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Snoop Dogg hangs with No.1 USC

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

USC does not play this week, so Coach Pete Carroll allowed practice to become a rapper's delight Tuesday when Snoop Dogg joined the top-ranked Trojans for a workout as a guest coach and receiver.

The rapper, music producer and actor, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, surprised players when he showed up for a pre-practice meeting and then accompanied them onto the field. The appearance was taped for an MTV show.

"I was a big SC fan growing up," said Broadus, who attended Long Beach Poly and coaches a youth football team in Rowland Heights. "Some of my favorite players were Marcus Allen, Charles White, Willie McGinest, Curtis Conway [and] Junior Seau."

Asked how the appearance was arranged, Carroll said, 'His people called our people.'"

Snoop Dogg is not the first celebrity to practice with the Trojans. Last December, for example, actor Will Ferrell donned a uniform and participated in a few drills and jokes before the Rose Bowl.

"Snoop looks a little more graceful when he runs, but they're both funny," quarterback Matt Leinart said.

Said flanker Jason Mitchell: "He could work on his cutting a little bit … but he has some good hands. He told me he wasn't getting the ball enough."

USC's next game is against Notre Dame on Nov. 27. Carroll said Snoop Dogg's representatives approached him about a visit earlier in the season.

"It was, 'No way, not during a game week,' " Carroll said.