USC Coach Pete Carroll enlists Bill Withers for 'Lean on Me' prank

Pete Carroll told his USC players he would get even when they "punked" the coach by staging a fake fight.

Carroll got even on Friday night by enlisting the help of Bill Withers: Withers posed as an NCAA representative, who talked about fictional fungus before telling the players his true identity and joining them in song.

Withers' connection to USC came about after freshman linebacker Marquis Simmons led the team in a version of Withers' hit "Lean on Me," earlier in training camp.

"He was more than willing to do it," Carroll said after the Trojans' morning practice Saturday. "It was an extraordinary gift he gave us, but he had a ball."

-- Gary Klein

Comments

[Shawn Faircloth]

This makes me really really proud to be a Trojan! No wonder this team continues to be the most dominant program in college football. They all look like best friends and would go to war for each other. Truly amazing.

[661gator]

"NO wonder this team continues to be the most dominant program in college football." I think you meant second most dominant. you all shall see as the mighty descends on Pasadena in January. That's ok, ya'll had a pretty good run. You'll always have the past. Welcome to the present and the future. Let the big Gator eat.