Introducing Video Games by Degrees Gives College Students a New Box to X

So that teenager of yours wants to spend every waking (and semi-waking) minute playing video games? Relax! He’s just doing his college preparatory work for USC.

Yes, bro, the Daily Trojan reports that the university is working on a plan whereby students could minor in “video game development and production,” making USC “what is believed to be the first major research university to do so.” Two lab facilities would be equipped with “50 PC workstations each, with a Play Station 2, X box and Nintendo GameCube,” the paper said.

“I personally hope our students will be creative thinkers and help develop the compelling video games of the future,” said one school official.

This column shares that dream. To USC’s video game researchers, I say: Go, dudes!

Big Game Opie: On CBS’ “Andy Griffith Show” reunion, Ron Howard recalled how he would be taunted with the show’s theme song when he was playing for Burroughs High’s basketball team.

“His memory is 100% accurate,” Muir High alumnus Russell Kishi told the media Web site www.ronfineman.com.

“When Burroughs visited Muir in 1971, the scrawny Muir Pep Band launched into the familiar theme every time Ronnie stepped to the [free throw] line.

“He was clearly rattled at first, even covering his ears to shut out the noise. But little Opie had the last laugh. He scored 22 points on Muir and led the Burroughs ‘B’ team to victory.... Opie could shoot.

“When Muir’s ... band kept playing the theme song, he even got so comfortable he started bobbing his head and snapping his fingers.”

I’m just glad Barney Fife wasn’t working security that day.

Unkindest cut: USC grad Jack Del Rio, the head coach of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, was in the news recently when he had a tree stump and an ax placed in the locker room to illustrate his credo, “Keep chopping wood.” Alas, things went awry when a punter attempted a swing at the stump, was off to the left, and took a gash out of his leg, requiring surgery.

By an unfortunate coincidence, Del Rio was quoted in USC Trojan Family Magazine as saying one of his preseason goals was “breaking down the walls between the front office, coaching and players.” Not with an ax, though. It’s been removed from the locker room, along with the stump.

Video games are safer.

miscelLAny: The holidays are approaching, meaning that people are rushing about even more than usual. So it’s a good time to remind you to be extra careful. For example, look out for:

* Sharp objects (photos by Phil Proctor and Laurence Lerner).

* Windows that can bring grief (submitted by Bonnie Chaparro).

* Strange gases (Mark Zeavin).

* And, of course, pants that can bite you in the backside (Cyndi Gould).

Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LA-TIMES, Ext. 77083; by fax at (213) 237-4712; by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012; and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.