In the middle of Heritage Hall, flanked by seven Heisman Trophies, USC Coach Pete Carroll held court Wednesday, speaking to dozens of the state's top high school football players who had come to participate in USC's Rising Stars Camp.
With his voice rising, Carroll challenged everyone in the room gathered around him.
"We're going to ask you to work your butt off all day," he said.
He used his favorite word, "compete," several times before letting his true message sink in: "We expect you to give everything you got."
Anyone who listens to a Carroll talk, including a UCLA fan, probably would be willing at that moment to run through a door if that's what he sought. The man's charisma is hard to match.
And that helps explain why his two-day camp has become almost a must-appearance for any player who wants to be considered among the best in the Southland.
The talent is off the charts, and there were lots of players from outside California also in attendance.
These camps run by schools and their coaching staffs have become critical components in the recruiting process, allowing coaches to measure heights and weights, get 40-yard dash times and meet players up-close before deciding whether to offer a scholarship.
And the players and their parents understand what is at stake. Walking around the practice fields listening and observing, I could sense the tension and pressure.
"If I don't get a good time, then they judge you on that," one player was telling someone on a cellphone.
But there were also players walking around acting as if they were bigger than they really are.
One player walked into Cromwell Field, turned to a friend with a grin and said, "They saw me," as a USC assistant rushed to greet him.
The wooing and showering of adulation is all part of the recruiting process, and few programs do it better than the Trojans.
But what separates Carroll is his ability to get everyone to give his best. Walking is not permitted. Competition means everything, and that's where the fun comes in.
By Thursday night, several players probably will get new scholarship offers. Others will have to wait or not get an offer at all. But regardless what school they end up selecting, getting the opportunity to spend two days experiencing Carroll's contagious enthusiasm is something not to miss.
Riley makes an impression
