USC football: Dillon Baxter considering San Diego State and UNLV, report says

Dillon Baxter, who last month was removed from USC’s football program by Coach Lane Kiffin, is considering transferring to San Diego State or Nevada Las Vegas, according to this report.

Baxter told the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Mark Anderson that he was intrigued by the possibility of playing for UNLV and was "looking at it pretty seriously.” Baxter also said he would prefer to play wide receiver.

Baxter starred at San Diego Mission Bay High, but he was suspended twice during his freshman season at USC. He did not travel with the Trojans to their Oct. 22 game at Notre Dame this season. Kiffin announced Baxter would no longer be part of the program the next week.

Baxter played sparingly in four games this season.

More later at latimes.com/sports

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With Matt Schaub injured, Matt Leinart is a starting QB again

-- Gary Klein

Photo: Former USC running back Dillon Baxter. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

USC football: Lane Kiffin OK with Marc Tyler appearing on TMZ.com

Last summer, USC tailback Marc Tyler made remarks on camera to TMZ that were deemed inappropriate by the school and triggered a suspension by Coach Lane Kiffin.

This week, Tyler appeared again on TMZ.com in a video, saying the website helped him change, become sober and made him more conscious of what he says and does.

"I want to thank TMZ for helping me out," Tyler said in the video.

Kiffin said he had watched Tyler's latest appearance and had no problem with it.

"I thought he handled himself in a first-class manner," Kiffin said. "He's still a kid and those situations are hard.

"I thought he handled himself very well. Now, people can say, 'Why is he on?' But he's not out there looking for it .... They find him, he doesn't find them."

-- Gary Klein

USC football: Marqise Lee selected Pac-12 player of week

USC freshman receiver Marqise Lee on Monday was selected as the Pac-12 Conference special teams player of the week.

Lee returned the second-half kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown in the Trojans' 40-17 victory over Washington.

He also caught nine passes for 74 yards and a touchdown.

It was the second consecutive game that Lee scored two touchdowns.

Lee has caught 52 passes and scored eight touchdowns for the No. 18 Trojans, who play No. 4 Oregon on Saturday at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday was offensive player of the week, Colorado defensive back Travis Sandersfeld defensive player of the week.

--Gary Klein

 

Utah 31, UCLA 6 (final)

So much for all that talk about playing for a Pac-12 Conference football championship.

UCLA’s hopes came crashing back to reality Saturday night on an icy field in Salt Lake City.

Utah won its third consecutive game and became bowl eligible at the Bruins’ expense.

UCLA fell to 5-5 overall, 4-2 in Pac-12 play. Utah is 6-4, 3-4.

UCLA moved the ball well from time to time –- the total offense figures were fairly even, 295 for UCLA, 291 for Utah –- but the Bruins hurt themselves with penalties early and a huge turnover late.

Utah’s defense came up with two key stops in the fourth quarter. First, the Utes turned UCLA away with only a field goal after the Bruins had driven to the Utah 18.

Tyler Gonzalez’s 35-yard field goal cut Utah’s advantage to 21-6, and the Bruins had the ball back near midfield a few minutes later.

However, Kevin Prince then threw a pass right into the chest of Utah's Conroy Black, who returned it 67 yards for a touchdown.

It was Black’s third interception in two games and his fourth of the season. And it completely sank UCLA.

Prince completed 12 of 24 passes for 146 yards but had two passes intercepted.

Utah was paced by running back John White IV, who ran for 167 yards and two touchdowns in 33 carries.

UCLA was penalized 12 times for 91 yards.

--Mike Hiserman

Utah 31, UCLA 6 (4:05 left in fourth quarter)

Forced to go for a first down on a fourth-and-long situation, UCLA gave up the ball near midfield and Utah cashed in the good field position.

UCLA vs. Utah: Live updates from the game today in Salt Lake City

Utah 7, UCLA 3 (halftime)

The game began in a snow storm when the temperature was 32 degrees, the second coldest since Rice-Eccles Stadium opened in 1998. The game-time temperature was 29 degrees at the start of the Utah-BYU game in 2010.

