. . . is to have a USC player on the team. (this according to a January 1999 ESPN Magazine article, as found on USC RipsIt dot com)

So, did anybody watch the Carolina Panthers / Arizona Cardinals game last night? What about the Baltimore Ravens / Tennessee Titans game? And what about today's games featuring the New York Giants / Philadelphia Eagles? Or the Pittsburgh Steelers / San Diego Chargers? Who did you guys root for, who will you guys root for from here on out?

You see, there are A BUNCH OF TROJANS on practically all these rosters. On the losing Carolina Panthers side we had Dwayne Jarrett (WR) and Ryan Khalil (C), and on the winning Arizona Cardinals side we had Deuce Latui (G) and Matt Leinart (QB). Sure they might all not have played, except Latui- I saw him on the field. Cardinals won that game in a blowout- and I was kinda rooting for them. Underdog thing. The Ravens beat the Titans last night. (bummer!) LenDale White plays for the losing team- Tennessee Titans, as well as having a head coach who played alongside Ronnie Lott in the secondary for USC back in the day, in Coach Jeff Fisher. (1977 - 1980) You'll get 'em next year Coach!

Today's game we have one of our favorite Trojans receivers of all-time in Steve Smith playing WR for the New York Giants. The first play of the game went to him, an uncatched ball that was thrown wobbly and a bit too far to his left that was practically uncatcheable (then again, "uncatcheable" and Steve Smith is hardly congruous. that badass catches a lot of uncatcheable balls. . . .) The Giants also feature Sammy Knight (S) and Terrell Thomas. Thomas is for sure gonna get playing time. T2 has played in 12 games this season who's got 39 tackles, 6 assists, and I INT on the year so far. In Steve Smith (Mr. 1st Down) who's played in all 16 games- he has 57 receptions for 574 yards (you do the math, it's easy) and 1 TD. He's fumbled ONCE! (CJ Gable, please take note) and has given the Giants a more than respectable 35 1st downs this year.

On the Philadelphia Eagles side, we have Mike Patterson and Winston Justice. (I'm going for the Giants, so the Eagles/former Trojans info will be short- due to brevity and bias)

Then there's the indomitable Troy Polamalu (S) for Pittsburgh Steelers. He has played in 16 games this year, no sacks- BUT HAS 7 INT's this year. SEVEN INTERCEPTIONS!!!!  We have no representatives on the San Diego Chargers (at least that I can think of, anyone?). Who cares about San Diego, right?

So, as for me? I'm going for the Cardinals and the Steelers.  I really won't care who wins, because in the end. . . . .(unless you really have a home team in any of the playoff teams from above). . . .we all win! They're some Trojans REPRESENTIN' !!!

Who are you rooting for to take it all the way to win the Lombardi Trophy?

FIGHT ON!