Offseason Update #8

    Since their hasn't been any recent news for USC I decided to dedicate this blog post to my experiences at USC training camps. I have been to both Camp Kiffin(two times) and Camp Sark(one time). They are the same camp, the only difference was who was head coach at the time. The training camp is the same every year, and just as fun as the year before. Since the order of the events of the camp are the same every year, I'm going to explain the order of the camp. The camp always starts off with registration. After everybody is checked in, all of the athletes head to the USC public field with volunteer football players to stretch. After everybody is warm and stretched, we begin to run the 40 yard dash, and perform the broad jump. After every athlete has ran a 40 yard dash and performed a broad jump, everybody heads to the USC practice field (where the Trojans practice) to go through a circuit of drills. The coaches and volunteer players put us into groups of about ten, and begin the circuit. The circuit drills are ran by actual football players that teach us the fundamentals of the drill, and how the drill relates to an actual game scenario. The circuit usually takes about two hours. Once the circuit is complete, we have about an hour break for lunch. Lunch is one of my favorite parts of the camp because you can talk to the players and pick their minds to become a better player. After lunch, the players take us into the film room and show us a video of all of the highlights from the season before. Once the video ends we get taken by the Strength and Conditioning Coach to the weight room. The Strength and Conditioning Coach then talks to us about the importance of weight lifting. Once he finishes his very disciplined speech, he releases us to let us explore the weight room. Next, we return to the USC Practice Field after about two hours of exploring the athletic facilities to play the famous Trojan Ball Tournament. Trojan Ball is exactly like two- touch football, except that you can throw the ball as many times as you want. So, if you catch the football, you have the choice to throw the football to one of your teammates even if he's in front of you. All of the athletes get into their teams that they were told to get into during registration. The tournament then begins! You play a minimum of three games with a chance to play more if you make it to the championship. The whole tournament usually takes about two hours. After the tournament, the camp is basically over because the only thing left to do is listen to all the coaches say thank you. Finally, after the coaches say their thank yous', everybody is an a mad dash to get to their cars so that they can get home before they get stuck in LA traffic!