USC's Tyler treating last game as just another game

By SCOTT M. REID / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LOS ANGELES ? USC tailback Marc Tyler is not sentimental about approaching his final game for the Trojans.

"Nah," Tyler said, "I don't feel no emotions."

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Tyler said he is ready to move on, which is why he will not petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility and a chance to return for the 2012 season.

"I've been here way too long," Tyler said. "I'm 23."

Tyler could apply for a sixth-year because he redshirted as a freshman in 2007 while recovering from a high school injury and suffered a season-ending toe injury in the second game of the 2009 season. Tyler also missed three mid-season games in 2008 because of a hip injury.

Tyler said he would focus on preparing for the NFL draft after the season.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Tyler blamed what could have been a game-deciding fumble late in USC's upset of Oregon on miscommunication between himself and quarterback Matt Barkley.

The Trojans were threatening to score and stretch their lead when the Ducks recovered the fumble and launched a drive that set up a potentially tying, but ultimately unsuccessful, field-goal attempt as time in regulation ran out.

"We just had a miscommunication," Tyler said. "He thought I was getting the ball and I thought he was getting the ball. So when I went to do a run fake, that's why I was so wide, I didn't open my arms. So he tried to hand me the ball off and I wasn't expecting it and it just dropped."

RUNNING FREE

Redshirt freshman linebacker Hayes Pullard said he played with a sense of liberation against Oregon.

Pullard recorded 14 tackles, two sacks and forced a fumble to earn Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.

"I just felt like when I was in the game I was stress-free," said Pullard, who credited assistant head coach Monte Kiffin and his staff's game plan.

"Coaches are doing a brilliant job of simplifying the schemes so we can go faster on the field," Pullard said. "The coaches are watching a lot of film and they are able to study it and teach it to us faster than normal and create better schemes for us so younger guys like me can be able to go out there and play fast."

HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES

Wide receiver Brandon Carswell wore his navy blue No. 1 Milpitas High jersey, one of a number of players continuing the tradition of seniors wearing their high school uniform during their final college practice in pads.

"It felt fast out there today, felt young again," Carswell said. "It was awesome."

UNIFORMITY

USC coach Lane Kiffin said he was surprised that UCLA decided to wear special all white uniforms for Saturday's game instead of its traditional blue jerseys and gold pants and helmets.

Bruin coach Rick Neuheisel pushed Pete Carroll, Kiffin's predecessor at USC, to lobby then-Pac-10 and NCAA officials to allow both schools to wear their traditional home uniforms in the cross-town rivalry game each season.

"I did hear that this morning that I guess they're that going to wear to wear white uniforms so obviously that's their choice. I don't understand it all because everything I've been told is that is Rick was behind this whole thing and I know our players and our fans really enjoy it," Kiffin said. "But that's their choice."

Contact the writer: sreid@ocregister.com

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