Collegefootball

In the relatively cloistered world of college football, Demetrius Papadakis qualifies as a blasphemer. His father, John, played at USC in the early 1970s. One older brother, Taso, played linebacker for the Trojans and another, Petros, was a tailback. The family restaurant, Papadakis Taverna in San Pedro, is a USC hangout. So how did Demetrius end up as a walk-on fullback at UCLA? "My family has been very true Trojans," his father said. "But what can I say? UCLA noticed him and encouraged him."

It took nearly four years to investigate. The hearing to go through the allegations and hear testimony lasted three long days. Now, the real waiting -- and the anxiety -- begins. It could be anywhere from six to 10 weeks before USC is informed of the outcome of its hearing before the NCAA Committee on Infractions, which concluded Saturday. Still, USC representatives were happy to be leaving the desert and the hotel ballroom that served as their courtroom. "Glad it's over," USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett said as he walked toward an elevator.

It isn't easy to lose to a team with a 3-8 record. But Western Kentucky pulled off that feat in dramatic fashion, blowing a 20-3 third-quarter lead to fall, 20-24, to Arkansas State. The Hilltoppers (0-12) thus chalked up their 20th straight defeat, the longest losing streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision, whatever that is. And, most important, wacky WKU captured the Bottom Ten title. Lowlights of the season included three games in which WKU gave up more than 60 points, including 68 to No. 5 North Texas, a team that finished 2-10.

Todd McNair could not wait to finish. Tim Floyd cannot wait to start. So it goes for USC, which is scheduled to complete its three-day hearing before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions on Saturday. McNair, the Trojans' running backs coach, appeared relieved late Friday afternoon after enduring two days of grilling from the 10-member committee during the closed-door proceeding in a hotel ballroom. Floyd, who resigned as USC's basketball coach last June, had hoped to appear Friday.

The Santa Monica businessman who owns a sport utility vehicle that USC tailback Joe McKnight has been observed driving says he is a University of Washington fan who has "nothing to do with agents, marketing players or representing athletes." USC is investigating McKnight's use of the vehicle, which may constitute a violation of NCAA rules that prohibit student-athletes from accepting benefits from marketing representatives or agents, or "extra benefits" from anyone based on their athletic ability.

Oregon's last Rose Bowl victory could be called the Great-Granddaddy of Them All. It came in 1917, months before the birth of John F. Kennedy and the United States' entry into World War I. The Rose Bowl game was still in its infancy. Stanford had been so humbled by Michigan in the first game 15 years earlier that it conceded defeat in the third quarter of a 49-0 rout and soon abandoned football for rugby. Tournament of Roses officials almost gave up on the sport as well.

Everyone agrees on this much: Forty years ago today, USC receiver Sam Dickerson was somewhere inside the Coliseum when he was involved in two key plays that changed the course of a season -- and maybe more. Exactly where he was is still the topic of debate. Some joke that Dickerson's only shot at catching one late-in-the-game, fourth-down pass would have been if he were standing on Mt. Whitney. And that follow-up touchdown grab, the one that is still cursed around Westwood?

The road sign on Route 83 that welcomes you to Colt McCoy's hometown needs updating because it states, "Tuscola, population 714." That head count was taken 10 years ago. "I imagine we're pretty close to 800 now," City Secretary Billie Pearce said from behind the counter at City Hall. It was Dec. 22, and Pearce was about to celebrate her 78th Christmas here. "If you saw where the funeral home is?" she said, pointing outside to Bartlett's parlor. "Right across the street is where I was born."

Bill Cosby, comedian, actor and former Temple football player, can sum up in one word what he remembers about his days as an Owls running back. "Fumbling," Cosby said. That may have been the case for his two-year career at Temple. But Cosby is not dropping the ball for Temple these days. In fact, he has been carrying it. Cosby has given the Owls a clear advantage over UCLA in the area of former-player-turned-Hollywood-personality with the EagleBank Bowl looming Dec. 29 in Washington.

Former USC coach Pete Carroll is headed to Seattle, but he has legal business to resolve in Southern California. While on campus Monday, Carroll was reportedly served a subpoena compelling him to appear for a deposition in connection with a civil lawsuit against USC and former assistant football coach Dave Watson stemming from a car accident in May 2008. Attorney Ira M. Fierberg, who is representing a man allegedly injured in the crash, said in an e-mail that the subpoena was delivered just after 3 p.m., about the time Carroll was holding a news conference.

Athletic Director Mike Garrett, former football coach Pete Carroll and running backs coach Todd McNair were among the members of a USC contingent that was on the hot seat Thursday in Tempe before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions. Meantime, former USC tailback Reggie Bush, the focus of many of the allegations that landed USC in the desert for its long-awaited hearing, was at the Winter Olympics in Canada, preparing to take in a hockey game and some ski races. "There are attorneys, there are lawsuits, there are all those things that keep you from being able to talk," Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, said during a promotional stop at a sponsor's office in Vancouver, adding, "I've tried to do everything I can, on my part, to help USC out."

