USC Trojans: Kennedy Polamalu
Recruit notes: Polamalu reaction and more 
February, 19, 2013
Feb 19
9:39
AM PT
By
Blair Angulo | ESPN.com
If their reactions on social media were any indication, current USC football team members were certainly affected by the departure of assistant coach Kennedy Polamalu earlier this month. A number of them voiced their concerns through Twitter and other networks, adding their two cents on what many considered to be a puzzling move by coach Lane Kiffin.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
USC loses a true Trojan in Polamalu
February, 13, 2013
Feb 13
8:00
AM PT
By
Garry Paskwietz | ESPN.com
Icon SMI, WeAreSC.comFormer USC running backs coach and offensive coordinator Kennedy Polamalu was a big reason the Trojans secured the Gardena (Calif.) Serra wide receiver trio of George Farmer, Robert Woods and Marqise Lee.Polamalu was a popular running backs coach -- he also held the title of offensive coordinator but did not call plays -- who was in his second coaching stint with the Trojans. He had a reputation as a coach who cared about his players and preached a physical style of football while also having the credibility of being a former USC player who had coaching experience in the NFL.
To say that the loss of Polamalu from the staff was a shock to the players he had coached would be an understatement. As word began to spread over the weekend that Polamalu was gone, many of the players took to their Twitter accounts to voice their thoughts and support:
• “Not only did we lose the best coach, we lost the only Trojan who was on staff. Real sad day” -- fullback Soma Vainuku (@somavainuku)
• “Disappointed” -- recent tailback signee Ty Isaac (@TyIsaac)
• “U dont get rid of coach P now how ignorant was that smh he is the best coach there” -- former tailback Stafon Johnson (@stafonjohnson26)
• “Now why would they do that smh” – former wide receiver Robert Woods (@robertwoods)
Part of the reason that Polamalu struck a chord with so many players is because of his deep USC ties. The school represented so much in his life after coming to the United States from American Samoa at age 12 as a young man who did not speak English. Yet five years later he was student body president at Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei with a football scholarship to USC.
Polamalu was a hard-nosed fullback for the Trojans from 1982-85. He was part of the 1985 Rose Bowl title team and had career totals of 681 rushing yards (he never lost a yard carrying the ball) along with 23 receptions and a 65-yard touchdown pass. Polamalu earned his bachelor’s degree in history from USC in 1987.
Four-star offensive line commit Khaliel Rodgers (Elkton, Md./Eastern Christian Academy) had a stellar showing at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl week in San Antonio, Texas, proving himself against some of the best competition in the country. He spoke to WeAreSC about the experience:
WeAreSC: There’s been a lot of talk about your showing in Texas. How would you assess your performance?
Rodgers: Every critic and every person that looked at me and evaluated me thought I did excellent. I think I did well. I think I really established myself as the top guard in the nation. I did well against everybody that was there.
WeAreSC: There’s been a lot of talk about your showing in Texas. How would you assess your performance?
Rodgers: Every critic and every person that looked at me and evaluated me thought I did excellent. I think I did well. I think I really established myself as the top guard in the nation. I did well against everybody that was there.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
LOS ANGELES -- USC tailback Buck Allen remained on the Coliseum floor well after the conclusion of the Trojans 'Saturday scrimmage, providing answers to questions posed by the media. But of far more importance to Allen’s USC career was the fact that he was finally able to take the field and answer some questions for the USC coaches.
After arriving partway through fall camp last year, Allen served on the scout team throughout the season. This spring, the depleted tailback numbers were going to give Allen an opportunity to prove that he belonged in the rotation. But a hamstring injury early on forced him to the sideline, and Saturday became the first time Allen saw the field for any significant length of time. And while his first opportunity resulted in a muffed handoff, he bounced back with a 12-yard carry on his first successful attempt, and authored several impressive runs throughout the day.
“It felt good,” Allen said of his first extended work this spring. “I tried to go hard and give it my all, do what coach asked me to do…Today gave me confidence. Now I can go look at myself on film and work off of that.”
After arriving partway through fall camp last year, Allen served on the scout team throughout the season. This spring, the depleted tailback numbers were going to give Allen an opportunity to prove that he belonged in the rotation. But a hamstring injury early on forced him to the sideline, and Saturday became the first time Allen saw the field for any significant length of time. And while his first opportunity resulted in a muffed handoff, he bounced back with a 12-yard carry on his first successful attempt, and authored several impressive runs throughout the day.
“It felt good,” Allen said of his first extended work this spring. “I tried to go hard and give it my all, do what coach asked me to do…Today gave me confidence. Now I can go look at myself on film and work off of that.”
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
It's tough to call the move of Tre Madden from linebacker to tailback a success after just one practice at the position. But it was tougher not to notice the grin plastered across the face of running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu after Tuesday's practice. The normally stoic Polamalu is consistent in tempering expectations and taking things one day at a time. But he couldn't hide his excitement after coaching Madden for only a few hours.
"It was fun watching him," Polamalu said. "Believe me, he looked like a football player back there."
With Buck Allen still nursing a hamstring injury, the Trojans were down to just two scholarship backs before Madden's move, as senior starter Curtis McNeal and redshirt sophomore D.J. Morgan took virtually every rep. Polamalu was grateful that Madden, at 226 pounds, will supply some depth at the position, but he also commented on the fact Madden brings a fairly unique skill set.
"It was fun watching him," Polamalu said. "Believe me, he looked like a football player back there."
With Buck Allen still nursing a hamstring injury, the Trojans were down to just two scholarship backs before Madden's move, as senior starter Curtis McNeal and redshirt sophomore D.J. Morgan took virtually every rep. Polamalu was grateful that Madden, at 226 pounds, will supply some depth at the position, but he also commented on the fact Madden brings a fairly unique skill set.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Not many college football teams can raid the linebacker meeting room for tailback help, but Tre Madden proved Tuesday that the USC Trojans have that versatility in stock. After standing out at outside linebacker during the first full pads practice of spring, Madden donned a cardinal jersey on Tuesday, making the move to tailback.
"Having a week to sit around and think about what our team needs, this is a time to try it," said head coach Lane Kiffin.
Kiffin acknowledged that the experiment could end shortly and Madden would be on his way back to strongside linebacker, but he also gave several reasons supporting a possible permanent move.
"Having a week to sit around and think about what our team needs, this is a time to try it," said head coach Lane Kiffin.
Kiffin acknowledged that the experiment could end shortly and Madden would be on his way back to strongside linebacker, but he also gave several reasons supporting a possible permanent move.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
ABOUT WE ARE SC
Garry Paskwietz
Garry Paskwietz is the publisher and founder of WeAreSC.com and has covered the Trojans since 1997. Send him an email at garry@wearesc.com.
Blair Angulo
Blair Angulo covers USC Trojans recruiting. He joined ESPNLA.com in 2010 and also interned at the Los Angeles Daily News. Email him at blair.angulo@gmail.com.