Linebacker’s Status Is in Doubt

Linebacker David Gibson, USC’s second-leading tackler, didn’t practice Tuesday and Coach Paul Hackett said a decision on whether Gibson will play against Notre Dame might go “right down to game time.”

Gibson left the UCLA game after suffering a bruised thigh.

There’s also a question about defensive tackle Ennis Davis, who has a sprained foot, and defensive tackle Aaron Williams has a strained Achilles’ tendon. However, defensive tackle Marc Matock, who returned from a broken ankle a week early against UCLA and played five plays in goal-line situations, will be available for the same limited role.

Even linebacker Chris Claiborne took a day off, but only to rest a sore knee.

As for receiver R. Jay Soward, he should be OK--and might even return to his kick-return roles after playing sparingly against UCLA.

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Will it ever end?

Claiborne was protesting UCLA linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo’s criticism of USC quarterback Carson Palmer on Tuesday--and before you knew it, Claiborne had slipped into the mire too.

“For him to talk about Carson the way he did was ridiculous. . . . I don’t think he’s good enough to talk about Carson like that,” Claiborne said.

“If [Ayanbadejo] got four sacks every game, he’d be, like, an awesome player. . . . I don’t see him up for any awards. For him to talk about Carson, he’s talking about my teammate. In my opinion, [Palmer is] awesome.”