The snow stopped in the second quarter, but the field remained slick.

Field position put Utah in command in the second quarter. An exchange of punts gave the Utes the ball at the UCLA 39-yard line. Seven runs later by John White and Utah had the lead with 5 minutes 34 seconds left in the first half. He scored on a one-yard run.

White has 67 yards rushing at halftime.

A fumble by Utah punter returner Griff McNabb set the Bruins up with a scoring chance as Isaiah Bowens recovered the ball at the Utah 17-yard line.

The Bruins managed only three yards and settled for a 30-yard field goal by Tyler Gonzalez.

UCLA had 65 yards in penalties in the first half. The Bruins had five false starts and one delay of game.

Gonzalez missed a 47-yard field goal as time ran out in the half.

Utah 7, UCLA 3 (5:34 left in the second quarter)

Field position tilted Utah’s way on a slick surface. An exchange of punts gave the Utes the ball at the UCLA 39-yard line.

Seven runs by John White later, Utah had the lead. White scored on a one-yard run.

UCLA football: Bruins to play Texas in Cowboys Stadium in 2014

UCLA and Texas have agreed to play a spotlight game in Cowboys’ Stadium in 2014.

The game, tentatively scheduled for Sept. 13, will be nationally televised. The Bruins have a game against Virginia schedule for that day, but the two schools will work out a change.

UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, in a blog posting to donors and boosters, said this week that UCLA had, “negotiated a deal that will feature the Bruins against a marquee opponent at Cowboys Stadium.”

UCLA and Texas just completed a home-and-home series. UCLA defeated Texas, 34-12, in Austin in 2010. Texas returned the favor this season, beating the Bruins, 49-20, in the Rose Bowl.

--Chris Foster

Pac-12 basketball: Who is the conference favorite?

A group of reporters who cover Pacific 12 Conference schools, including The Times' UCLA beat writer Ben Bolch, recently gathered for a virtual roundtable to discuss pertinent issues as the college basketball season opens this week:

True or false: The Pac-12 is destined for a disappointing season after losing so much talent to the NBA.

Bolch: True. It's another hodgepodge of mediocrity, with no team poised to earn the national spotlight for a third consecutive season. Even the conference favorites have severe flaws that likely will be exposed during the NCAA Tournament. UCLA and coach Ben Howland have shaky wing players. Cal has a nice starting five but questionable depth. Arizona? Two words: Seattle Pacific.

Percy Allen, Seattle Times: False. I think 2010, when the Pac-10 sent two teams to the NCAA Tournament, was an aberration and won't occur again any time soon. Last season four conference teams made the 68-team tournament. I predict five will receive invitations in March, although four is a safer bet.

Bob Clark, The (Eugene, Ore.) Register-Guard: I'm saying false, on the basis that not much is expected, so with the bar set low, there's a chance for the league to exceed expectations.

Jeff Faraudo, Contra Costa Times: False. I think the league has lots of intrigue this season, partly because traditional powers UCLA, Arizona and Washington saw players defect to the pros. Cal has great experience, Oregon is coming on and there is plenty of young talent. I predict a great conference race, where no team avoids losing at least two or three times.

Doug Haller, Arizona Republic: False. There may not be a Final Four contender among the bunch, but 1-through-8 this conference should be pretty competitive. Outside of the big four, Oregon, Stanford and Oregon State are poised to make an upper-division push, and I wouldn't be surprised if Kevin O'Neill finds a way to keep USC relevant, even without injured point guard Jio Fontan.

Who's the conference favorite?

 

USC football: Walk-on defensive back James Harbin arrested

James Harbin, a senior walk-on defensive back for USC, was arrested during the weekend on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic battery.

Harbin, 22, was arrested Saturday at 10:20 p.m. by Southwest Division officers of the Los Angeles Police Department and was booked early Sunday morning, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department website. He was released Sunday night after posting bond for $20,000 bail, the website said.

Harbin, who was in for a few plays at the end of USC’s 42-17 victory over Colorado on Friday, was absent from Monday’s morning workout. USC Coach Lane Kiffin said he spoke with Harbin earlier in the day.

“An issue came up this weekend with him -- we’re still looking into it and I don’t have all the information right now,” Kiffin said. “I just told him, ‘We’re just trying to collect information. In the meantime, concentrate on school.’”

Harbin, who played at Harbor City Narbonne High and Los Angeles Southwest College, could not be reached for comment. He is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 1.

More later at latimes.com/sports.

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-- Gary Klein

Steve Sarkisian would draft Matt Barkley ahead of Andrew Luck

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

But he apparently wouldn't be if Steve Sarkisian was an NFL coach.

"If I’m an NFL head coach, right now, I’d pick Matt Barkley ahead of Andrew Luck," Sarkisian said. "I think he’s playing at that high of a level."

Barkley passed for a USC record six touchdowns in Friday's 42-17 victory over Colorado. He has passed for 28 touchdowns, with six interceptions,  this season.

Luck has passed for 26 touchdowns, with five interceptions. He completed 16 of 21 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns in Stanford's 65-21 victory over Washington on Oct. 22.

More later at latimes.com/sports

-- Gary Klein

 

 

UCLA 29, Arizona State 28 (final)

UCLA controls its own destiny.

The Bruins improved their record to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the South Division of the Pacific 12 Conference, which moves them into a tie for first place with Arizona State (6-3, 4-2). What's more, UCLA holds the tiebreaker with their victory Saturday night at the Rose Bowl.

But the Bruins didn't get there easily.

In fact, even if that game going on in the Deep South is said to be the Game of the Century, there's a good chance it won't live up to what transpired tonight in Pasadena.

At the finish, Arizona State kicker Alex Garoutte was short on a 46-yard field-goal attempt as time expired. 

Just before that, the Sun Devils moved down field from their 24-yard line to the Bruins' 29 largely on three plays: a 20-yard pass from Brock Osweiler to Gerrell Robinson, a controversial pass interference call on UCLA cornerback Aaron Hester and a 12-yard pass from Osweiler to Mike Willie.

But Garoutte couldn't come through. He missed all three of his field-goal attempts tonight. He had missed only three all season coming into the game.

Some final stats: 

--The Bruins tallied 416 total yards, and 220 of them came on the ground. Derrick Coleman had 119 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 17 carries. Quaterback Kevin Prince had 61 yards in 15 rushes.

--Arizona State had 465 total yards, 264 through the air from Osweiler, who completed 22 of 38 passes and threw for two touchdowns. Robinson was his main target, catching six passes for 131 yards.

--Prince completed 11 of 17 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown. Nelson Rosario caught five passes for 151 yards and a touchdown.  

RELATED:

UCLA vs. Arizona State photos

Here's a recap of the game:

UCLA 29, Arizona State 28 (late in the fourth quarter)

The Bruins have shown plenty of fight tonight and just retook the lead with 49 seconds left after a one-yard touchdown run by Derrick Coleman with 49 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

USC football: Curtis McNeal beats obstacles to start at tailback

Curtis McNeal waited nearly four years for the opportunity to start at tailback for USC, and he finally gets his chance Friday night against Colorado.

McNeal was in the running to start the opener against Minnesota because Marc Tyler was suspended for a series of off-the-field incidents. That honor, however, went to redshirt freshman D.J. Morgan.

But McNeal has run strong in the last three games against California, Notre Dame and Stanford. With Tyler sidelined because of a shoulder injury, McNeal will be the starter.

McNeal's journey from a Los Angeles housing project to USC was chronicled in this report from September.

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-- Gary Klein

Photo: USC running back Curtis McNeal carries the ball during the Trojans' victory over Minnesota in September. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

USC football: Curtis McNeal will start at tailback

Curtis McNeal will start at tailback for USC on Friday against Colorado regardless of whether senior Marc Tyler is cleared to play, Coach Lane Kiffin said Wednesday.

