Texts from Troy

Even being a backup linebacker at USC has its benefits…

Former Trojan Thomas Williams signed a four-year contract worth nearly $2 million with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday. Williams was a fifth-round draft pick and will get a $174,500 signing bonus to go along with the $1.7 million contract. T-Will started just 14 games at USC but excelled on special teams….

I have a feeling that it’s going to take much longer for teams to sign USC’s first round draft picks…

Mater Dei quarterback and future Trojan Matt Barkley, who will one day think that $2 million dollars is a really small signinging bonus, was selected as the Gatorade national boys athlete of the year for the 2007-08 school year. He already was awarded the Gatorade national football player of the year. I think we have a new Peyton Manning, at least from the Gatorade advertising perspective.

When Barkley arrives at USC, the Los Angeles Coliseum is going to be holding even more rabid Trojan fans. USC sports information has reported that the stadium’s seating capacity is going to be increased from 92,000 to 93,607 with the addition of seats in the lower northeast and southeast areas of the structure….

When you win six consecutive Pac-10 titles, it is reasonable to assume that there will be a “a year of unprecedented demand.” Cough, cough, bandwagon…

Despite a Daily News report which said that North Carolina forward and former North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake standout Alex Stepheson will transfer to USC, his family said that he remains undecided…

If you didn’t already know, Stepheson is looking to return to the Los Angeles area because of an illness in the family…

It’s easy to understand why O.J. Mayo gets all the attention in regards to former Trojans playing for their NBA Summer League team. Mayo’s teammate last year Davon Jefferson has yet to put his sneakers on the court for the Lakers this summer and wasn’t even selected in the June Draft. However, it’s refreshing to hear that Desmon Farmer is still keeping his dream alive, as he scored six points in eleven minutes for Toronto the a couple days ago…

Washington’s Nick Young scored 27 points in two games, but he is also getting into a little foul trouble. Young now has the dubious distinction of getting nine fouls in onee game, but fortunately summer league operates a little differently (10 to foul out)…

Congrads to USC soccer player Amy Rodriguez, who scored the only U.S. goal in a friendly against Brazil last week…

Good luck to all of the Trojans competing in Beijing. We’re all rooting for you!