Carroll and Ferrell Team Up Again
Most college coaches break up the monotony of the season with a fun drill or unexpectedly end practice a few minutes early, but Pete Carroll has been known to take it to a whole new level.
On Thursday, Coach Carroll teamed up with one of Hollywood’s biggest stars to get a laugh, and scare out of his players.
As practice was wrapping up and the team gathered at midfield, suddenly one of the video assistants that was taping practice from a scissor lift high above started yelling and fell from the lift and out of sight.
Seconds later, the door to Howard Jones Field flew open and Will Ferrell, in his Captain Compete costume, emerged with the fallen video assistant safe in his arms, to the relief of several wide-eyed players.
“I saw the whole thing man,” said USC wide receiver Ronald Johnson. “I almost fainted. It was pretty funny.”
Captain Compete then gave the team some words of wisdom before being interrupted by a loud explosion. A man then ran onto the field on fire.
Captain Compete saved the day once again by dousing the burning man with Gatorade.
“What do you mean prank,” Carroll said when asked about all the commotion. “We were just lucky that Captain Compete was here. What a sense of timing that guy has.”
Only at USC.
Ellison Injures Knee
USC safety Kevin Ellison injured his knee near the end of Thursday’s practice.
“He tweaked his knee a little bit at the end of a play,” Carroll said. “I don’t know how serious it is.”
USC officials said they wouldn’t have any updates on the extent of the injury until Friday.
If Ellison isn’t available to play against Washington, Will Harris would start in his place.
McKnight Re-aggravates Toe
After having a solid practice on Wednesday, and looking near 100 percent, sophomore tailback Joe McKnight re-aggravated his toe while carrying the ball in the open field.
McKnight wasn’t touched on the play but pulled up in obvious pain, threw the ball down and limped off.
After practice, McKnight insisted that he would play this weekend.
“It’s alright right now. The pain went away,” McKnight said. “I will be able to play.”
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