AT LAST, A TROJAN AGOURA'S GRAF FULFILLS HIS BOYHOOD DREAM.Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer Derek Graf's USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. education began almost at birth. When he was two weeks old, his father dressed his oldest child in a little Trojan shirt. Eighteen years later, Graf, an Agoura High graduate, has followed in his father's footsteps and become a Trojan football player. He even has been moved to offensive guard, which is where Allan Graf played as a member of the 1972 national championship team. ``I was born into it,'' Graf said after a recent practice in Irvine, where the Trojans are preparing for their season opener against Penn State. ``Cardinal and gold runs through my blood. I was taught to love them. I'm all for USC.'' No matter where Graf looks in his house, reminders are everywhere. There's the 1972 team ball signed by everyone, a brandy brandy [for brandywine, from Du.,=burnt, i.e., distilled, wine], strong alcoholic spirit distilled from wine or from marc, the residue of the wine press. The most noted brandy is cognac, made from white grapes in the Charente district of France. bottle, numerous mugs, glasses, pennants, flags, banners - even teddy bears. Included in Graf's room is a football signed by USC's four Heisman Trophy Heisman Trophy Annual award given to the outstanding college gridiron football player in the U.S. The trophy was instituted in 1935 by New York City's Downtown Athletic Club and was officially named the following year for the club's first athletic director, the player-coach winners, numerous souvenir game towels and a mirror from his father's era. Yet, what stands out most to Graf is his father's national championship ring. It's huge, and he never takes it off, not even in the movies. Allan Graf is a second unit director, a stunt coordinator and football coordinator who has directed football scenes in ``The Program,'' ``Necessary Roughness Necessary Roughness may refer to:
There's also a scene in ``Boogie Nights'' where Allan draws a gun in a doughnut shop. The ring clearly is seen. Allan's love is football, and he was good enough to start on the offensive line for three years at USC (and be pictured on the 1972 schedule poster), earn a tryout with the Rams and play in Portland of the old World Football League. He has had season tickets since before Derek was born, and father and son have spent many a Saturday watching the Trojans on TV when other kids Derek's age were out playing. ``When SC would lose, you'd better stay away,'' Derek said. The son found homecoming Homecoming Odyssey concerning Odysseus’s difficulties in getting home after war. [Gk. Myth.: Odyssey] You Can’t Go Home Again revisiting his home town, a writer is disillusioned by what he sees. [Am. Lit. special, for he and Allan would walk through the campus to the bookstore, where Allan would buy Derek all the newest USC merchandise. As Derek grew (he's now 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds) he drew attention from various colleges, including those hated rivals, UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX and Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame . He even took recruiting trips to both schools, where he was expected to cheer for the Bruins and Fighting Irish. ``It was hard,'' he said. Still, was there any doubt he would become a Trojan? Derek's mother, Betty, a Cal State Northridge graduate, said her daughter, Nicole, asked why her parents let any other school representatives into their home. Allan, reached on location in the Czech Republic Czech Republic, Czech Česká Republika (2005 est. pop. 10,241,000), republic, 29,677 sq mi (78,864 sq km), central Europe. It is bordered by Slovakia on the east, Austria on the south, Germany on the west, and Poland on the north. , knew the answer. There was uncertainty over John Robinson's future after the 1997 season, so Allan wanted to ensure his son would have a future - just not at UCLA or Notre Dame, please. Arizona State made a hard push for Derek and almost landed him. When Robinson refused reassignment and left after the 1997 season, Graf, who had been offered a scholarship, called USC athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic Mike Garrett Michael Lockett Garrett (born April 12, 1944 in Los Angeles, California) is a former American football player who won the 1965 Heisman Trophy as a tailback for the University of Southern California Trojans. and asked if his scholarship still would be honored. When Garret told him yes, Graf orally committed on the spot. After redshirting his first year and spending last season at tackle, in which he appeared in the Hawaii game, Paul Hackett and his coaches moved Graf to offensive guard, which thrilled Allan. Graf is among a handful of players competing behind sophomore Zach Wilson, but it doesn't matter. ``He's passionate about football,'' Betty Graf said of her son. ``His dream came true: to get to play at USC.'' |
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