Another Celebrity Fan of USC

I watch "24", so the following made me smile:

Ruel and the other USC assistants had gathered a few hours before the game. Having created some pretext to get Carroll into a meeting room, they popped in a DVD of uncertain provenance. On the screen appeared Sutherland's Jack Bauer, who interrupted a scene by turning to the camera and saying, "Happy birthday, Pete."

Kiefer Sutherland gave Pete Carroll a Jack Bauer action figure for his birthday, which was the day of the Nebraska game!

USC Sideline Place to Be Seen in L.A.

With all the celebrities crowding the USC sideline these days, it's a wonder there's room for the players and coaches. A sampling of some of the coolest celebrity USC football fans: Henry Winkler (defined cool as "The Fonz"), Andre 3000, Kirsten Dunst, Will Ferrell, Flea, George Lucas, Snoop Dogg, and Wilmer Valderrama ("Fez" in That '70s Show).

Texas has some pretty cool fans of its own, especially alumnus Matthew McConaughey and the peerless Lance Armstrong.

Says Outkast's Andre 3000, "If you talk to anybody, tell them Andre 3000 wants tickets, and I'll pay for them."

Maybe he should talk to George Wendt (Norm!) who apparently has four tickets to the Rose Bowl.

Don't believe everything you see in the movies.

USC’s next opponent, Fresno State, believes they have found some chinks in the Trojans’ armor. “The Bulldogs said they . . . noticed some obvious mistakes and subtle errors by USC that opponents failed to take advantage of.”

Adam Jennings, receiver, California State University, Fresno: “You see them on the ESPN highlights and think these guys are the greatest team ever. In the film room . . . they don't look superhuman. You get to see the bad plays, the stuff not on ‘SportsCenter.’ You see mistakes and you have to figure out ways to exploit their weaknesses.”

Beware Bulldogs! Looks can be deceiving.

Houston Nutt, Head Coach, University of Arkansas: “Film is one thing. When you watch film and see them score 55 on Oklahoma’s caliber of defense . . . but to see it live. They are the best offensive team at every position.”

Jerry Glanville, Defensive Coordinator, University of Hawaii, watched every snap that Matt Leinart took in 2003 and 2004. After the game, he said the fifth-year senior was “better than he was last year.”

Bill Doba, Head Coach, Washington State University: “In the first quarter, their speed was something we had never seen.”

That’s right, folks. USC’s School of Cinema-Television, the country’s top film school and the alma mater of George Lucas (who has been spotted at several USC football games this year), is doing its part to support the football team’s 2005 campaign. It’s amazing what they can do with special effects these days.