WATCH: USC Prepares for Fresno St. Tuesday (9/13)

USC defeated Stanford in Palo Alto last Saturday 41-28. It was the first time the Trojans defeated the Cardinal there since Sept. 6, 2014. USC beat Stanford in the Pac-12 Championship Game (Santa Clara) in 2017, but hadn’t won in Stanford Stadium eight years.

The Trojans returned to Howard Jones Field on Monday and on Tuesday the media was permitted to view the first 20 minutes of drills. WeAreSC shot video of mostly the wide receivers and defensive backs. We sprinkled in a little Domani Jackson working with Sports Performance Coach Bennie Wylie.

USC Practice Notes & Observations (9/13)

After practice Mark Kulkin offered up his popular Notes & Observations from Tuesday’s practice.

**The Los Angeles weather is starting to feel good again. Tuesday’s practice is scheduled to start at 8:10 AM and their routine includes full pads.

**I found out the official name of the “colored kool-aid mix” that the team is required to drink upon entry. It was blue today and its official name is, “The Product.”

**Solo speaks! It’s obvious that Solomon Tuliaupupu is having fun again. He’s a part of the regular defensive rotation and today had a huge smile and a “Good Morning” for the press.

**The NFL sent a representative from every team, or it looks that way. I can’t name them all but I can see reps from Chicago, Arizona, NYG, NYJ, Cleveland, Detroit, Atlanta, and Indianapolis. The list is much longer.

**What makes their numbers significant?

Annie Hanson’s On It

**Annie Hanson is showing the Mililani High School football team around for a visit. The Trojans made the trip from Hawaii and will play in one of the two games this weekend that also includes St. John Bosco playing defending Hawaii Open Division champ Kahuku. Defending High School Football America national champ Mater Dei will open the event (on September 16) against Mililani.

**Once everyone was let inside Goux Gate, DL Coach Shaun Nua spent some time talking to the group of players from Hawaii. There are a few guys who definitely pass the eyeball test from the 808.

**The kids are missing class this week. Annie told the players they can say the trip was educational because they learned about the USC Trojans’ history of sending more players to the NFL than anyone else. There might even be a quiz. 

**Miss Annie is a pro and she does whatever it takes to make everyone comfortable. That includes passing out cold cups of water to the recruits and a random member of the press standing close by.–THANK YOU ANNIE!! *COLD WATER WAS GOOD!*

**A few of the “recruits” recognize Gino Quinones coming up the tunnel and Gino takes the time to flex for his fans. They then form a players’ tunnel for the rest of the USC Trojans to walk thru on their way to practice.

Courtland Ford, Romello Height Injury Updates

Erik McKinney wrote about what Lincoln Riley had to say about the injury statuses of LT Courtland Ford and OLB Romello Height.

Two USC starters went to the sideline during the Trojans’ game against Stanford with apparent injuries. Rush end Romello Height left fairly early in the game and later appeared on the sideline with his arm in a sling. Left tackle Courtland Ford limped off in the fourth quarter with the game in hand. 

Riley said both players would take it easy at the beginning of this week as the team evaluates them.

This is not the first injury issue for Height at USC.

“He’s got a tough shoulder,” Riley said of Height. “We’re going to give him a little bit of down time here early in the week and then reevaluate.”

Riley called it a “lingering shoulder issue” for Height.

“He’s had a couple of events, both on the practice field and the game field that have kind of made it tough to get any momentum in terms of recovery,” Riley said.”

For will also take it easy during the early part of this week, but Riley said he’s responded well since the game.

“I think he’s on a good track,” Riley said.

Offensive tackle Bobby Haskins would step in full time if Ford is unavailable. He said it’ll be the same thing for him this week in practice and during the game regardless of Ford’s availability.

“My preparation never changes,” Haskins said. “Every week, everybody out here prepares like they’re going to play every snap of every game. Because that’s what it takes to win.”