Aggie inroads at USC

Those of us connected with USC athletics enjoyed the recent story about UC Davis alumnus Paul Hackett, our new head football coach [summer '98]. We are confident Paul will lead the Trojans back among the nation's elite teams.

Besides Paul, the article mentioned Aggie alum and College Football Hall of Famer Ken O'Brien, who is USC's new quarterbacks coach.

However, the article failed to mention one other UC Davis graduate who holds a key position in the USC athletic department. Associate Athletic Director Daryl Gross, who earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from UC Davis in 1984, was an Aggie wide receiver from 1979 to 1981 (catching O'Brien's passes), then spent four years (1982­ 85) as an assistant football coach at his alma mater.

Not surprisingly, Gross played an integral role in this past winter's hiring of Hackett and O'Brien. Those Aggies have a way of sticking together!

Tim Tessalone, USC Sports Information Director
via e-mail