LOS ANGELES –The USC
football team is in the holiday spirit. Members of the team visited the Los
Angeles Mission to feed the homeless on Wednesday.
On Thursday morning, they
returned to the practice field.
The No. 1 in the nation is
coming into town on Saturday with their national title chances hanging in the
balance. Notre Dame is a rival. It’s a big game. There’s just no getting around
that, however, a somewhat reflective Lane Kiffin was able to put things into
perspective on this day taking time to wish fans and members of the “Trojan
family” a Happy Thanksgiving.
“On a day like today, as our
quarterback (Matt Barkley) reminds me, it is just a sport and we have a lot to
be thankful for,” said Kiffin on Thursday morning. “Our team has some really
good kids that represent the university really well off of the field.
“I could not be more proud of
our players of how they represent us off the field.”
Feeding the homeless was
something that was put together by members of Kiffin’s administrative staff and
also at the encouragement of a few players who’ve done it before. Khaled Holmes,
Robert Woods and Marqise Lee were among the 13 players that went to the mission
on Wednesday. Kiffin says it was a humbling moment for those involved.
“(It) makes them realize how
fortunate they are,” Kiffin said. “Our scholarship kids not (only) get their
school paid for but meals and treatment. I think that it’s just a reminder
sometimes that, obviously, all of us take things for granted.”
Kiffin and the rest of his
staff will spend most of the day breaking down film and continuing their
preparations for Notre Dame.
As for the team, they’ll get
a break from football to enjoy their Thanksgiving holiday.
“We’ve made sure all of our
kids have somewhere to go,” Kiffin said.
Freshman offensive lineman
Zach Banner headed back home to Washington in the Pacific Northwest to be with
his family for Thanksgiving following practice. He’s expected to return to the
team on Friday.
Thursday was significant for
other reasons as well. For the seniors, it was their final practice of the
regular season.
Senior safety T.J. McDonald
and student assistant Frankie Telfort were carried off of Howard Jones Field at
the conclusion of Thursday’s practice.
The underclassmen came
together to make a tunnel for seniors to walk through as they left the
field.
This is a special class for
Kiffin. They were transitioning into their sophomore year when he took over as
head coach. Led by Barkley, they were the ones responsible for keeping what
pieces they could together, be it returners or high school players who were
committed to the school under Pete Carroll.
“It’s kind of like the
stepfather where you come in and they’re not your kids initially and you take
them over,” Kiffin joked. “It’s a really neat unit of guys.”
Kiff's Kids
Kiffin will be hosting the
"Kiff's Kids" toy drive on Saturday at the Coliseum for the game against Notre
Dame, the school announced. Fans are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy of
gift to drop off at collection bins around the Coliseum on Saturday. The drive
will benefit kids in the local
community.
