USC FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: FRESHMAN MOORE THWARTS ROBBERY ATTEMPT AT LAUNDROMAT.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

USC has experienced more than its share of criminal matters the past few years, but freshman defensive end Kyle Moore played the role of Good Samaritan in a robbery attempt Monday night.

Moore helped prevent thieves from robbing a Los Angeles-area Laundromat after two men and a woman tried to steal several items, including his laptop computer and cell phone.

``I was sitting down typing and they got bold about it and tried to snap it out of my hands,'' Moore said.

Moore and a friend refused to let the thieves take their possessions and then alerted other customers to the situation to prevent other items from being stolen.

``I was trying to get everyone involved to see what was going on,'' Moore said. ``They didn't get anything.''

Police arrived at the scene and interviewed Moore, who shrugged off the incident as, ``No big deal. It was nothing.''

--Injury update: Results of receiver Patrick Turner's MRI showed a swollen hamstring but not a serious tear.

``I'll be able to play,'' Turner said.

Linebacker Thomas Williams (knee) remained on crutches and appears unlikely to play against UCLA. Linebacker Keith Rivers (hamstring) remains questionable. Fullback David Kirtman missed the past two days because of a flu.

--Welcome break: USC coach Pete Carroll said he was happy to give the Trojans three days off for Thanksgiving.

``These guys are beat down, they need to have a break,'' Carroll said. ``I'll be concerned when they come back, though. We need to be sharp. There's a risk when you take a break, but we need it.''

Carroll will spend this afternoon attending a Pop Warner game in Palos Verdes, where he will speak to a team from Louisiana.

--Postseason awards: Tailback Reggie Bush is one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation's top running back. Jerome Harrison of Washington State and DeAngelo Williams of Memphis are the other finalists.

Receiver Dwayne Jarrett is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation's top receiver. The other candidates are Oregon State's Mike Hass and Notre Dame's Jeff Samardzija.

Bush, quarterback Matt Leinart and Texas quarterback Vince Young are finalists for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the top player, regardless of position.

Bush, Leinart, Jarrett and offensive guard Taitusi Lutui all made the American Football Coaches Assn. All-American team.

--Recruiting update: Ricky Thenarse, a safety from Jordan High in Los Angeles, attended practice Wednesday.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com