Rey Maualuga News

After seven straight Pac-10 titles, disappointment just doesn't stick to Pete Carroll.

With so much criticism of USC's defense following last week's loss to Stanford, linebacker Chris Galippo took exception to the blanket perception that his unit is the root of the Trojans' recent struggles.

It's hard to tell what has USC fans more upset: the Stanford band's heartfelt halftime tribute to distinguished Trojan alum Joe Francis or Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh going Steve Spurrier on Tailback U. Saturday? As much as USC clings to history and tradition it's surprising that so many Trojans are seemingly under the impression that Harbaugh is ...

Film does not lie, especially when you lose by 34 points to Stanford. So USC coach Pete Carroll finally admitted Sunday night that skeptics were right to question how his inexperienced defense could not be a liability this season.

Here are some week 9 highlights of former Trojans now playing in the NFL. This week features David Buehler, Dwayne Jarrett, Reggie Bush, Terrell Thomas, Steve Smith, Kevin Ellison, Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga , Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu and Brian Cushing.

Shaun Cody watched helplessly from a hotel room in Buffalo, N.Y. Kyle Moore tried to make sense of it from Los Angeles.

With Rey Maualuga and three other linebackers having moved on to the NFL, Chris Galippo said before the season that he was eager to once again have the responsibility, "of either making plays or possibly losing a game," on his shoulders.

As much as quarterbacks and running backs have defined the USC tradition, it's been the Trojans' linebackers who have taken over the NFL in recent years.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller USC may be rebuilding, but it's still contending for another Pac-10 title and, perhaps, another shot at the national championship.

USC tight end Blake Ayles apologized Monday for making obscene gestures before last week's game at Notre Dame, an act that was captured in a photograph circulated widely on the Internet.

Out USC came for the 2009 season opener, the Los Angeles Coliseum throng welcoming each of the Trojans with the usual full-throated optimism.

Manti Te'o remembers watching the entire 2005 game between Notre Dame and USC from his home in Hawaii.

It could be considered piling on to mention the name of Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga to Browns' fans.

The tragedy 8,000 miles away in disaster-stricken Samoa struck close to home for the Miami Dolphins when back-up nose tackle Paul Soliai learned of the deaths of at least two relatives.

Former Southern California linebacker Rey Maualuga knows firsthand about that storied rivalry with Notre Dame.

Williams started his college career at Arkansas, but transferred to USC in 2007.

A quarter of the 2009 college football season is in the rearview mirror for most teams, and conference play is beginning to take center stage across the country.

It will be the beginning of the Rey Maualuga reunion tour on Sunday at Lambeau Field when he gets to see former Southern Cal teammate Clay Matthews Jr., who was drafted in the first round by the Packers.

Different numbers. Same caliber of players as last year. That's what Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said he sees when rolling videotape of Southern California.

The NFL's opening weekend had many storylines, including the season and professional debuts of many former Trojan football players.