Despite losses on `D', Trojans are still No. 1
Quarterback Mark Sanchez headed for the pros a year earlier than anticipated.
Linebackers Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews will be cashing paychecks in the NFL this fall as well.
Those setbacks didn't bother the members of the media who Thursday picked USC to win the Pacific-10 Conference. The Trojans received 28 of 32 first-place votes, the seventh consecutive year USC has been selected to win the conference and the most consecutive seasons since the Trojans were picked 18 years in a row (1965-82).
"I don't know if this run (we're in right now) will mean we win the conference,"
USC coach Pete Carroll said. "We never think like that."
Carroll said even though USC lost plenty of quality leadership,
that will not be an issue this season.
He said safety Taylor Mays, defensive tackle Averell Spicer, linebacker Chris Galippo, offensive lineman Jeff Byers, center Kris O'Dowd and wide receiver Damian Williams all are showing signs of being leaders.
"Being a leader is not something I push,"
Mays said. "I want to do things right and lead by example and talk when the time is right. There is a responsibility being a leader and I have to conduct myself accordingly. Not just on the football field but in social things."
"I don't want my teammates to see me at a party. I have no problem sitting in my room looking at the wall. I'll do that all day long."
USC opens practice Aug.8 at Howard Jones Field on campus.
Air Corp
Carroll also said sophomore Aaron Corp is the No. 1 quarterback with freshman Matt Barkley close behind.
Carroll said Corp has always reminded him of what a young Joe Montana would look like "way back when."
"What are the attributes Joe had in high school? Those are the attributes Aaron had in high school,"
Carroll said. "Aaron was a great high school player who won games in a lot of ways. It will be fun to see him take off (running with the ball). I told him we might have 300-400 yards rushing in games."
Linebacking concerns
Carroll said he's unsure if senior linebacker Luthur Brown will play this season because of academic and health issues.
"As of right now, no, (he will not play),"
Carroll said. "He's had an academic situation in question for some time now."
Brown, according to sources, needs a grade changed in order to be eligible this season. He also remains hampered by a back injury that's sidelined him for most of his career.
"It's been an ongoing thing and he's not been working out,"
Carroll said.
Brown's potential loss would be a blow to the Trojans, especially after freshman linebacker Frankie Telfort's career ended following the discovery of a genetic heart defect.
"We had great expectations for Frankie,"
Carroll said. "I can't tell you we ever had anybody who knew football like Frankie did. He was able to call audibles on defense and we thought he could play right away."
Starting weakside linebacker Malcolm Smith also has been hampered by mononucleosis and underwent surgery on his esophagus several months ago.
"He's had a spotty offseason,"
Carroll said.
By the book
Carroll denied his use of former NFL special teams coach Pete Rodriguez as a paid consultant violated any NCAA rules.
"This is something where we have gone through all the proper channels,"
Carroll said. "We've documented it. To get to the point where he could be a consultant, we did all our homework. This is something we dealt with a long time ago."
Carroll also said there were no new developments in the Reggie Bush investigation.
"We don't know anything about it,"
he said. "We haven't heard anything. We'll continue to do whatever we need to do."
