MACKENZIE STAYS STRONG.Byline: STEVE DILBECK It has been a long road for USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. tailback Malaefou MacKenzie Matthew Mark Maleafou Anesi MacKenzie (born July 24, 1979) is an American football fullback who played in the National Football League in 2003. College career MacKenzie played college football at the University of Southern California. , a troubled road most young men never have to imagine. But on a warm Monday night at the Coliseum, on a national stage in USC's season opener, MacKenzie could focus on one thing. Just moving the football. Running with it, catching it, breezing past often-stunned Auburn Tigers Auburn Tigers is the name given to Auburn University athletic teams. The university is a member of the Southeastern Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 18 varsity teams in 13 sports:
So simple, really. It must have been such wondrously simple relief. Along the way there had been injuries and heartache. There had been unfulfilled promise. There had been times when he walked away, and others when he dug deep and came back. When Monday's game was over, when USC had begun its season by grinding out a 24-17 victory, MacKenzie was left with impressive numbers. He ran 10 times for 34 yards, but it was his receiving that sparked the Trojans' offense. He pulled down six passes for a game-high 117 yards. Afterward when he removed his jersey, it was clear his past remained very much with him. Under his grass-stained jersey was a T-shirt soaked through with sweat. Across the top was written, ``In loving memory ...'' There were two color pictures. One was of his brother, Hornell, who had Down's syndrome and died of a heart ailment ail·ment n. A physical or mental disorder, especially a mild illness. at age 17, when Malaefou was 10. The other was of his father, Vernon, who passed away last Sept. 11 in Western Samoa Western Samoa, former name of the nation of Samoa. . ``He's been through so much,'' USC quarterback Carson Palmer Carson Palmer (born December 27, 1979 in Fresno, California), is an American football quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He attended the University of Southern California, where he won the Heisman Trophy Award in 2002 in his senior season. said. ``He's a man. He's a man among boys as far as this team is concerned. He's been through more than anyone on this team. He's a leader. He's the man. And everyone on this team feels the same way.'' MacKenzie simply being healthy was almost news in itself. As a freshman, he rushed for 332 yards - including a 104-yard effort against Nevada Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. - and looked like USC's tailback of the future. But the former Capistrano Valley High star already was battling a shoulder injury, which would serve as something of a prelude to his career. The next season he tore a knee ligament in the season opener, sat out the rest of the season and was redshirted. The following season, the 5-foot-11 tailback missed four games with a hamstring injury hamstring injury Sports medicine A muscle injury of biceps femoris, seen in sprinters and runners, when a contracted muscle meets a lengthening force, overpowering intrinsic muscle resiliency Management RICE, NSAIDs, gradual ↑ of pain-free activity–eg, and saw limited playing time. As a junior in 2000, he served as Sultan McCullough's backup and began to show his versatility. He caught 27 passes for 249 yards, as well as rushing for 284 more yards. Then last year, he never played a down. He missed the first two games with a knee sprain sprain, stretching or wrenching of the ligaments and tendons of a joint, often with rupture of the tissues but without dislocation. Sprains occur most commonly at the ankle, knee, or wrist joints, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty in moving the involved joint. before his father passed away. He missed one more game to attend his father's funeral in Western Samoa and returned to USC, only to reinjure his knee and miss two more games. Grieving, unable to stay healthy, he left the team and returned to Western Samoa for the rest of the season. When he was granted a rare sixth year of eligibility, he sat out to complete his career at USC. Which made his success Monday so much sweeter. ``It feels good,'' MacKenzie said. ``It took six years to come. It felt good to be out there with my brothers.'' MacKenzie struggled more to talk to the media than he did with the Tigers. Shy by nature, he is uncomfortable when the spotlight shines only on him. ``He's very quiet and keeps to himself a lot,'' Palmer said. ``He's not real out front, not real loud. He is shy.'' A few more games like Monday's, and he'd best learn to overcome being wary of the media. MacKenzie is an explosive runner and, with soft hands, is a natural target for Palmer. ``He's been through so much,'' USC safety Troy Polamalu Troy Aumua Polamalu (born Troy Benjamin Aumua on April 19, 1981 in Garden Grove, California) is an American football player who plays strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. He is of Samoan descent. said. ``This is going to be a great season for him.'' MacKenzie figures he's overdue. Figures he owes the team. ``When I left, I felt a big burden on my shoulders to come back and give it all I had to contribute anyway I can,'' he said. Several times, MacKenzie went in motion and almost got lost, Auburn almost overlooking him until he had pulled down another Palmer pass. ``I'm so happy for the guy,'' Palmer said. ``Everybody on this team knows he can play like that. He hasn't played in a long time and that was a huge game for him.'' It was just one game, but one very fresh start. One new beginning on his long road. EXPERTS' consensus: WOLF'S PICKS Daily News Staff Writer Scott Wolf Scott Richard Wolf (born June 4, 1968) is an American actor. Born in Boston, Massachusetts to Steven Wolf and Susan Enowitch, Wolf was raised in West Orange, New Jersey. He graduated in 1986 from West Orange High School. is an Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. top-25 voter this season. Here's how he voted this week: 1. Texas 2. Miami 3. Florida State 4. Oklahoma 5. Tennessee 6. Florida 7. Michigan 8. Nebraska 9. Washington State 10. Ohio State 11. Georgia 12. Oregon 13. Virginia Tech 14. Colorado 15. Washington 16. South Carolina South Carolina, state of the SE United States. It is bordered by North Carolina (N), the Atlantic Ocean (SE), and Georgia (SW). Facts and Figures Area, 31,055 sq mi (80,432 sq km). Pop. (2000) 4,012,012, a 15. 17. Georgia Tech 18. Texas A&M 19. Colorado State 20. Louisiana State 21. Kansas State 22. Oregon State 23. Marshall 24. Michigan State 25. Iowa State CAPTION(S): 2 boxes Box: (1) EXPERTS' consensus: WOLF'S PICKS (see text) (2) AP TOP 25 |
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