McNeal, a junior who will be making his first start, rushed for a career-best 145 yards and two touchdowns in 20 carries against Stanford before fumbling on the final play of the 56-48 triple-overtime defeat at the Coliseum.

McNeal scored on runs of 61 and 25 yards.

The former Venice High standout rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown in 17 carries against California and had 118 yards in 24 carries against Notre Dame.

Tyler suffered a dislocated left shoulder against Cal. He aggravated the injury on his first carry against Stanford and has not practiced this week.

More later at latimes.com/sports

-- Gary Klein

USC football: Marshall Jones could start at safety vs. Colorado

USC, which will be without safety T.J. McDonald for the first half of Friday night's game at Colorado, also might be missing starting safety Jawanza Starling.

Starling did not practice Wednesday because of an unspecified injury, opening the door for senior Marshall Jones.

Jones started the last four games last season.

On Monday, McDonald was suspended by the Pacific 12 Conference for an illegal hit on Stanford receiver Chris Owusu last week. Junior Drew McAllister will start in his place.

More later at latimes.com/sports

-- Gary Klein

Lane Kiffin fined $10,000 and T.J. McDonald is suspended by Pac-12

USC Coach Lane Kiffin has been reprimanded and fined $10,000 for critical comments about officiating and Trojans safety T.J. McDonald has been suspended for a half for making a late hit in last week’s triple-overtime loss to Stanford, the Pacific 12 Conference announced Monday night.

Kiffin criticized game officials after the game and again Sunday for failing to give the Trojans an opportunity to kick a potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation. The Trojans lost, 56-48.

“The Pac-12 has specific rules that prohibit our coaches from making public comments about officiating, and this prohibition specifically includes comments that create doubts about the credibility of the Conference’s officiating program,” Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement. “The Conference expects each Pac-12 coach to adhere to our standards of conduct and to conduct himself or herself in a manner which will reflect credit on the institution and the Conference.”

Kiffin had said that he spoke with an unnamed Pac-12 official by phone from the locker room and told the person, "I was basically lied to."

The final play of regulation began with nine seconds left, when receiver Robert Woods caught a screen pass from Matt Barkley. Instead of dropping to the ground after the catch and calling timeout, Woods ran across the field toward the Stanford sideline.

Kiffin said he had been calling for a timeout, and that during the replay review, he told the side judge to tell the referee so the Trojans would get a final play from the Stanford 33-yard line if one second remained.

"He went over there and then came back to me and said he communicated with him, and that if his knee was down with a second left we'd get another play," Kiffin said. "And unfortunately now [I find out] that never happened."

Referee Mike Batlan has said that time had expired.

Kiffin also took issue with the spot of the ball after a holding penalty against Stanford in the second overtime, joking that his 2-year-old son had figured out the correct the yardage.

Kiffin said he respectully disagrees with the suspension of McDonald.

"He made a bang-bang play and his intent was not to hurt the receiver or launch his body at the receiver or lead with his helmet," Kiffin said. "If you watch the hit in real time, we feel it is impossible to competitively play that play any differently.

"T.J. is a tremendous player and leader for our team, and he has our full support.  I know he felt badly about being penalized and the impact it had in the game.

"As for my reprimand and fine, after numerous conversations with the conference office, we have agreed to disagree.  As I have been saying the past two days, we have moved on from last week's game and we are preparing for a very challenging conference game this Friday at Colorado."

McDonald was suspended "for his hit on a defenseless opponent," late in the fourth quarter against Stanford.

McDonald will sit out the first half of Friday night's game at Colorado.

“While Mr. McDonald was appropriately penalized on the field, I have deemed it necessary to add a a half-game suspension,” said Scott. “This process was part of our weekly review of all targeting and unnecessary roughness hits.”

