USC’s Mays followed his heart rather than dad’s steps

LOS ANGELES – Taylor Mays’ father played on Washington’s defensive line in the 1970s and spent many hours with his son watching the Huskies play long after his career was over.

“They’re like five minutes from my house. I grew up near the Washington program, went to all their games. We went to away games, too,” the younger Mays recalled, mentioning Michigan and Nebraska as two of the trips he took with his dad, Stafford.

But Mays opted to leave Seattle in 2006 when it came time to go to college, choosing to play for Pete Carroll at Southern California.

“This was the best fit,” Mays said. “It wasn’t about having fun, it was about trying to make the most of myself.”

Mays has been exceptional, becoming a starting safety for one of the country’s best teams early in his freshman year. Clearly, he’s better off than he would have been had he stayed home. But Mays takes no joy in what the Huskies have gone through.

“It’s just tough, you have ups and downs,” he said. “They have some good athletes, they’re just young right now. They’ll be good again; they’ll be back on top.”

After a brief pause, Mays smiled and added: “Not on top of USC.”

It would be an even bigger shock than last year’s loss to 41-point underdog Stanford if the Huskies come out on top today when they face the Trojans at the Los Angeles Coliseum. No. 7 USC, favored by 46 points, has won the last six games between the teams, but by just 26-20 two years ago and 27-24 last year.

USC (6-1, 4-1 Pac-10) is 28-5 since Mays joined the team. The Huskies are 9-23 during that stretch, leading to the firing of coach Tyrone Willingham earlier this week, effective at season’s end.

“I just think it’s unfortunate,” Mays said. “Great coach, great motivator. He’ll bounce back; he’ll be successful. I had a good relationship with him throughout the recruiting process. He was cool. Washington just wasn’t the right fit for me.”

While the Trojans are shooting for at least a share of their seventh straight Pac-10 title and trying to remain alive in the national championship race, the Huskies are one of only two major college teams without a victory this season, joining North Texas State.

Washington has opened a season with seven straight losses for just the second time in school history. The 1969 team started 0-9.

“Pretty unusual situation, I’m sure, for those guys up there,” Carroll said regarding Willingham’s status. “It doesn’t do anything to us, the fact that he’ll be finishing out this season. Although we expect it will be an emotional outpouring, I would think from his team, his players, efforts to show good things and try to get a good win, have some good stuff happen.”