So now we have this instant tradition that says No. 1 and No. 43 are legacy numbers at USC. Apparently if you played between 2002-2003, a standard was set. And yesterday Lane Kiffin said No. 55 had slipped before Pete Carroll came in and gave it to Keith Rivers, who Petros Papadakis calls an, “Internet All-American.”
It also forgets that just three years before Carroll, No. 55 was worn by Butkus Award winner Chris Claiborne.