Palmer Finds El Paso Is Not So Bad

Freshman quarterback Carson Palmer’s impersonation of Coach Paul Hackett was one of the hits of a barbecue and talent show USC and Texas Christian attended as part of the Sun Bowl activities.

“I don’t do anybody else,” Palmer said. “He’s easy. He just repeats himself all the time.”

Palmer’s sights were set on playing in a bowl in Hawaii at one point, and like many players he was initially disappointed about ending up in El Paso, but said he has adjusted.

“A lot of people were talking, trashing it. I listened to them. Now that I’m here--it’s not L.A., but they’re taking us places,” said.

The destination Tuesday night is a “bloodless” bullfight in Juarez, Mexico, where players get a chance to “fight” a baby bull.

“I heard players get to jump in the ring. I’m not getting in there,” Palmer said. “I’ll be up in the top row of the stands.”

The barbecue with TCU players helped set the tone for the game, he said.

“There was a little hostility. While their skits were going on, none of us were laughing, and while we were doing skits, they weren’t listening. You can tell it’s going to be a good game.”

As for the Sun Bowl, “I wanted to go to the Rose Bowl,” he said. “But you have to be a great team to go to the Rose Bowl. I have a chance to go to four bowls. We’re having fun.”

*

R. Jay Soward said Sunday he’s “leaning toward coming back” for his senior season, but admitted, “That’s today.”

He said a strong showing in the Sun Bowl might change his mind.

“If I play like I played in practice today, I should come back to college for two more years. If I have a great game and scouts say good things and I have an opportunity to be successful and make good money, I might have to.”

*

Linebacker David Gibson sprained his ankle during Sunday’s practice but said he expects to be able to play Thursday.

“I should be all right in a couple of days. I just rolled it,” he said. “I’ll find out how it feels later. It feels real good right now.”

Defensive tackle Aaron Williams, a part-time starter who has been slow to recover from a high ankle sprain, didn’t practice Sunday, putting his ability to contribute in Thursday’s game in question. “I expect him to be limited in the ballgame,” Hackett said.

*

USC brought 93 players on the trip, including a number of redshirts. However, freshman quarterback Jason Thomas, who redshirted because of ankle surgery, was left home after missing practice although he had expected to make the trip. Hackett said Thomas coming to the game “didn’t seem to be the right thing to do” because he hadn’t been part of things. Receiver Windrell Hayes, who has a toe injury and wouldn’t be able to play, was also a late drop from the traveling list for family reasons. . . . Tailback Frank Strong, traveling on his own from Stockton after going home for the holiday with Hackett’s permission, still hadn’t arrived by Sunday’s practice and was expected Sunday night. He has been bothered by lower back trouble, but Hackett said he should be fine for the game. . . . Cornerback Antuan Simmons practiced Sunday after arriving late from Sacramento.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NEXT UP FOR USC

WHAT: Sun Bowl TCU (6-5) vs. USC (8-4)

WHERE: El Paso

WHEN: Thursday

TIME: 11 a.m.

TV: Channel 2

RADIO: XTRA (690)