Palmer Had Insurance in Case of Injury Too

Miami running back Willis McGahee purchased a $2.5-million insurance policy two weeks before the Fiesta Bowl, a decision bordering on telepathic in light of the possible career-ending knee injury he suffered against Ohio State.

Bill Palmer took no such chances.

Palmer, the father of USC quarterback Carson Palmer, said the Heisman Trophy winner was insured against career-ending injury for the last two seasons.

“When I heard McGahee had insurance, I thought, ‘Thank God,’ ” Palmer said Tuesday. “I’m sure his family feels very good about that decision.”

Palmer and McGahee’s family chose underwriter Lloyd’s of London, which requires an up-front premium. McGahee reportedly purchased his policy for $20,000, and was able to secure that amount of coverage because all but the final game of his Miami season had been played.

Before his son’s junior season at USC, Bill Palmer said he purchased a $1.5-million one-year policy for $13,000. Before this last season, in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Palmer said he paid about $15,000 for $1 million of coverage.

“They don’t want to sell unless the player is going to be a relatively high draft pick,” Palmer said. “I had a little bit of trouble both years because he was not at the top of [draft prognosticators’] lists. Obviously, he would have no problem getting it now.”

Carson Palmer, regarded as possibly the No. 1 pick in the draft, will leave Saturday to play in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 18 at Mobile, Ala. Trojan running backs Justin Fargas and Malaefou MacKenzie and safety Troy Polamalu are scheduled to play in the NFL showcase.

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Running back Sultan McCullough received an invitation to participate in the East-West Shrine Game that will be played Saturday at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco. He joins MacKenzie and wide receiver Kareem Kelly on the West team.... USC finished No. 1 in two computer rankings. The Trojans finished atop the Matthews/Scripps Howard rankings and the Sagarin ratings index. USC edged Ohio State in the Scripps/Howard rankings, and Georgia finished third. The Trojans finished ahead of Miami and Ohio State in the Sagarin ratings.

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Karl Dorrell’s deliberate approach to filling the most important posts on his UCLA staff continued when neither Duane Akina nor Al Borges were offered jobs.

Akina, the Texas secondary coach, is still a candidate to become defensive coordinator, but UCLA officials said at least one additional candidate would be interviewed.

That could be former Arizona Coach Dick Tomey, who is a friend of Mike Flores, a former Arizona assistant and an advisor to UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero. Borges, the Indiana offensive coordinator, interviewed for the post at UCLA.

Director of football operations Randy Taylor resigned to pursue a job in the NFL.

Steve Henson contributed to this story.