Nothing compared to USC's 2006 Pro Day

NFL coaches and scouts turned out en masse for USC's pro day to watch quarterback Mark Sanchez, linebackers Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga and Clay Matthews and the rest of the draft-eligible Trojans.

But the scene paled in comparison to USC's 2006 event, regarded throughout the college and pro football worlds as the pro day to end all pro days.

Back then, pro day was open to the public. So a huge crowd showed up to catch a glimpse of Heisman Trophy winners Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, running back LenDale White and others. The crowd grew so large, in fact, the fire marshal threatened to shut down the event.

Coach Pete Carroll, capitalizing on the interest, had tied pro day to junior day, when high school prospects come to campus. It made for an interesting mix of college players, high school players, agents, coaches, scouts, media and fans.

Matt Barkley wants to build on USC practice debut

USC freshman quarterback Matt Barkley is looking forward to Tuesday and a chance to build on the impression he made in his spring practice debut.

Barkley said after Saturday's workout that he was working on getting his timing down with individual receivers and the way they run their routes.

The speed of the college game did not seem to phase this player, who was a four-year starter at Santa Ana Mater Dei High.

"Everyone comments on the speed of the defense, which is true, but at the same time the receivers are so fast and quick it equals out so it's not that bad," said Barkley, who is trying to jump ahead of Aaron Corp, Mitch Mustain and Garrett Green to become Mark Sanchez's successor.

Coach Pete Carroll is eager to see Barkley progress.

"You can see he's really competing to understand what's going on, trying to get the calls just right," Carroll said. "It's a unique opportunity for us to see a guy, a freshman, in spring football like this."

-- Gary Klein

Photo: Matt Barkley. Credit: Kirby Lee / US PRESSWIRE

Can USC's Mark Sanchez top Matthew Stafford?

Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford apparently impressed today during his workout for pro scouts.

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez will get his chance to do the same when USC holds its pro day workouts on April 1.

Sanchez already auditioned once during the NFL scouting combine in February. Stafford chose not to throw at that time.

-- Gary Klein

Photo: Mark Sanchez takes part in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 22. Credit: Scott Boehm / Getty Images

Pete Carroll, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez to attend memorial

USC Coach Pete Carroll and former Trojans quarterbacks Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez are scheduled to attend a memorial service for Ryan Davidson on Saturday in Wisconsin.

Davidson, who fought a 10-year battle against brain cancer, died Feb. 19 on his 16th birthday. He inspired many.

Davidson first attended a USC game in 2004 and was adopted by the program as a good luck charm over the last five seasons.

Before the 2005 Bowl Championship Series title game, running back LenDale White said he was inspired by the presence of then-11-year-old Davidson, who had attended a team meeting and rode the bus to practice in Davie, Fla. White had been nursing an ankle sprain.

"I see him and it took all my pain away," White said. "Nothing can be harder than that. That's real life."

Last October, Davidson served as an honorary captain when the Trojans played Arizona State at the Coliseum.

-- Gary Klein

USC announces spring football dates

With Mark Sanchez off to the NFL, USC's quarterback derby will begin in earnest on March 28 when the Trojans open spring practice.

Coach Pete Carroll announced the dates of the 15 spring workouts, which will be spread over the course of a month and will conclude with the "Trojan Huddle" scrimmage at the Coliseum.

Practices will be on campus unless noted. All except one, April 11 at the Coliseum, are open to the public, an athletic department spokesman said.

Dates and times are subject to change.

March 28, Saturday, time TBA
March 31, Tuesday, 4 p.m.
April 2, Thursday, 4 p.m.
April 3, Friday, 4 p.m.
April 5, Sunday, TBA
April 7, Tuesday, 4 p.m.
April 9, Thursday, 4 p.m.
April 11, Saturday, Coliseum (closed to the public)
April 14, Tuesday, 4 p.m.
April 16, Thursday, 4 p.m.
April 17, Friday, 4 p.m.
April 18, Saturday, TBA
April 21, Tuesday, 4 p.m.
April 23, Thursday, 4 p.m.
April 25, Saturday, Trojan Huddle at the Coliseum (Time TBA)

USC's Pro Day will be April 1. It is closed to the public.

-- Gary Klein

Photo: USC players and coaches before the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl game against Penn State. Credit: Kirby Lee / Image of Sport-US Presswire

USC Coach Pete Carroll stands by comments on Mark Sanchez's decision

USC Coach Pete Carroll drew national attention, and some criticism, for his comments and tone during Mark Sanchez's news conference Thursday, during which the quarterback announced he would make himself available for the NFL draft.

