Jason Leach

Jason Leach seldom errs in judgment when patrolling the secondary for USC, but the senior safety is reminded of a rare mental lapse every time he visits his parents' home in Chino. A neatly manicured topiary thrives just outside the living room window. The plant sculpture, meticulously tended to by his father, Len, spells out "USC."

Jason Leach seldom errs in judgment when patrolling the secondary for USC, but the senior safety is reminded of a rare mental lapse every time he visits his parents' home in Chino. A neatly manicured topiary thrives just outside the living room window. The plant sculpture, meticulously tended to by his father, Len, spells out "USC."

Jason Leach hopes he doesn't have to make the first start of his USC career Saturday against California. But if he is called on, Leach says he'll be prepared. "I'm ready to go," he said Wednesday after practice. The sophomore from La Puente Bishop Amat High might be needed to fill the considerably large shoes of Troy Polamalu, the Trojans' All-American strong safety. Polamalu suffered a high right ankle sprain last week against Washington State and is questionable for Saturday's game.

Jason Leach hopes he doesn't have to make the first start of his USC career Saturday against California. But if he is called on, Leach says he'll be prepared. "I'm ready to go," he said Wednesday after practice. The sophomore from La Puente Bishop Amat High might be needed to fill the considerably large shoes of Troy Polamalu, the Trojans' All-American strong safety. Polamalu suffered a high right ankle sprain last week against Washington State and is questionable for Saturday's game.

Most USC players are unfamiliar with the heat and humidity they are expected to encounter at Auburn in their Aug. 30 opener. Sophomore defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey, however, knows what awaits. Ramsey, who will alternate with starters Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson, was born in Alabama and spent summers there after moving to California when he was 3. "It's been about four years since I've been back," Ramsey said. "I know how it is with the humidity.

UCLA's track team has what amounts to an international meet today at Drake Stadium, where the Bruins will compete against Texas, which has been bolstered by foreign athletes. The meet involves both schools' men and women. Women's field events will begin at 11 a.m., men's at 1 p.m. "Texas has a combination of African distance runners, Scandinavian throwers and those great Texas jumpers, sprinters and hurdlers," UCLA Coach Bob Larsen said. "By comparing best marks, they're a stronger team.

Sean Lemm won the 500 and 1,000 freestyles as Golden West defeated El Camino and Long Beach in a double dual men's swimming meet at Golden West. The Rustlers beat El Camino, 82-22, and Long Beach, 61-43, Long Beach beat El Camino 76-28. Lemm won the 1,000 in 10 minutes 24.76 seconds and the 500 in 5:02.14.

USC linebacker Lofa Tatupu figured the play was over. With Michigan in a third-and-long situation midway into the second quarter, Tatupu watched the Wolverines' John Navarre throw a low, off-target pass that appeared to be falling incomplete. Then something strange happened. Instead of hitting the Rose Bowl turf, the pass ricocheted off the foot of the Wolverines' Braylon Edwards directly to Tatupu, who beat teammate Jason Leach to the ball.

Servite's running game and ball control dominated the first half and the Friars held off host La Puente Bishop Amat, 17-14, in a nonleague game Friday night. After pulling within three early in the fourth quarter, Bishop Amat (5-2) couldn't capitalize on three possessions. Two incomplete passes and two sacks on the final series secured the victory for Servite (5-2). "Our defensive staff did a great job," Servite Coach Larry Toner said. "We executed better [than we have lately].

Two weeks into spring practice, USC coaches say the quarterback competition remains close among four candidates vying to succeed Carson Palmer. Juniors Brandon Hance and Matt Cassel and sophomores Matt Leinart and Billy Hart divided snaps during an intrasquad scrimmage Friday at Howard Jones Field. The Trojans will take a week off before resuming practice March 25. "They all played pretty well," offensive coordinator Norm Chow said of the quarterbacks. "I don't know [who's No. 1]."

USC spent a good part of practice Tuesday going over kickoff return coverage -- and with good reason. The No. 15-ranked Trojans play No. 14 Oregon at Eugene, Ore., on Saturday and they do not want a repeat of last year's performance at Autzen Stadium. USC surrendered 228 yards on six kickoff returns, resulting in superior field position for the Ducks throughout the game. Oregon won, 24-22, on a 32-yard field goal by Jared Siegel with 12 seconds left.

David Kirtman is USC's only scholarship player from Washington state, but the junior fullback said there would be no special significance when the top-ranked Trojans play struggling Washington on Saturday at the Coliseum. "I never really followed UW, because I was always concentrating on what I was doing," Kirtman said Wednesday. "A lot of my friends go to school there, but they can't really say much to me lately with the way things have been going."