With the Ohio State-Southern California game a little more than a
month away, the former U.S.C. quarterback Carson Palmer isn’t holding
back. The only problem is he currently plays for Cincinnati, where
many Bengals fans also root for the Buckeyes.

In an interview Thursday with the Los Angeles radio station KLAC,
Palmer said when asked about the Sept. 13 game: “I cannot stand the
Buckeyes and having to live in Ohio and hear those people talk about
their team, it drives me absolutely nuts.

“It’s amazing to hear what those guys think about that university and
what they think about that football program and Tressel and all the
crap I got to put up with being back there.”

Palmer said he hoped to attend the U.S.C.-Ohio State game when the
Trojans come to Columbus in 2009. In the meantime, he predicted a big
victory this season.

“I just can’t wait for this game to get here so they can come to the
Coliseum and experience L.A. and get an old fashioned, Pac 10 butt-
whooping and go back to the Big Ten,” he said.

Feeling the heat on talk radio shows in Ohio and on fan message
boards, Palmer released this statement Tuesday on the Bengals’ Web
site: “I’m a Trojan all the way, and I was talking to a Trojan
audience in California. I guess I got a little fired up, as all good
fans will do.

“But I really do respect the Buckeyes, and I know their fans are
passionate, too. I hope they all understand I’m just looking forward
to a big game for my school against a very tough opponent, and that
it’s all in the good fun of a rivalry. You don’t have a real rivalry
unless both sides are great teams.”

Still some fans may be wondering what’s next for Palmer, perhaps a
Mets hat at a Reds game?