No, there has not been a terrorist attack, political assassination attempt or the death of a rock star….One of my favorite USC players was injured yesterday in a weight lifting accident. He is lucky to be alive and out for the season I would assume.  Yes, I can hear all my Sooner friends rejoicing. Their dislike for my team dates back to the 2005 Orange Bowl and for good reason, but they have their own injured players to keep them occupied with these days.  

In fact, USC’s Stafon Johnson has a lot in common now with Oklahoma’s wounded quarterback, Sam Bradford.  Aside from being stellar athletes in their chosen sport and all around great guys, they both will be watching their team from the sidelines as they worry about their status for the NFL draft next year.   

That can not be fun.  

I know, I know, it is easy to become obsessed with a high school or college football team and get caught up in that school spirit. But it is completely something else when you have actually had the chance to meet a player or two, exchange a few words and realize that these guys are truly inspirational on many different levels.  

For instance, take this particular USC running back, Stafon Johnson, who is currently in critical condition at a downtown Los Angeles hospital, he is one of those players. This past summer, Stafon took some time out of his day to motivate and encourage a couple hundred young, aspiring football players at a USC football camp. He spoke of persistence, determination and discipline and his words were gobbled up by these kids. When he was finished speaking, instead of bolting out of there like he had better things to do, Stafon stuck around for quite some time apparently not just to take photos with the kids, who coach Carroll had already sent back to drills, but he was chit chatting with their parents -most of whom were hanging around waiting for their chance to talk to the coaches, the players or snap a photo with USC’s #2 on the depth chart RB (running back).

Myself included.

I’m not shy.