Even with a job that involves merely hunting and pecking away at a laptop, a dislocated shoulder would likely sideline me for a couple of weeks. Marc Tyler? He’s ready to get back on the football field right now, especially considering USC’s next opponent.
The Trojans running back suffered the injury to his left shoulder in the win over Cal last Thursday and has been looking doubtful for the annual rivalry game against Notre Dame in South Bend Saturday. The coaching staff has yet to say one way or the other whether Tyler will be healthy enough to play, with head coach Lane Kiffin saying over the weekend that “we’ll take it one day at a time.”
Tyler, though, participated in individual, non-contact drills Tuesday and, afterward, said he will be available.
“I don’t know how it healed so fast or if it healed, but it feels good,” Tyler said. “I feel I can play. It doesn’t really hurt.
“It might hurt when I get hit. But I want to play in this game so bad, it doesn’t really matter.”
The senior’s motivation appears to be simple: get on the field and perform well against the hated Irish. The senior has never played in South Bend, and Tyler is ready to atone for a subpar performance in a home loss a year ago -- 17 carries for just 48 yards -- in his first and only appearance on those hallowed grounds.
“Last year I feel like I didn’t do a good job in that game,” Tyler said. “It’s my senior year. To play at Notre Dame would be big.”
If Tyler, who leads the Trojans in rushing with 368 yards, is unable to go, Curtis McNeal will likely get the starting call.
