What's been the best part of your marriage?

We're a very positive couple. That's what I enjoy more than anything. It's her being a positive role model, myself being a positive role model, and wanting to give back to the community. Any time you can see a couple doing that, I think it speaks volumes.

Are you guys also compatible as athletes? Do you work out together?

When we met, she was training and I was training. It's funny, people think that she's just talented [because of her dad]. That girl works hard! When we work out together now she can't work out as hard because she's got the little one in the stomach.

How'd you meet?

There was a fight party at the house. A mutual friend brought her over.

Which fight?

I don't remember. My eyes were on her!

What's been the most exciting part of USC football for you lately?

I love what Pete Carroll has done. It definitely gives us something to look forward to, especially not having a pro team in L.A. Actually, I've never cheered for a pro football team in my life. I've always been a basketball fan. To watch USC play the way they've been playing, plus being a big Laker fan ... those are the two teams I cheer for.

What's been the best thing about being a Trojan?

Being able to meet some of the legends. At 'SC, we're a family there. When you get a chance to run across these guys, and they greet you with open arms, 'SC really is a family -- especially around football. You run into guys like Ronnie Lott, Marcus Allen, guys like that talk to you as if you've been their buddy all their life. That was just amazing to me.

What are you up to now?

I'm involved with USA Football. It's an organization trying to teach youth football coaches the proper way of coaching and giving back to the community. I'm really excited to be a part of that because that's where it all starts -- with the youth. Any time that I can give back and be hands on, I definitely want to do that.

Image courtesy USC Athletics.

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USC has a treasure-trove of notable alumni. You've heard of Marcus Allen, Neil Armstrong, Will Ferrell, George Lucas, General Norman Schwarzkopf, John Wayne and Forest Whitaker. But have you ever heard about the guy that invented fun? His name was Richard Knerr. You've probably never heard of him before today, but Richard Knerr was a bigger part of your childhood than you ever knew.

Dr. Arthur Bartner, director of the Trojan Marching Band, was out to lunch in West L.A. with a few friends recently when someone walked up to his table to say hi. It was Marcus Allen. Yes, the Marcus Allen. “Come on, what other band director in the country do you know that an icon walks over to and says hello?” Bartner said with a huge grin. “I get a kick out of that. That’s what the Trojan family’s all about.” It’s also what the Trojan Marching Band is all about…continue

How did he do it, USC tailback Stafon Johnson was asked after his breakout performance in Saturday’s 49-31 win at Nebraska. How did the sophomore go from a forgotten fifth-teamer as a freshman to a dominant player whose running style was making people recall Hall of Famer Marcus Allen? Simple, said Johnson, who had the words “Big Dad” on his eye-black to honor his late grandfather who never gave up on him… continue

Word is now that Will Ferrell may do the lineup announcement for USC. He and Larry the Cable Guy are down on the USC sideline now, some half-hour before the game.

Sports Illustrated on Campus has just released its list of what it believes are the best Trojan athletes of all time. The staff at Sports Illustrated didn't shy away from personal scandal and professional controversy when making their picks. They simply chose the best of the best of the best. And no, not all that made the top ten list played SC football. These Trojan greats, both men and women alike, formed a cross-section of collegiate sports. The played with racquets, bats, hoops and balls. They swam, stole, hit and ran their way into the history books, breaking university, Pac-10 and NCAA records.

These proud ten came to attend USC from all over the world, with different backgrounds and different dreams. But they all shared one commonality: they were part of a larger Trojan family...a family made greater by the legacy they've left behind.

The complete list is as follows:

10. Mark McGwire
9. Lenny Krayzelburg
8. Carson Palmer
7. Lisa Leslie
6. Stan Smith
5. Reggie Bush
4. Matt Leinart
3. Cheryl Miller
2. O.J. Simpson
1. Marcus Allen

PET HAS PEEVE WITH EX-NFLER (Page Six)

We've all read and heard from scouts, coaches and analysts talk about someone being a 25-carry back.  Such a player is given idealized status among tailbacks.  He is a heroic figure, durable and dependable and highly prized by fans and coach alike.

But is he real?  Are we being fooled?  Is the 25-carry-back a relic, a throwback?

