Barkley received the award from former USC Trojan and Gatorade Award winner Matt Leinart at a pre-ESPY reception at West Hollywood's swank Sofitel Hotel.
"I'm amazed," Barkley insightfully told the Los Angeles Times. "It's awesome."
Unlike last year's winner, the one-and-done Kevin Love, Barkley will take his award back to high school for another year--and he was spared a grilling by FanHouse's own Miss Gossip and yours truly. I can only imagine what questions I would have had for Mister Leinart.
While a number of changes were made in the 2007 offseason, remnants of the rule existed...until yesterday at least. Under new NCAA rules, there will be two significant changes for 2008:
The clock will start at the snap after a change of possession, rather than when the referee signals the ball to be in play; and,
On kickoffs, the clock will only start once the ball hits the field of play.
Meanwhile, in other timing tweakage, the play clock will go down to 15 seconds, from 25, following a television timeout. Expect plenty of confusion and several yellow handkerchiefs from this one!
In an article over calling USC the, "University of Spoiled Children," author Rob Long begins, "A few weeks ago, John McCain made a little joke at his wife's expense. Referring to her alma mater -- Cindy McCain is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where she was a cheerleader and sorority sister -- he called it "USC, the University of Spoiled Children."
What's wrong with that? Well until two years ago, the only cheerleaders USC has had were exclusively male. The 85 year tradition was discontinued in 2006. For all I can tell, the Song Girls have never led a cheer and have never even been given a microphone.
So, was Cindy McCain a male while in college, you ask? Nope. It's just the editors at the Times don't seem to know the difference between a cheerleader and a Song Girl. And the possible-future-First-Lady was one of them!
Rey-Rey Maualuga is going to have to find a new backup, as the USC linebacking corps has suffered its first major setback of the 2008 season.
USC redshirt freshman linebacker Chris Galippo has played nary a snap for the Men of Troy but he is going under the knife for the second time since joining the team.
The Los Angeles Daily News reports that the high school All-American underwent back surgery for the second time in nine months yesterday and will miss part of the 2008 season.
According to head coach Pete Carroll, "It's very similar to the surgery he had before but on a different disc."
Galippo was slated to back up Rey Maualuga at middle linebacker, but will relenquich those duties for at least the start of the season.
Last year, the University of California at Los Angeles went through four starting quarterbacks in a season which failed to meet expectations. New head coach Rick Neuheisel and offensive coordinator Norm Chow had hoped to turn the tide and avoid any quarterback controversy, naming Pat Cowan the starter in Spring Practice.
Things have gotten so bad that UCLA's coaches are now asking recruit Kevin Prince to leave school early in order to provide depth at the position. But Prince is still recovering from reconstructive knee surgery himself, so don't expect this high schooler to be a lucky charm to avoid injuries at the position!
The start of Spring Football could not come a day sooner for the USC Trojans after the heralded Men of Troy Basketball squad went one-and-done in the NCAA Tournament--and there is good reason to pay attention to what's happening on Howard Jones Field.
Mark Sanchez, Aaron Corp and Arkansas-transfer Mitch Mustain will be battling it out to determine who will replace John David Booty in the fall. Redshirt Junior Sanchez has the leg up according to head coach Pete Carroll, "It will be interesting to see if Mitch and (freshman) Aaron (Corp) can catch up. That's what we'll have to find out."
For Mustain to catch up and win the starting job, he must make sure that time is on his side, and make the coaching staff prolong their decisionmaking process into the fall.
"If it doesn't get decided, it looks better for Aaron or I," Mustain told the Daily News. "From August, it's like night and day for me. And even from December, it's a huge difference, even with where I stand on the team in terms of leadership since (Booty) left. I'm not going to be reluctant to exercise it."
It has been twelve years since the Rams and Raiders left Los Angeles, and with the recent passing of Georgia Frontiere, one of the last people to own a pro football team in Southern California, it is time to reconsider the prospect.
All week long, the Los Angeles Times is pitting "sportswriter" Scott Olin Schmidt (ahem, that would be yours truly) against Barry Sanders--the Los Angeles Coliseum Commissioner, not the former Detroit Lion--in their weekly "Dust Up" web feature.
Today's question asks, "Should Los Angeles be spending public money to attract an NFL franchise? Should a pro team play at the Coliseum? Isn't professional football (unlike, arguably, baseball) usually a net loss for municipalities?"
Both Sanders and Schmidt agree: "our great city can live without an NFL team."
Why did the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission reject USC's offer on Wednesday to conditionally accept an agreement to allow the Trojans to play in the Coliseum?
When we first heard of USC's "put up or shut up proposal," we thought it was brilliant, because to reject the plan would require that the Coliseum Commission admit that not even its members had faith in their ability to deliver on their promises to the University.
Many observers say that the Coliseum Commission is reluctant to hand over the keys to the building to the University.
"It's not only about money," Coliseum General Manager Pat Lynch told the LA Times. "It's about everything."
Does "everything" include a plan to bring the Minnesota Vikings to Los Angeles?
After considering last week's proposal by the Coliseum Commission to enter into a long-term lease with USC, have the public entity raise the funds for stadium improvements, and promise no NFL team would come to the venerable Los Angeles Stadium, USC responded Monday with a "Thanks, but..." counterproposal.
In a letter to Coliseum manager Pat Lynch, USC's lead negotiator Todd Dickey lays out a groundwork for compromise--enter into an agreement to let the Coliseum sell naming rights to the stadium, raise the money, and meet specific goals over ten years for improving the stadium. If the Coliseum Commission fails to make the deadlines, they'd be in breach of contract with the University and the deal would revert to the Master Lease that USC has wanted all along.
After being admonished last week by the Rose Bowl Operating Company to grow up and negotiate with the University of Southern California, the Coliseum Commission, which oversees the storied stadium where the Men of Troy play football came back with a counter-proposal of half-measures.
According to WeAreSC, the Coliseum Commission is offering a plan which would give USC a shorter-term contract to play at the Coliseum than the University is asking for, with no structural improvements to the Stadium. Their only real concession is to guarantee that no NFL team will be playing in the Coliseum. While they're at it, why not guarantee no NBA, Major League Baseball or Bundesliga team will play there, because those scenarios are just as likely to happen!
Although the Los Angeles Times is reporting that L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger are working to forge a deal, it seems apparent to observers of the negotiation that is Schwarzenegger wanted a deal to happen, he could use his leverage with his three commission appointees to vote with Villaraigosa's two voters and strike a deal. Hopefully the Mayor will get a chance to bend the action-hero Governor's ear and prompt the Governor to terminate these drawn-out talks!
Future USC Trojan Matt Barkley made history yesterday when he became the first high school junior to take home top honors at the Gatorade High School athlete of the year awards.
Last year, 
Rey-Rey Maualuga is going to have to find a new backup, as the USC linebacking corps has suffered its first major setback of the 2008 season.
Last year, the University of California at Los Angeles went through four starting quarterbacks in a season which failed to meet expectations. New head coach 
It has been twelve years since the Rams and Raiders left Los Angeles, and with the recent 
After considering last week's proposal by the Coliseum Commission to enter into a long-term lease with USC, have the public entity raise the funds for stadium improvements, and promise no NFL team would come to the venerable Los Angeles Stadium, USC responded Monday with a "Thanks, but..." counterproposal.
