In L.A., there's more to life than spring football

Spring football in Los Angeles has always meant one thing: Lakers basketball.

It's not that people didn't care about USC and UCLA playing final scrimmages at the Coliseum and Rose Bowl on Saturday -- most people probably didn't even know.

Hey, that's just . . . us.

Aaron Corp is the new (for now) quarterback at USC, while a Kevin -- Prince, not Craft! -- took snaps for UCLA's first unit.

Yet, at two of the roomiest sporting venues in America, it was so quiet you could have heard a yardstick drop.

USC, a program that has claimed two national titles this decade and boasts a coach who has gone 88-15 in eight years, unveiled its 2009 sneak-peek on a gorgeous, breezy, sun-splashed afternoon. Pete Carroll looked so cool he had to wear shades.

The crowd was announced at 22,565. Adults paid $10 a pop, while students and kids got in free.

They set up a playground bounce-house in the Coliseum's peristyle end -- presumably to keep preemie quarterback Matt Barkley occupied.

It was more spring carnival than spring game.

Corp, who has tentatively won the battle to replace the out-going Mark Sanchez, took his first USC baby snaps.

The good news was Corp didn't look like a carp. Unlike Sanchez and John David Booty, Corp is skinny and can run.

But can he win?

Corp said he was nervous running out of the Coliseum tunnel for the first time.

"It's exciting," he said. "I can't wait until there are 92,000 here."

Quarterbacks don't have to wait other places.

Ohio State drew 95,722 for its Saturday spring game in Columbus. The crowd was the largest recorded for something in college football that doesn't count, topping the 92,138 Alabama drew two springs ago for Coach Nick Saban's debut.

Last week's Alabama spring fling attracted "only" 84,050, no doubt a hangover from last year's humiliating Sugar Bowl loss to Utah.

Nebraska's April 18 spring game drew 80,149, and Michigan, which went 3-9 last year, coaxed an estimated 50,000 for its April 11 game.

Corp broke out in a broad smile when informed Ohio State fans crushed USC fans in spring-game attendance.

"Ohio State doesn't have a beach!" he said. "I don't blame our fans. It gets loud in here in the fall."

Last season, before a crowd of 93,607 at the Coliseum, USC crushed Ohio State right where it counted: 35-3.

Spring football is different here, and not necessarily worse.