After looking at some data, I was surprised to find he's still kicking around but not as we classically interpret him.  In my mind's eye, the 25-carry-back was someone like Marcus Allen.  A player who could be counted on to carry the ball nearly 30 times every game.  We can throw in names like Eric Dickerson, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders as well to give us an idea who exactly is being talked about.

Sadly, those guys are throwbacks.  The modern 25-carry-back does it different.

Among the NCAA's top 100 D-IA rushers in 2006, only Rutgers' Ray Rice averaged more than 25 carries a game.  Just one guy!

I went through the data and compiled a spreadsheet which recorded the number of games each top 100 rusher played and how many times he had 25 or more carries in a game.  The results can be seen in the chart below:

(Games with 25+ carries on the vertical, back NCAA rankings 1-100 on the horizontal)

Not one player reached the 25-carry mark more than six times.  Fresno State's Dwayne Wright had the best overall rate, but that meant he went for 25+ carries in only 50 per cent of his games.

Looking at the data, the conclusion I drew was that today's backs can still do the 25-carry-a-game thing, but not with the alleged regularity of days past.  He's not completely gone, but he's also a rare bird indeed.  When someone says a player is a 25-carry back and they're talking about someone who can't/doesn't do it at least 4-6 times a year, I now reserve the right to call BS.

Looking at my spreadsheet, I would only give that honor to a handful of backs, namely Dwayne Wright (six games with 25+ carries in 2006), P.J. Hill (6), Mike Hart (6), Garrett Wolfe (5), Ian Johnson (5), Ray Rice (5), Darren McFadden (5), Tony Hunt (5) and Tanard Choice (5).  And if we're feeling generous, maybe mention the following players (all with four games at 25+ carries): Dennis Kennedy, Mark Bonds, Branden Ore, Amir Pinnix, Kevin Smith and Damion Fletcher.  At most, that's 15 out of 100 backs who can do that 25-carry thing at a rate supposedly much lower than their forebears.

Why is this?  I'm not a rocket scientist but most of the reasons are obvious.

1. Passing's up.  The college game at present is quite pass-happy.  The days of Student Body Right and Three Yards and a Cloud of Dust have given way to the spread, Mike Leach's pass-pass-pass style and the west coast offense and all its variants.
2. Split backfields.  Many teams are opting for "thunder and lightning" tandems in their backfield.  This reduces the wear-and-tear on both backs and forces opponents to prepare for multiple running styles and abilities.  It also asks backs capable of being the workhorse to make like Marshawn Lynch instead of Mike Hart.
3. Backs as receivers.  Blame the west coast offense with its quick-hitters to backs and fullbacks.  As backs become more involved in the passing game their carries can go down either situationally or due to stamina issues.
4. Specialists.  If the split backfield wasn't enough, teams often utilize a waterbug third down specialist who can run and receive and log a few touches a game.  Again, this reduces carries for a primary back who might otherwise be having another 25-carry day.
5. Running quarterbacks.  The option is all but dead in college football, but running quarterbacks give defenses fits and steal carries from competent backfield mates.  Pat White's phenomenal run ability meant that teammate Steve Slaton was the only top-10 rusher in the NCAA to reach the 25-carry plateau just twice in 13 games.

Live from the Shrine Auditorium in the center of the universe -- sunny Los Angeles, California -- it's the TrojanWire 1,000th Post Spectacular Special. Featuring appearances by Reggie Bush, Salma Hayek, Matt Leinart, Paris Hilton, Pete Carroll, Carson Palmer, Stephen Colbert, Junior Seau, Snoop Dogg, Marcus Allen, Ted Knight, Bacon-wrapped Hot Dogs, Keith Rivers, Henry Winkler, Lofa Tatupu, Alyssa Milano, Charles White, Shrek, Anthony Davis, Kirsten Dunst, Oscar Lua, Judith Regan, and many more.

When asking former Oakland Raiders coach Tom Flores if there are any remaining questions about Bush as a pro:

"No, none at all," he said. "He's got power. The guy is the real thing. He's fast, he's got balance and he can cut. There aren't many guys as tall as him who can cut and keep their balance. Your guy here (Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson) can do that, but he's shorter (5-foot-10) and plays lower to the ground."

Best San Diego Athlete Ever? [Voice of San Diego]