Kirk Herbstreit, former Ohio State quarterback and current host of ESPN’s "College Gameday," was at USC’s football practice on Wednesday. He may be avoiding Pete Carroll’s calls, but he spent a while talking with USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. I spoke with him for a couple of minutes and thought it would make for a good Q&A post … until my audio recorder broke and I lost everything.

Fortunately I have a memory like a steel trap (only partially rusted), so here are a few of the highlights:

• If you want to be on TV holding up your sign at the "Gameday" set, Herbstreit’s best advice is to show up really early. (Scary thought: "Sports Center" broadcasts at 6 a.m., "Gameday" at 7 a.m.)
• He usually comes out a couple of days before games, but bumped that up for his L.A. visit so he could watch the Trojans practice.
• He has the greatest job in the world (not that we didn’t know that already).
• USC did recruit Herbstreit under Coach Larry Smith (back in the Rodney Peete days), but as a Midwestern kid he decided to stay close to home.
• He has high praise for L.A. fans who have supported USC, pointing out that other parts of the country might not give the local fan base the respect it deserves.

Nothing groundbreaking, but it was nice to meet the guy.

— Adam Rose
Photo: Gameday set, left to right: Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, and Kirk Herbstreit. Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport