McKnight makes his point
USC tailback Joe McKnight did not suit up for the Trojans' game against Washington on Nov. 1 because he accumulated too many negative points, which are given to athletes for missing classes or tutoring sessions.
When McKnight missed the game, a recurring problem with turf toe was listed as the official reason. But sources said he was held out because of the negative points.
McKnight reiterated after USC's victory over California on Saturday that turf toe caused him to sit out. He rushed for 51 yards against Cal, including a 16-yard run that was reminiscent of former USC tailback Reggie Bush but ended with a fumble.
"But Reggie Bush didn't fumble, so it wasn't like Reggie Bush,"
McKnight said. "I saw (Cal linebacker Zack Follett) coming, but he didn't try to tackle. He swung at the ball."
PAYBACK TIME?
Will USC try to atone for its embarrassing loss to 41-point underdog Stanford last season when it plays the Cardinal on Saturday?
"We're not thinking about revenge or playing Stanford,"
safety Taylor Mays said. "We just have another team to prepare for. The fact it's Stanford is just a name."
That does not mean the decision to play quarterback John David Booty with a broken finger is easier to comprehend a year later.
"We knew he hurt his finger,"
offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said. "We assessed it. He assessed it. A couple balls got away from him and our receivers. We made a decision and we'll live with it."
GREEN REACTION
No one expressed surprise over tailback Broderick Green's decision to transfer at the end of the semester.
"After the Washington State game he had (121 yards) and then he didn't get any reps the following week (against Arizona), I don't know if he was salty about that or not,"
running backs coach Todd McNair said.
Without Green, Marc Tyler becomes the No. 4 tailback. Fullback D.J. Shoemate also is going to get some carries in practice at tailback, but coach Pete Carroll said it's just to keep him game ready and not because Green left.
"We want to get the ball in his hands and have him get banged around so he feels comfortable,"
Carroll said.