On Friday, Carroll stood by his tone and his explanation of why Sanchez was making a mistake by not exhausting his eligibility.

Read more shortly at latimes.com/sports/usc

-- Gary Klein

USC coach Pete Carroll: Mark Who?

This morning, Pete Carroll was telling the world that he thought Mark Sanchez should have stuck around USC for another year.

This afternoon, the Trojans' head coach was telling the players who are sticking around that Sanchez turning professional rather than coming back to play another year wasn't important.

Here's some of what Carroll had to say during a team meeting that ended about 5 p.m., according to the USCRipsIt blog at petecarroll.com:

"You think I’m uncomfortable in this situation right now? Hell no, because we’ve been through this for years. We’re going to be great, because of you guys in here.”

And, as for the impact that the departure of Sanchez will have on the USC program?

“This is about opportunity. This has happened a million times here. It doesn’t matter who goes; it matters who stayed. This is all about seizing the opportunities you get. Everything you do counts. If you want to go, go get it. The competition is on."

Check out latimes.com/sports and All Things Trojan for more coverage of today's USC developments.

-- Greg Johnson

Photo: USC coach Pete Carroll during today's Mark Sanchez news conference at Heritage Hall. Credit: Kirby Lee / Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Mark Sanchez and Pete Carroll talk about USC's big news

Adam Rose at The Times' All Things Trojan blog has posted the opening minutes of the Mark Sanchez news conference earlier today at Heritage Hall on the USC campus.

Adam also has posted video of USC coach Pete Carroll's blunt reaction to his star quarterback's decision not to return for another season.

All Things Trojan also gives fans a chance to vote on who is likely to start for the Trojans at quarterback next season -- Mitch Mustain, Aaron Corp, Garrett Green or Matt Barkley. A second poll suggests that USC fans don't think Sanchez made the right decision today.

Here's a link to the story that The Times' Gary Klein and Mike Hiserman have at Latimes.com/sports. And here's a link to the Trojans' football website.

-- Greg Johnson

Pete Carroll: Mark Sanchez should have stayed at USC

Pete Carroll isn't pulling any punches when it comes to his feelings about Mark Sanchez opting to turn professional and not return to USC. Here is a bit of what Ben Malcolmson is reporting on the "USCRipsIt" blog  at PeteCarroll.com:

“The facts are so strong against this decision,” Carroll said. “After analyzing all the information, the truth is there — he should’ve stayed for another year.”

Carroll cited a study that shows 62 percent of underclassmen quarterbacks who declare early for the Draft eventually don’t pan out in the NFL. He also pointed to Sanchez’s NFL Draft evaluation, which projected Sanchez as a second-round selection.

“Mark’s chance to increase his value and become the top player in college football next year would have been worth $10-$20 million or more — likely more,” Carroll said. “One more year of running a team is almost priceless, so he lost the chance to fully prepare himself and become the very best he could be before going to the NFL.

“That’s why there’s a 62 percent failure rate for underclassmen quarterbacks.”

Ouch.

-- Greg Johnson

Photo: USC head coach Pete Carroll, left, shakes hands with USC quarterback Mark Sanchez on Thursday after Sanchez announced that he would be going professional and would not return to USC for a final season. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

USC Coach Pete Carroll at odds with Mark Sanchez on NFL decision

All Things Trojan blogger Adam Rose reports that USC Coach Pete Carroll made it clear he didn't agree with the decision by quarterback Mark Sanchez to declare himself eligible for the NFL draft.

Rose writes: "Carroll was visibly unhappy, refusing to sit down for part of the press conference and saying that he disagreed with the decision based on a number of factors. 'We don't see this decision the same,' he said. 'Mark is going against the grain on this decision. He knows that.'

"Nick Sanchez, Mark's dad, was supportive and joked with reporters that, as a parent, he wants to see his kid in college for ten years. Sources close to the program indicate that his family wasn't happy with the choice either."

For more, go to All Things Trojan on LATimes.com/sports.

-- Randy Harvey

Photo: USC head coach Pete Carroll listens this morning as quarterback Mark Sanchez announces his decision to turn professional. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

USC's Mark Sanchez declares for NFL draft

USC quartertback Mark Sanchez, as expected, announced this morning at Heritage Hall that he will declare himself eligible for the NFL draft.

He is expected to be one of the top two quarterbacks drafted in the first round.

He made the announcement at a news conference at USC.

For more details, go to LATimes.com/sports.

-- Randy Harvey

Photo: Photo: USC's Mark Sanchez celebrates a Rose Bowl Game win over Penn State on Jan. 1. Credit: Harry How / Getty Images