Marv Goux
Your second favorite time of the week is upon us yet again -- it's time to go all Jack Bauer with our weekly feature, 24 Hours to Kickoff:
Trojans head into Corvallis to face an Oregon State team that isn't getting much respect, but at 4-3 has given everybody a game, with the exception of Cal and Boise State (and in fairness, they were up 14-0 in that one). And they'll have their top RB, Yvenson Bernard, not to mention their NFL-destined 6'7" TE Joe Newton.
But on our side of the ball, the Trojans got a much-needed week to rest and retrain their focus and gameplan for the second-half of the season; wide receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith will be back and closer to 100%. The offense and defense had time to work a lot of different player combinations during the extended practice time. And as for those foggy ghosts of 2004 -- tomorrow's forecast is sunny, 71 degrees, and great visibility.
Enough of my blathering, it's rundown time:
Bernard's Playing - Yvenson Bernard, the Beavers tailback and top threat on offense, is planning to suit up and play, despite ankle issues. Team's biggest game of the season? We expect no less. [The Oregonian]
Is It Finally, Officially Chauncey Time? - Chauncey Washington's performance on the Trojans' last drive against ASU was unquestionably impressive. Could it be enough to distance him from the rest of USC's talented backfield corps on the depth chart? [O.C. Register]
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(Associated Press)
Marlin McKeever, a two-time All-American at USC (1959-60) who played 13 years in the NFL (seen here in his Rams uniform), fell into a bad coma Wednesday as a result of a fall at his home on Tuesday.
Pete Carroll left practice Thursday to go to the hospital.
"Those considerations didn't even figure in," Carroll said of his schedule. "It sounded pretty grave at the time. It's no gesture, you just have to go."
McKeever heads the Trojan Football Alumni Club, and was instrumental along with the late Marv Goux, in preaching the importance of the program.
"He and Marv were the connection to the past," Carroll said. "They were the guys that taught me the history of the program. (McKeever) was so well known and loved and an awesome supporter of the program."
Lawrence Jackson led the Trojans in a post-practice prayer for McKeever.
Marlin McKeever in critical condition after fall [Sign on San Diego]
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