- Head coach Steve Sarkisian addressed the Shaw situation right away. "I think he's a very good person. He made a mistake. He acknowledged it. He's been remorseful for it. He's paid a severe penalty of 10 games, and he's fortunate and happy to be back."
- As Sarkisian announced on Trojans Live last night, Shaw will be stripped of his captaincy. He will also not address the media until at least the bowl game.
- The head coach is also not worried about Shaw's return being a distraction. He explained that this team has been through so much that they are used to the noise by now. "I just don't think that they are making it out bigger than it needs to be," said Sarkisian.
- On the field, Shaw "moved pretty fluidly," according to Sarkisian. He could "potentially" see him playing a role Saturday. "From a game plan standpoint, we really don't know," he said. "All in all, I think Josh brings us a veteran player with a lot of experience. We'll see how far we can take it with him here in a short amount of time."
- As for his teammates, they are happy to welcome Shaw back to the squad. "I am really happy to be able to have one our brothers back who we have been missing," said senior LB Hayes Pullard. "We still have to prepare for UCLA, we have a big game this week, so that's what we are focusing on."
- Stopping the Bruins means stopping Brett Hundley, which has been a problem for USC the last two years. "He's a great athlete," said Pullard about the UCLA QB. "I've realized that the last couple of years playing against him. We just need to go out there and be prepared for what he's going to bring."
- The Trojans are trying to avoid getting caught up in the enormity of the rivalry game like they did last year. "Last year, we let our emotions get the best of us," said LB Su'a Cravens. "I mean it's a rivalry game, things like that happen, but this year we have to be cool, calm and collected, and just go play our game."
- Cravens summed it up even more succinctly saying, "Play with emotion, but don't let your emotions play you."
- Here is Sarkisian who was asked mostly about Shaw...
