They met while leaving the field, a spur-of-the-moment exchange between player and coach.
USC tailback Stafon Johnson had just spent the entire 2006 game against Washington on the Coliseum sideline, another dose of first-year disappointment for the former Dorsey High star who had chosen to attend USC over Washington and Georgia.
Washington Coach Tyrone Willingham, his team having suffered a six-point defeat, grasped Johnson's shoulder and looked into his eyes.
"It will work out for you -- I know it," Willingham said. "I believe in you."
Today, after seventh-ranked USC plays winless Washington at the Coliseum, Johnson intends to deliver the same message to Willingham, who was fired this week effective at the end of the season.
"He's a great dude," Johnson said. "He always had that positive attitude, and that's why I'll always respect him."
Two years after Willingham encouraged Johnson, the junior has earned the respect of USC teammates and coaches. He also is commanding it from opponents.
Last week against Arizona, Johnson rushed for 83 yards and scored a touchdown in 19 carries, set up a field goal with a 54-yard punt return and caught three passes. But his most noteworthy contribution was a spectacular coming-of-age block that allowed quarterback Mark Sanchez to throw what proved to be the game-winning touchdown pass.
"That's just a preview of what I think I can do," Johnson said this week.
There was a time when many, including Johnson, wondered whether he would ever get an extended opportunity with the Trojans.
But after navigating a logjam at his position and persevering through personal issues and injuries in each of his three seasons, Johnson enters today's game as USC's leader in carries.
The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Johnson has rushed for 354 yards and four touchdowns in 66 carries.
"He's been a team player," offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said. "He understood when sometimes opportunities were limited, why they were limited, and he continued to work and has only gotten better."
Said Coach Pete Carroll: "He has never popped off. He's never had any attitude about anything."
In retrospect, Johnson considers his freshman season a blessing. He said he needed to learn what it meant and felt like to practice hard every day. To give maximum effort on every play. To take responsibility for his situation.
