rose Bowl features the Trojans of USC against the Nittany Lions of Penn State.  Both teams come in with a record of 11-1, SC having lost to Oregon State and Penn St losing to Iowa.  The Men of Troy are representing the Pac-10 and the Nittany Lions are representing the Big Ten.  Both teams are among the top ten college football programs of all time.

The Trojans may have the best defense of all time, but Penn State feels they have something to say about that.

Notes and news on the game:

• USC fullback Stanley Havili is academically ineligible, so D.J. Shoemate will get the start.
• Pete Carroll promises not to fight JoPa.
• Damian Williams and Stafon Johnson are both 100 percent.
• Aaron Corp has moved ahead of Mitch Mustain to be the number 2 quarterback for SC.
• Tight end Blake Ayles will not play because of a knee injury.  
• Safety Kevin Ellison will not play because of a knee injury. 
• The legend Joe Paterno shows why he epitomizes the old-school coach (must-see picture of his shoes)
• JoPa will be coaching from the press box.
• Both schools claim to be Linebacker U.
• Brian Cushing explains why he chose USC over Penn State.
• Rey Maualuga predicts the game will be very close and come down to the 4th quarter. 
• Penn State talks some old-school trash. 
• bodog has USC favored by 10.

Prediction:  USC – 21  Penn State – 13

In the Bowl Challenge Cup the Pac-10 is doing better than the Big Ten.

USC Football: Cushing And Maualuga Semifinalists for Lombardi Award

Trojans Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga were among the 12 semifinalists announced for the Lombardi Award.  The Lombardi Award goes annually to the college football lineman — offense or defense — who, in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the discipline of Vince Lombardi.

Here is a list of all of the semifinalists:

Brian Cushing, Linebacker, University of Southern California Auston English, Defensive End, University of Oklahoma James Laurinaitis, Linebacker, The Ohio State University Alex Mack, Offensive Lineman, University of California Rey Maualuga, Linebacker, University of Southern California

USC Football: Maualuga To Start Against Arizona State

The Scariest Defender in college football, Trojan middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, has recovered from the sprained right knee he suffered during USC‘s loss to Oregon State.  According to Coach Carroll, Maualuga is “full go.”

With Maualuga returning, Brian Cushing will return to strongside linebacker.

The Men of Troy take on Arizona State at 3:30 pm on 11OCT08 at the Coliseum.

yojoe Fight On!

USC Football: Linebacker Update Cushing And Galippo In, Maualuga Out

Going into the Oregon game, on 4OCT08, USC will be without linebacker Rey Maualuga.  College Football’s Scariest Defender is still suffering from the knee injury he suffered during the Oregon State game.

Chris Galippo, from Servite, has recovered from his second back surgery, and is expected to start at middle linebacker for the Trojans.

Brian Cushing is still wearing a cast on his right hand, from a broken bone suffered in the Oregon State game.  But, he will have the cast removed before game time and will start for the Men of Troy.

yojoe Fight On!

H/T: OC Register USC Blog

USC Football: Linebacker Update For USC v Oregon State

Earlier in the week it was reported that Trojan linebacker Brian Cushing was questionable, with a hamstring injury, for the Oregon State game.  If Cushing is unable to play, Clay Matthews – who has been lights out – will start as strongside linebacker.

USC backup linebackers Chris Gallippo (who is recovering from his second back surgery) and Luthur Brown have yet to be cleared for action.

USC Football: Sports Illustrated Cover

Three Trojans grace the cover of Sports Illustrated: Brian Cushing, Mark Sanchez, and Rey Maualuga.

yojoe Fight On!

PAC-10 Media Day: USC No. 1, McKnight Better Than Bush, And Cushing Talks About Senior Season

Today, 24JUL08, the PAC-10 held its football media day.  The West Coast media members reveled their preseason poll.

1. USC
2. Arizona State
3. Oregon
4. California
5. UCLA
6. Oregon State
7. Arizona
8. Washington
9. Stanford
10. Washington State

USC Football: 2008 USC Football Schedule Wallpaper

Download the Trojan’s 2008 football schedule as wallpaper for your computer.  It features Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Kevin Ellison, and Patrick Turner.  If this is any indication, the defense will be the centerpiece of the Men of Troy this season.

yojoe Fight On!

Ping: Boi From Troy.

USC Football: Brian Cushing Makes Cover Of Phil Steel’s 2008 College Football Preview

College-football season is just around the corner. To whet your appetite, on 10 June 2008 the ultimate college-football magazine hits the news stand: Phil Steel’s 2008 College Football Preview. Go to PhilSteel.com for a preview. With the vast amount of statistics, analysis, and predictions in this magazine you will be lucky to finish it before the Big 12 championship game. That being said, what could be better than reading about the third string tackle for Bowling Green? This is a great time of year!

Two Trojans have made the cover of Steel’s magazine: Brian Cushing on the national edition and Taylor Mays on the PAC 10 edition.

It is good to see Cush getting some attention, with all the praise of late for Rey Maualuga. Not that Maualuga does not rate the accolades, he undoubtably does. He was the 2008 Rose Bowl Defensive Player of the Game. But, Cush was also the Rose Bowl Defensive Player of the Game in 2007. Cush did have an injury that kept him out for a number of games in 2007, which may account for some of the spotlight being off him.

What a great problem to have for Trojan fans: arguing about which of our outstanding linebackers should receive more praise. It is no wounder Coach Carroll predicts USC will Win Forever.

yojoe Fight On!

Bonus Video: Cushing returns kickoff for touchdown against Notre Dame:

USC v. Notre Dame: Highlights From Southern Cal’s 38-0 Victory

The Trojans had a number of injured players return to the lineup for the game in South Bend, including Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga. One injured player that did not return was John David Booty, so Mark Sanchez got his second straight start and quarterback. Stanley Havili had a solid game, and Joe McKnight had a big run in the second half.
When asked about his team’s play and if they had hit the bottom, Charlie Weis said,

“I’m going to answer that very cautiously, because I don’t want to be called sarcastic using New Jersey rhetoric. So let me just say people better enjoy it now, have their fun now.”

This man is a true myopian,

Southern Cal Injury Report: Linebacker Brain Cushing Will Not Play Against University of Washington

The high-ankle sprain that linebacker Brian Cushing suffered against Idaho will keep him out of the game against the University of Washington.

yojoe Fight On!

USC Football: Preview No. 1 Trojans face No. 14 Huskers

ESPN College GameDay will feature the USC Nebraska game. Though, Lou Holtz will be talking about the ND Michigan Suck Bowl.

1 USC Trojans play the No. 14 Nebraska Cornhuskers Saturday at Memorial Stadium at 5 p.m PST.