Scott added: “Mr. McDonald had been previously warned about illegal hits above the shoulders on defenseless opponents. In order to protect our student-athletes, it is imperative that we enforce these penalties for the safety of the game."

T.J. McDonald said his hit was not intended to harm his opponent.

"I accept my penalty and I apologize to my teammates, to our Trojan fans and to the Stanford team," McDonald said. "I'm disappointed that I can't be on the field with my teammates during the first half of this Friday's game, but I know they will do a great job without me.

"I was not purposefully trying to hurt the receiver.  As I said after the game, I will figure out a way to play physically and still stay within the rules."

More later at latimes.com/sports

--Gary Klein

Photo: USC Coach Lane Kiffin complains at the end of regulation that one second should be left on the clock. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez / US Presswire

USC football: Referee comments on controversial end of regulation play

After USC's 56-48 triple-overtime loss to No. 4 Stanford, USC Coach Lane Kiffin said he was disappointed with the officials because there should have been one second left on the clock at the end of regulation to kick a possible game-winning field goal.

The situation occurred after receiver Robert Woods caught a pass from quarterback Matt Barkley and tried to get out of bounds on Stanford's sideline. Officials ruled that Woods was tackled before he got out of bounds to stop the clock.

Kiffin said he told an official that he was going to call a timeout with one second left. He also said that the referee told him after a replay ruling that if there was one second left, he wouldn't have time to call a timeout.

"But I've been around football long enough and seen plenty of timeouts called with one second left on the clock," he said. "That isn't my opinion and I'm not complaining. I'm just stating the facts."

Referee Mike Batlan said time had expired.

"The ruling on the field was that we were going to overtime," Batlan said. "Through review, it was seen that the knee was down and time had expired, and therefore we were headed to an overtime peirod.

"Any coach can ask for a timeout, but he doesn't get one until the official grants or signifies it. I was not part of any conversation or meeting with regards to a requested timeout. I really can't comment any further after the review and ruling on the field."

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Stanford defeats USC, 56-48, in triple overtime

Bill Plaschke: Trojans work hard but don't play smart against Cardinal

--Gary Klein

Photo:USC receiver Robert Woods catches a touchdown pass behind Stanford cornerback Barry Browning in the second overtime at the Coliseum on Saturday night. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Pac-12 basketball media day: Arizona looks to move on from shocking loss

Arizona Coach Sean Miller showed up to Pacific 12 Conference media day Friday already behind.  

"I guess I'm the only coach up here who is 0-1," he said as he sat down on a stage about to address reporters, "and it happened really quickly."

Miller's team suffered a shocking upset Thursday night to Seattle Pacific, a Division II school, losing 69-68 in an exhibition game at Tucson.

How shocking was the loss for a team that won the league and was a missed three-point shot away from advancing to the Final Four last season? 

Quite. It was the Wildcats' first exhibition loss since 1984, when former Arizona coach Lute Olson's second team lost to Athletes in Action, 81-80.  

"Sometimes a lesson like we learned last night is the greatest lesson you can learn, and that really segues into this year's team," Miller said.

"That is, we're not the team that was in the Elite Eight. We're a brand-new team."

The Wildcats return three starters from last season's 30-8 squad, but they lost Derrick Williams, the Pac-10 player of the year and a first-round NBA draft pick of Minnesota. 

Pac-12 Basketball Media Day: What to expect from Utah? Intensity

As a former men's basketball coach at Portland State, Ken Bone has experience dealing with Larry Krystkowiak. The two coached against each other when Krystkowiak ran the show at Montana. 

The two went their separate ways, eventually.

Bone went to Washington State, and Krystkowiak landed in the NBA.  

But now, with Krystkowiak taking over for the fired Jim Boylen at Utah, which joined the Pacific 12 Conference this year, they're back coaching in the same league, again. 

At Pac-12 media day Friday, Bone was asked what the conference should expect of Krystkowiak's Utes, since he's one of few Pac-12 coaches with experience against Krystkowiak's coaching style.

