In his small, sparsely furnished office in Heritage Hall, Dave Watson rises from his desk chair, reaches to the top of a cabinet and grasps a vintage Brett Favre bobblehead figurine.
The keepsake has seen better days, but it reminds USC's defensive line coach of Favre's toughness, grit and love for football, qualities Watson adopted during his own playing career.
Favre's effort to overcome substance abuse also inspired Watson.
In 1996, the future Hall of Fame quarterback entered a drug treatment facility seeking help for a dependence on painkillers that was brought on by injuries and numerous surgeries.
In June, in the aftermath of an arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence of prescription drugs, Watson did the same at the urging of Coach Pete Carroll.
"The best thing I ever did was admit I have the disease of addiction," Watson said during a recent interview.
Watson, who returned from a leave of absence in July, says he no longer is dependent on painkillers such as Vicodin or muscle relaxants such as Soma, which he had used to cope with the aftereffects of five surgeries and back and neck conditions that resulted mainly from playing football.
During training camp last month, the married father of two exhibited a lighter step as he raced across the practice field, his trademark enthusiasm unwavering as the Trojans prepared for the season.
"He's operating at his very best," Carroll said. "It's great to see him feeling good."
Watson, 32, acknowledges that his recovery is ongoing. He agreed to be interviewed for this story, he said, because he hopes it might inspire others struggling with addictions to painkilling medications to seek help.
"I know it's more widespread in society than people would like to admit," he said. "Because it's in society, it's in football."
Watson, a Minnesota native, joined USC's staff in 2005 as a graduate assistant and was hired full time before the 2006 season. Known to players as "Coach Sweaty" for his prodigious perspiring, he sprinted to the ball during drills as if he were still playing college football.
"I only know one way -- lead by example," he said.
But Watson's hustle belied the pain.
Watson began playing football at age 7. The former defensive end was accustomed to playing hurt by the time he reached high school.
"I didn't know the difference between hurt and injured," he said. "I didn't want to miss anything."
