One Last Tap for Trojan Seniors

USC players have a ritual by which they reach up and touch the top of the gate to their practice field as they pass through. Monday marked the last “tap out” for a number of seniors.

Cornerback Antuan Simmons hugged his mother, Faye, who watched practice with other parents on the sideline.

Cornerback Kris Richard found himself thinking about former assistant Dennis Thurman, the secondary coach at USC for most of his college career. Defensive lineman Bobby DeMars wasn’t sure what to think.

“I was like, wow, I can’t believe this is it,” DeMars said. “It definitely hasn’t hit me yet.”

For offensive lineman Faaesea Mailo, the practice field evokes mixed emotions. “I’m going to miss being out here and working hard,” he said. “And I’m not going to miss being out here, working hard.”

After practice--a scrimmage in which the players went full speed for more than an hour--the team gathered at midfield and Mailo reminded them to act wisely when they travel to the Las Vegas Bowl.

He mentioned recent news reports about Colorado players attending a party where a woman was allegedly assaulted.

“It’s important that we stick together and remember our purpose,” he said. “They don’t call it Sin City for nothing.”

Afterward, players got their first rewards for reaching a bowl game--a video game system (courtesy of a Las Vegas Bowl sponsor) and a $300 travel check. Simmons is using at least part of the money on an airplane ticket, but many other players plan to travel by car.

DeMars is taking kicker David Newbury and punter Mike MacGillivray in his parents’ car.

Linebacker Mike Pollard is riding with some defensive pals. Quarterback Carson Palmer is hauling a half-dozen teammates.

“In my mom’s mini-van,” he said.

The van, he added, has tinted windows.