TrojanWire

James Franco’s UCLA Commencement Address

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:12:42 CDT

James Franco was supposed to deliver the keynote address at UCLA’s commencement ceremony last month. He backed out of giving the speech.

Here are some outtakes of his “practice speeches.”

James Franco’s Rejected UCLA Commencement Speech [HarvardLampoon]

4th of July: E-Train & Jordan Campbell

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:47:42 CDT

Looks like. And sounds like fun. Contrary to popular internet belief, the world wide leader has stated that neither of them were arrested. One more party pic after the jump.

University of Southern California football players busted on Nantucket

USC Football Players Everson Griffen and Jordan Campbell Arrested In Nantucket This Weekend [Barstool Sports]
Clearing up the details of the Griffen 'legal' issue [ESPN]

Joint Forces Day

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:18:07 CDT

(Photo by Icon Sports Media)

The USC ticket office is offering 2-for-1 tickets to all military personnel, veterans, police officers, emergency medical technicians and firefighters for the Sept. 5 season opener against San Jose State.

To get tickets, call 213-740-GOSC (4672) and mention the code “JFD.”

USC Football To Host Joint Forces Day Celebration At Home Opener [pac-10.org]

The Pac-10 is on Twitter and Facebook

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:58:19 CDT

Larry Scott is the new commissioner of the Pac-10. His first order of business, create Pac-10 Twitter and Facebook pages. To follow the Pac-10 on Twitter and Facebook, click here and here. Fifteen year old girls everywhere will be disappointed to learn that the Pac-10 does not have a MySpace page.

To follow TrojanWire on Twitter, click here.

You must be a member of both to receive automatic updates.

Follow the Pac-10 Conference on Twitter, Facebook [pac-10.org]

The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party Gets a Sobriety Test

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:52:32 CDT

Drinking, wife-beaters and mullets galore are a staple of the SEC event. Photos from project.ajc [top] and the Mark Bradley Blog [below]

I am so rarely a proponent of anything SEC, but this is not a conference cause...it's a [drunken] human cause. The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is the nickname of the annual match-up between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators. This tradition has been around since 1915. Now the President of the University of Florida wants to sober it up. According to RedandBlack.com

"The University of Florida president sent a letter to Jacksonville officials last week to address concerns about the abundant alcohol consumption that occurs during the annual football game between Georgia and Florida...[President] Machen wants a 50 percent reduction in the number of alcohol distribution points and a prohibition of shot sales at The Jacksonville Landing, better enforcement of alcohol sales laws, and more venues students can go..."

A few years ago, Florida's President pulled similar shenanigans, asking that the lush lingo no longer be used. "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" somehow gave the wrong impression of what actually occurs at major college football rivalry games. Mainly drinking. A-lot-of-drinking. He somehow thought if you take away the name, the over-consumption would magically evaporate. But a one-legged prostitute by any other name is still named Eileen. I digress.

Here's a cold one for you, SEC!

Song Girl Monday 7-6-09

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:33:25 CDT

Every Monday we strive to make your day better by posting pictures of The USC Song Girls for your enjoyment. More Song Girls after the jump...

Polee-s Hang On!

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:30:18 CDT

When Tim Floyd stepped down as the head coach of the USC men's basketball team amid another pay-to-player scandal, he didn't just leave a vacant position, he left a black hole. Hackett and DeRozan were always expected to go. Taj Gibson was already flirting on the edge of the precipice, and it sucked him right in. Marcus Johnson, who petitioned for a fifth year of eligibility, tried his best to leave but wasn't picked up in the draft. Now it's unclear whether he'll play next year.

First the players, then the recruits. A projected top-five class took a nose dive out of the top-25 with the rest of the division sopping up the fallout from the Trojan Chernobyl. Lamont Jones, Derrick Williams and Solomon Hill jumped ship, only to be plucked from the frigid water by Arizona. Renardo Sidney and USC had a mutual(?) parting of ways, after the scandal-wary Trojans smelled some fishy connections. Evan Smith, 6-6, a small forward from Oaks Christian, is the last holdout from the class. Smith lacks star power but should be a solid contributor...that is, if he holds out for good.

But there's a bright star on the horizon. Remember 2010 recruit Dwayne Polee Jr.? The 6-7 forward who committed to USC before he had ever played a high school game? Word on the street was that Polee was wavering on his commitment, getting sucked into the dark-matter at the center of the post-Floyd universe. Well good news. LA Times reported today that the Westchester forward and his mother met with new USC Coach Kevin O'Neill, and he still remains committed to the Trojans. So there's hope for the future. At least until the results come back from the NCAA investigations...

Follow the Jump to see the Polee highlight video from '08-09. Kid has got some hops.

2009 USC Media Guide

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:29:10 CDT

2009 Football Media Guide [USC Rips It]

America F*ck Yeah!

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:53:12 CDT

Have a fun and safe 4th...F*CK YEAH!

Happy 4th of July

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:31:46 CDT

God Bless America!

Mr. Rolling Cooler Cooler Roller & Mr. Foot Long Hot Dog Inventor

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:17:13 CDT

The 4th of July is this weekend and USC football season is right around the corner. To celebrate our nation's birth and tailgating in general, TrojanWire salutes Mr. Rolling Cooler Cooler Roller and Mr. Foot Long Hot Dog Inventor. Dare to dream innovators of awesomeness…

“Blank” is an Embarrassment to WSU Football

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:10:09 CDT

(Photo by Icon Sports Media)

The Washington State student newspaper, the Daily Evergreen, has a great sense of humor. Since May, four Cougar football players have either been arrested or suspended from the team. In addition to those players, 25 have been arrested or charged with offenses between 2006 and 2008. I guess there isn't much to do in Pullman Washington (population 27,030) except break the law.

The Daily Evergreen is tired of writing the same story over and over again so they came up with a nice solution, a fill-in-the-blanks-editorial. This is the note from their editor:

Due to the absurdly high number of arrests of football players, The Summer Evergreen is publishing this fill-in-the-blanks editorial rather than having to publish a new piece every few months or so.

To see their version of WSU Football Mad Libs, click here.

______ is an embarassment to WSU football [Daily Evergreen]
WSU coach inherits a mess off the field [Seattle Times]

Happy July 1, 2009!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:06:28 CDT

It is officially summertime. No more June gloom. With not that much in the news and the dog days of summer upon us, how bout some USC Song Girls to celebrate all that is right in the world!

Will Sanchez Start for Jets?

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:10:39 CDT

(Photo by Icon Sports Media)

The New York Jets profiled Mark Sanchez on their team website. This is what Sanchez says about competing for the starting quarterback job:

“For me, I feel like I’m going to be on the field and that’s what you always want to do. You don’t grow up dreaming of being a backup, so I’m going to go for it,” he said. “I know Kellen’s going to do the same thing, and it’s going to be a great competition and I’m excited to compete with him.”

Sanchez Sets His Sights on Starting Role [newyorkjets.com]

Jeff Byers Leads Nations Best O-Line

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:01:44 CDT

(Photo by Icon Sports Media)

Here is a nice piece by Ted Miller on sixth-year offensive guard Jeff Byers. The Trojans return all five starters on the offensive line this season. This is my favorite excerpt:

Byers is one of five returning starters from a line that: A. Gave up only 18 sacks in 2008, fewest in the Pac-10; B. Led a rushing attack that averaged 195 yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry; and, C. Is very deep considering the entire 2008 two-deep is back, and touted sophomore Tyron Smith is pushing to eclipse Butch Lewis at right tackle.

USC's brainy Byers leads line that ranks among nation's best [espn.com]