 "Photo: Eric Wolfe | Daily Trojan")
Go ahead, you make that decision.
Pass up a couple million dollars, the fame and fortune, the glamour of playing on Sundays. Stay another year. Hit the books instead of, say, Larry Johnson.
Do you think you could do it? Keith Rivers did.
"It was tough," he said of the choice. "I think I made a great decision."
A great decision by his own account, but not an easy one to make by any stretch.
In 2006, he was nothing short of phenomenal. He played in every game while leading the team in tackles with 85. He forced a team-high three fumbles and had 7 1/2 tackles for loss to go along with two sacks.
The list of accolades goes on: He was named All-Pac-10 First Team, earned Pro Football Weekly All-American honorable mention and won USC's Bob Chandler Award.
In all likelihood, Rivers would have been a first-day pick - if not a first-round pick. Big bucks. Name recognition. The bright lights of Radio City Music Hall.
But Rivers stayed, and he doesn't regret it one bit.
"I had an opportunity to be coached by great coaches," he said. "I'm glad I stayed, and I got the opportunity to grow more as a player."
His coaches agree: Rivers seems to have made the right choice.
"I think it's benefited him. He's gotten a lot better," defensive coordinator Nick Holt said.
The stats back up Holt's assessment. Once again, Rivers leads the team in tackles with 70, to go along with four pass defenses and two fumble recoveries.
But Rivers has grown into more than just a football player. By staying the extra year, he was given the opportunity to grow as a leader both on and off the field.
And the general consensus is the Trojans have another bona fide field general in their midst.
"He's really an obvious leader on the team," coach Pete Carroll said. "His leadership, his hard work ethic that he passes on, his seriousness about the game and how important it is to him - it's really, really valuable."
And for Rivers, it seems like that means mission accomplished.
"To be an extra leader, with more experience. [To get to where] I'm just another guy that can try to be a coach on the field," Rivers said of what he hoped to gain by returning.
He also said he made the decision because he wanted to grow as an adult and be able to make the mature decisions he'll have to make once he's on the road in the NFL.
Holt is quick to point out that he never redshirted, so while other players may have an extra year of maturity under their belt, Rivers does not. And he believes the outside linebacker has more than proven he's capable of handling himself in that regard.
"He's gotten more mature. I think the extra year was good for him [to grow as an individual]," Holt said.
Rivers' decision to stay didn't just benefit him, though. By staying, he has solidified the defense and been a key cog in the motor that drives the Trojans.
Very quietly, and without much mention, Keith Rivers' decision last spring to stay at USC for one more season might have been the most important thing to happen for the Trojans' defense this season.
How quietly?
To start, there wasn't a whole lot of fanfare for his announcement; it was held in a back room in the Sports Information office. To call it a press conference would be an exaggeration; it was more like an intimate gathering among friends.
It seemed as if it didn't even happen, as if it were no big deal; in fact, the Daily Trojan only gave it 15 or so words as a tease at the top of the sports section the next day.
And that was it - just another senior saying he would be back at the Coliseum in the fall.
But ask Carroll, and Rivers' decision to return has made all the difference for USC. He has been arguably their most important player on the defensive side of the ball.
"He's had a fantastic year. I can't even imagine going through this year without him," Carroll said. "He's had a lot of plays, a lot of big hits. He's been very, very consistent for us."
Holt went so far as to say that Rivers' return has been a "blessing" for the team.
And the general feeling is that when April comes, Rivers will be at the top of the ladder yet again. He might have passed up a high draft pick and a large contract to return to USC, but Carroll believes the extra year will pay off even more.
"He's really helped himself for his future," Carroll said.
And he knows a thing or two about what it takes to succeed at the next level.
- To comment on this story,visit www.dailytrojan.com or e-mail Grant at tunkel@usc.edu.