In a word, intensity.

"Larry is intense," Bone said. "He gets his kids to be extremely intense, and they play relentless basketball. I mean, they bring it."   

Still, there's a learning curve for Utah, which was picked to finish last in the Pac-12 by a preseason media poll. 

"The players don't know a lot of my terminology," said Krystkowiak, who coached Montana to the NCAA tournament five seasons ago. "We don't know a lot of the players' strengths and weaknesses from having limited time with them. 

"I do believe we'd be -- of the 12 teams in the Pac-12, I'd be really surprised if a team made more progress than we have in the last 10 days."

Utah finished 13-18 overall last season and 6-10 in conference play.

There should be some optimism in Salt Lake City -- down the line, at least, when transfers Aaron Dotson (LSU) and Glen Dean (Eastern Washington) are eligible in 2012-13.  

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California basketball Coach Mike Montgomery reveals he had cancer

-- Baxter Holmes

Photo: Larry Krystkowiak addressing the media last spring upon his hiring as coach at Utah. Credit: Scott Sommerdorf / Associated Press

Cal basketball Coach Mike Montgomery reveals he had cancer

A month ago, Cal Coach Mike Montgomery was diagnosed with bladder cancer.

But he showed up at the Pacific 12 Conference's men's basketball media day at L.A. Live on Friday, when he revealed his illness, cancer free.

"So that's good news," the 64-year-old said with his trademark dry humor.

Still, it was a gloomy time when he found out. 

"Yeah, we didn't have a lot of parties around the house," he said. "It wasn't a real exciting time. I mean, it's scary. It's scary. Anybody that's been through it or had something, you go from being relatively on top of your game to being in charge of everything, to no longer being in charge. It could have gone the other way."

He said the timing of when doctors discovered his illness was extrmely fortunate.  

"[The doctor] said, 'Three months ago, we wouldn't have found this. Six months from now, you'd be done,' " Montgomery said.

Pac-12 Basketball Media Day: Bruins picked to win league

According to a poll of media who cover Pacific 12 Conference basketball, UCLA is going to win the league in 2011-12. That's according to the poll, which was released Friday.

Media have correctly picked the league winner 12 times in 19 tries -- a decent record, no doubt. The media have also been on the money five of the last seven times when UCLA did win the league crown.

So, that said, you can trust in us, always. (Full dislocure: The Times didn't vote in this poll.)

It also helps that UCLA returns three starters, including one of the only two returning first-team all-league selections from last season in forward Reeves Nelson (13.9 points per game, 9.1 rebounds per game). 

But it was a narrow vote.

UCLA, ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press poll, earned 14 first-place votes while California, picked second and ranked 24th, had 13 and Arizona, picked third and ranked 16th, had 11. 

Following up those three were Washington, Oregon, Stanford, USC, Oregon State, Arizona State, Colorado and Washington State (which were both tied for 10th place) and, finally, Utah.

Here's the poll itself, with first-place votes in parentheses: 

1. UCLA (14)              421
2. Cal (13)                 405
3. Arizona (11)          404
4. Washington           355
5. Oregon                  282
6. Stanford                255
7. USC                       194
8. Oregon State          188
9. Arizona State         148
10. Colorado              119
      Washington State 119
12. Utah                     74  

-- Baxter Holmes 

Photo: UCLA logo.

UCLA football: Safety Ilaiu Moeakiola opts for Bruins

UCLA may be struggling on the football field, but the Bruins still picked up a commitment Monday.

Ilaiu Moeakiola, a senior safety at Euless (Texas) Trinity High, said he will attend UCLA. Moeakiola was also being heavily recruited by Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Tulsa.

“Over the weekend, I was praying with my family, looking over the colleges to see which one was the best fit,” Moeakiola said. “UCLA has the academic excellence, the location is great and I have plenty of family out there for support.”

Moeakiola, who is 6 feet and 185 pounds, had 108 tackles and intercepted one pass last season.

--Chris Foster