University Of Southern California

The story was dead. The story came alive. After USC's final practice before flying to Ohio State on Thursday, Pete Carroll suddenly announced that his plane-catching players didn't have time to talk to the media. I had come to talk to Stafon Johnson. He jogged away quietly. It was perfect. For four years, attention has sought him, controversy has nagged him, bitterness has chased him. He has jogged away quietly. In the last two seasons here, among USC's running backs, he has been the most consistent, and consistently ignored.

Renardo Sidney, the basketball All-American from L.A. Fairfax High who had orally committed his intent to accept a scholarship offer from USC, will not play for the Trojans. Sources close to USC's program and the Sidney family say the school and player have ended the recruiting process. Sidney, a 6-foot-11 power forward, visited Mississippi State last weekend and a source close to the family said the Sidneys and USC had agreed upon "a mutual parting of the ways."

USC quarterback Mitch Mustain apparently just needed a few kicks to move up the depth chart. Mustain, now the Trojans' No. 2 quarterback behind Matt Barkley , said Tuesday that his recent stint working as a punter helped him focus and perform better at his primary position. "Actually having something to do that was at least halfway constructive helped a lot," he said. Mustain is clearly buoyed by his elevated status, which was evident last week when he took most of the second-team snaps during the Trojans' off week.

With tears in his eyes, a USC student announced that after attending classes for four years and receiving his bachelor's degree, he was leaving campus to pursue his life's work. At which point, his beloved professor publicly scorned him for it. What's wrong with this picture? Nothing, apparently, if you are Pete Carroll. Everything, perhaps, if you are Mark Sanchez.

Former USC receiver Vidal Hazelton said Sunday that he was transferring to Cincinnati and would play for the Bearcats in 2010. Hazelton said he also considered Syracuse and Missouri, but chose Cincinnati because more credits were accepted toward his degree and there was an opportunity to play in a spread offense. "They throw the ball a whole lot," said Hazelton, a sociology major. Last season, Cincinnati ranked 26th nationally in passing offense. USC was 22nd.

The death of a USC student and the critical injury of another in a violent hit-and-run accident left the urban campus reeling Monday as authorities and relatives called on the public for help in locating the driver and the badly damaged car. "We need to find the vehicle," said LAPD Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese. "We need to find it quickly." The accident, which occurred at the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and Hoover Street at 3 a.m.

USC's coaching carousel continued to spin Monday as Pete Carroll hired one quarterbacks coach to replace another who had not yet arrived on campus. Carroll announced that Denver Broncos assistant Jeremy Bates would be the Trojans' assistant head coach for offense. He also will call plays. Bates, 32, replaces Carl Smith, who was named to the position on Jan. 6 but had yet to start work. Smith, USC's quarterbacks coach in 2004, interviewed with the Cleveland Browns last week.

Long after practice ended Wednesday, USC safety Taylor Mays continued to work. That's not unusual: The All-American routinely stays late to practice catching balls that are shot toward him from a machine. But Mays on Wednesday changed his routine, retiring to a far corner of the facility where he repeatedly charged into a tackling sled, driving it across the turf with his arms wrapped around the pads. Mays made a team-high 10 tackles in the Trojans' victory at California last Saturday.

With a rich history and a promising future, the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts will celebrate its 80th birthday Sunday with a dedication ceremony of its new $175-million home on campus. The school's most famous alum, "Star Wars" creator George Lucas, whose Lucasfilm Foundation provided $75 million for the new digs, plus $100 million for the school's endowment, will be on hand.

Midway through Kevin O'Neill's first public appearance as USC's basketball coach Monday, a cellphone rang. "That's a $500 fine," he said immediately. Moments later, another cellphone rang. "We're $1,000 richer now," he said. Goodness, if he's this tough on the media, what about the players? The answer to that question, obviously, is what players? At this point, USC doesn't really have any basketball players, and barely a basketball program.