Pacific 10 is building Washington connections

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Damien Thigpen, a UCLA football recruit from Manassas (Va.) Stonewall Jackson High, probably grew up hearing the words ‘Traveler’ and ‘football.’

But it might have had nothing to do with the white horse that trots around the Coliseum after USC touchdowns.

Thigpen, a lickity-split-type running back, is the son of Doug Thigpen, a Secret Service agent on the White House detail.

And ‘Traveler’ is the fictional codename for the president in ‘In the Line of Fire,’ the Clint Eastwood movie. ‘Football’ long has been the nickname for the briefcase that carries the president’s nuclear weapons codes.

Thigpen should see plenty of USC’s Traveler this fall when UCLA plays the Trojans at the Coliseum -- traditionally a heavy exercise day for the Trojans’ white horse.

Thigpen’s arrival bolsters the Pacific 10 Conference’s Washington lobbying capabilities (that’s ‘D.C.,’ not ‘Huskies’). The conference already has Craig Robinson, who is President Obama’s brother-in-law (and head coach of Oregon State men’s basketball team).

Obama has already taken up one Pac-10 cause, crying out for a college football playoff.

Thigpen’s dad might even make it to the USC game. He’ll be the one wearing dark sunglasses and wearing a communication ear piece -- wait, that describes half the student section.

-- Chris Foster