USC football: Linebacker Chris Galippo takes praise in stride

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USC middle linebacker Chris Galippo said it was no big deal.

After watching tape of USC’s 18-15 victory over Ohio State last weekend, Coach Pete Carroll had praised the third-year sophomore for intercepting a pass and stuffing a play at the goal line.

“He just stepped right up and smoked it a couple yards deep in the backfield,” Carroll said. “He recognized the play they had run a couple times and went after it ... when you had to make something happen.”

“A lot of guys don’t do that. He acted on it. That’s the sign of a really good football player, a guy that’s really aware and watching what’s going on.”

Galippo, who made five tackles against the Buckeyes, just shrugged his shoulders when informed of Carroll’s comments.

“It’s just kind of what I do,” Galippo said. “I have a knack for being around the ball and, especially, for formation recognition.

“When a team does something two or three times and it works -- it’s common sense. You have to be dumb not to be able to figure it out, right?”

-- Gary Klein