Allmond Hopes Signatures Help His Case

While the USC football team waits to hear about the fate of suspended receiver Marcell Allmond, another portrait of his alleged involvement in a off-campus scuffle emerged.

Allmond was sent away from practice last week in response to a university review. The Los Angeles Police Department was also investigating.

The junior has now collected signatures from 20 witnesses who say he did not strike anyone during the Aug. 23 altercation. The document was shown to team officials and was to be submitted to the university.

An effort is being made to accelerate the review process in hopes Allmond can get a decision as soon as this week.

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Days after a solid performance against San Jose State, the USC linebacking corps is also facing uncertainty.

The results of an MRI on Frank Strong’s knee suggested he has only a sprain, but his status for Saturday’s game against Kansas State remains undecided. He stood on the sideline during practice Tuesday.

“There’s not much pain,” Strong said. “Hopefully on Thursday I’ll get a knee brace.”

Also, reserve Chris Prosser, suspended for the season opener, hopes to hear from the NCAA today about his eligibility against Kansas State.

So John Cousins took most of the snaps with the first-team defense in practice. The senior said he was a little nervous.

“This may be my first start against one of the top teams in the nation,” he said.

Cousins, who is deaf in one ear and hearing impaired in the other, has not used a hearing aid this season because the one that fits in his helmet is broken. He picks up defensive signals from the sideline and gets occasional help from teammates.

“In football, everybody’s loud,” he said. “Coaches yell, players yell.”

Associate coach DeWayne Walker said he would be comfortable starting Cousins and moving Bobby Otani, Aaron Graham and Lee Webb into the rotation at various positions.

“There’s going to be a time during the course of the year when you have to use your backups,” he said. “However it ends up, we’ll be prepared.”

Matt Grootegoed, who plays opposite Strong at outside linebacker, would fill his role in the nickel package.

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Doctors had discouraging news Tuesday for tailback Malaefou MacKenzie, who has been out with a knee injury.

“It doesn’t look good,” he said about returning Saturday for Kansas State. “They said it’s 100% sure I’ll be back for Oregon [on Sept. 22] but this is a big game.”