April 2006 Pacific 10 Conference begins investigation after several media outlets report that tailback Reggie Bush's mother, stepfather and brother had been living in a San Diego-area home owned by Michael Michaels, a would-be sports marketer. Bush says the situation was "blown out of proportion." He tells ESPN, "When this is all said and done everyone will see at the end of the day that we've done absolutely nothing wrong." Soon after, the New Orleans Saints make Bush the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft.

After a nearly four-year investigation that expanded from one sport to another and involves some of the most prominent names in its storied sports history, USC finally goes before the NCAA infractions committee Thursday. The 10-member committee convenes to determine whether alleged violations in USC's football and basketball programs took place and, if so, whether they constituted a lack of institutional control. "My understanding is this one might be a pretty long deal," Tom Yeager, a former NCAA infractions committee member, said of the hearing.

With an NCAA committee set to hear allegations against big-name former USC athletes later this week, Athletic Director Mike Garrett insists that his department abides by the book. "We have two cases like that, and it was such an anomaly for us," Garrett said during a recent interview. "That's not our nature and never will be our nature." Although Garrett declined to discuss specifics, school officials appearing before the NCAA infractions committee this week are expected to challenge the notion that they knew of misconduct or otherwise failed to monitor their athletes -- most notably former Trojans stars Reggie Bush and O.J. Mayo.

The frown that Mike Garrett often wears in public, an expression made of blunt features set hard as stone, gives way to something unexpected. His eyes glisten with tears. "I frankly don't know why I'm being so emotional," he says. This is not the USC tailback from the 1960s, bulling his way to a Heisman Trophy. Not the gruff athletic director who has presided over sports at his alma mater for two decades, winning championships by the fistful. Garrett reaches for another tissue and says, "I guess I don't usually talk to people."

USC football signings Player High school Ht., Wt. Pos. Markeith Ambles McDonough (Ga.) Henry County 6-2, 215 WR Dion Bailey Lakewood 6-1, 195 DB Dillon Baxter San Diego Mission Bay 6-0, 205 RB Anthony Brown Fontana Kaiser 6-0, 185 DB Giovanni Di Poalo Ventura St. Bonaventure 6-6, 295 OL Xavier Grimble Las Vegas Bishop Gorman 6-6, 245 TE Patrick Hall Ventura St. Bonaventure 6-1, 185 DB Seantrel Henderson.

Certainly Rex Hudler was not appreciated by every Angels listener. He always held on to a baseball. If the Angels played near Halloween (which meant a good postseason run), Hudler would dress in a goofy costume. He was unabashedly an Angels rooter. But in a baseball broadcaster, is that so awful? For many of us forever Chicago Cubs fans, there is great joy in listening to former Cubs All-Star third baseman Ron Santo on the radio for Chicago games. His unfiltered exuberances, his despairing "Oh, Gods" uttered at particularly unfortunate moments, his unintelligible bellows in honor of the occasional big, good play?

Lane Kiffin snagged the starring role as USC football's top guy. But don't snub his supporting cast of assistant coaches. They aren't a bunch of no-name, B-list scrubs who wandered over from the service industry. The addition of Ed Orgeron and Monte Kiffin, both from the University of Tennessee, both with NFL experience, creates a possible "Dream Team" staff so good that it's been said, jokingly of course, that just about anyone could coach the Trojans. "My job must be really easy then," Lane Kiffin said, smiling.

UCLA football signings Player High school Ht, Wt Pos. Anthony Barr Los Angeles Loyola 6-4, 225 LB/RB Derrick Bryant Columbus (Ohio) Brookhaven 6-5, 240 DL Sealii Epenesa Honolulu Iolani 6-2, 300 DL Wesley Flowers Fresno Edison 6-5, 253 DL Kody Innes Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro 6-5, 273 OL Jordon James Corona 5-10, 190 RB Anthony Jefferson Los Angeles Cathedral 6-2, 180 DB Malcolm Jones Westlake Village Oaks Christian 6-1, 220 RB Eric Kendricks Fresno Hoover 6-1, 213 LB Cassius Marsh Westlake Village Oaks Christian 6-4, 270 DL Tevin McDonald Fresno Edison 5-11,180 DB Owamagbe Odighizuwa Portland (Ore.

With national signing day for high school recruits less than 12 hours away, USC Coach Lane Kiffin on Tuesday hastily sat for his media guide portrait in the lobby of Heritage Hall. Total time with photographer: Less than 30 seconds. "Every place I'm at for a minute may be a missed call," Kiffin said as he hustled upstairs to his office. "It's closing time." Six seasons as a USC assistant and one as head coach at Tennessee have made Kiffin cognizant of the importance of finishing recruiting seasons strong.