While most of the players and coaches celebrated Christmas in a foreign city this year, the week in San Francisco leading up to today's Emerald Bowl has been very familiar for a handful of Trojans. Take a look at USC's Bay Area connections:
- Five players attended a Bay Area high school: WR Brandon Carswell (Milpitas HS), TE Rhett Ellison (St. Francis HS), LB/DL Kevin Greene (Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep), S Drew McAllister (Monte Vista HS) and DL Derek Simmons (Armijo HS).
- Coach Carroll was born in San Francisco, grew up in Marin County and attended Redwood High in Larkspur.
- Tight ends coach Brennan Carroll attended Saratoga High.
- Defensive line coach Jethro Franklin played football at Yerba Buena High in San Jose and then San Jose Community College.
- Director of football operations Matt Capurro grew up in Petaluma and then attended University of San Francisco.
- Defensive administrative assistant Pete Dalis grew up in San Jose, attended Bellarmine College Preparatory and went to his fair share of games at AT&T Park (though only Giants games and no football contests at the stadium).
