Football Notes

by Paragon SC on Jan 11, 2008 6:53 AM PST in USC Football Comment 2 comments

Rachal Going Pro

I don't think that this is really a surprise to anyone. Chilo has basically fallen off the map since the Rose Bowl win as he tries to make a decision and apparently he has decided to go pro.

USC offensive lineman Chilo Rachal, a fourth-year junior who has started the last two seasons at right guard, will make himself available for the NFL draft, his father said Thursday night.

Charles Rachal said his son called him Thursday from an unspecified location and informed him that he would leave USC.

I think it's a bad move for all the reasons that have been discussed both here and in the past but it's not my call. Matua left early and he is stuck on the practice squad so the example of why not to go s right in front of him. Maybe PC can change his mind when he gets back from vacation. If not, we wish him luck!

All signs point to coach Carroll staying at USC but how can one really know. PC did talk to Falcons owner Arthur Blank but from what has been reported the conversation was cordial and no job offer was put forth.

The pair spoke on the telephone, with Carroll at his vacation home in Hawaii and Blank in Atlanta. Whether the pair would speak again was not immediately known.

Sources said the Falcons informed Carroll they would still interview other candidates. The Falcons are reportedly expected to interview Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith and Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

Carroll is still in Hawaii and is not expected back at USC until Monday, when he meets with the Trojans on the first day of the spring semester. Since he was contacted by the Falcons, he has only spoken to USC's sports information office and repeated a quote from Jan. 2 that "there's nothing going on."

I wonder if PC is going to have to give another impromptu press conference, like he did last year, when arrives back on campus on Monday. It think he stays.

Still no word on Norton.

There really hasn’t been much movement on Ken Norton going across town to ucla. When you take all the emotion out of it the picture is clear that really isn’t anyplace for him there on the staff. The bruins just sunk their money into Slick Rick and Walker, they can't pay Norton as much money as USC is already paying him, he wouldn't get improved responsibilities, really. So I am not sure how he would fit in there.

The Bush book will be released on Tuesday and I have already mentioned that others have received their copies. I am on the fence about whether or not to buy it but I probably will so I can read it for myself. Yahoo sports already has some excerpts up and of course they are not flattering. Again, my concern is for USC...period. Reggie made his deal so he can lie in it. There will be a lot of speculation about what's in those pages especially with the revelation that Lake was "fully compensated" for his cooperation. There has been a lot of bluster but very little confirmed fact so it should be a sensational read.

Stay tuned...

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Chilo Rachal's Reasons to Leave

It's worth noting that in the past Chilo had discussed leaving early in order to provide financial support for his mother who is having a tumor removed (this was mentioned briefly in the linked article).

Every year players leave school early and say they want to provide for their families better. Since it does happen so often, we fans have begun to treat that reason as nothing more than an excuse and the human side of the whole equation gets tossed out the window.

When we talk or blog about a guy leaving early, we always discuss about whether it's the right football decision and not about whether it's the right decision period. We mention who leaving early hurt other players or why a guy would benefit from staying one more year. But to many of those players, it's not about playing time at the next level right away.

If leaving early and getting a huge payday to cover medical expenses for your mother, or helping other family members out of hard situations means riding the bench for 3 years, then that's the right decision period.

The flip side would be Chilo sticking around another year and having his family stuck with a huge financial burden, and the uncertainty of making it through another season uninjured and getting drafted high enough to pay for his family.

by jaredobr on Jan 11, 2008 8:55 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Lake

I agree with Dan Shanoff on this: $300,000 may be a sensational number, but at this point, can anyone but the most delusional of the homers (or the premium board members of WeAreSC, one and the same) deny Reggie took some money while at USC? And the issue becomes did SC know and if so, when? It doesn't look like Lake knows or cares. So it comes down to Reggie, and if's he not talking, then it will come down to whether Lake's lawsuit progresses to the deposition phase. Don't expect Reggie to lie or try to protect USC. Marion Jones might spend time in jail, Barry Bonds has been indicted -- courts are looking very closely on perjury charges these days.

by Zoulou on Jan 11, 2008 3:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs