Answers, Man

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Q: These recruiting "ratings" don't make sense. Rivals has Miami rated fourth, with eight "3-stars", and eight "2-stars". Scout has Craft, of UCLA, rated a "5-star"...Rivals has him a "3-star". Quantity rules! My question is: What are the rules regarding the number of scholarships you can offer each year?

A: I explained the 25-scholarship limit in the previous answers today.

Q: How did the program like playing on Thanksgiving Night last year and was there any thought by ABC/ESPN to have the Trojans play in the "Pilgrim Classic" on an annual basis? I noticed the Trojans do play a THU night game this year. What is the story with that and is there any nationally televised college game on Turkey Day for 2008?

A: USC loved playing on Thanksgiving and while there are no thoughts to doing an annual Thanksgiving game, USC is playing on Thursday next season because it liked it so much.

Q: Have you heard anything about Chris Gallippo's rehab? Do the coaches think that he will be able to play this year?

A: He should take part in some form of spring drills and be ready for the fall.

Q: OK, scott...this is a long question, but it's not the same ol' Mustain questions, so maybe you'll read it all and then answer. i've been getting into it with an alum of a public institution...the topic? costs for the ath departments. my contention is that ath depts at public schools have it much easier.

A: Generally speaking, public schools have it easier than private schools because USC pays about $48,000 per full scholarship. But the issue that really matters is whether a university subsidizes the athletic dept. through its general fund. There are schools in the Pac-10 and across the nation that do this, which means the athletic dept. does not have to worry as much about covering expenses. USC does not subsidize the athletic dept, so in years when it runs a deficit, the athletic dept. has borrow money from USC and pay it back in the future. So yes, it is more difficult for most private schools, unless they are covered by the general fund.

Q: In the scenario where Mustain wins the quarterback job, will Sanchez transfer to another school? Any idea of where he would transfer to? Or is it simply too late in the game for him to transfer and will he just sit out the rest of his time on the pine?

A: Colorado will always come up as a possible choice but it more likely is too late in the game for that.

Q: Whatever became of Big? If Petros Papadakis, Brandon Hancock and that kicker-what's-his-face on the radio can find media work in Los Angeles, there has to be a warm seat for BJD's big ole' butt somewhere. I'd be pretty shocked Scott if he doesn't qualify on your list of top five most quotable O-linemen, he was a manchild on the mic.

A was one of the best-all-time interviews and I don't know what he's up to today. He's sorely missed however, because he was lively and quoteable.

Q: Just where does Mitch Mustain currently stand in regards to a bicycle? Is he riding one? Is he using another form of transportation? Are there security measures that prevent you from disclosing this information?

A: Once we determined Pedalgate was an inside job, Mitch decided to travel by foot to avoid anything that could affect his career. Security measures prevent me from telling you the path he takes now that he no longer is afforded a quick getaway.

Q: Do you think USC will have to give Tim Floyd some sort of extension before the end of the season so they don't lose him to LSU in the offseason?

A: Depends on whether you believe Floyd is not interested in LSU. However, he did turn down more money to go to Arkansas last year. LSU is obviously more attractive to him, but he says he is not leaving and he could get an extension just because USC thinks he's doing a good job.

Q: In your February 8 Blind Item of the Day you mention a USC recruit contacted another Pac-10 school showing interest. What is the NCAA rule about athletes contacting schools, if any?

A: Athletes have a lot of freedom to contact schools, as long as they initiate the contact. That is the key.

Q: You said in the mid-week open forum last week that there was a silent commit who, if he came thru, would be vital to our success---so my question, now that everything is finished, is, who was he??

A: T.J. Bryant.

Q: After this year cary harris and J pinkard will graduate...S. wright decides to go to the NFL and K. thomas shoulder is injured again...who plays CB? tj bryant and traveler?

A: T.J. Bryant, Traveler and Tommy Trojan. I'm sure USC will recruit a lot of corners next year, but in an emergency C.J. Gable and Ronald Johnson could always flip over to that side of the ball.

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