For No. 55, watching the blue and gold running back was like religion. Claiborne's favorite player was Gaston Green, not because he was a member of the L.A. Rams or the UCLA Bruins, but because he was quick and had heart. He would watch UCLA games to watch Green. The race was on between Notre Dame, a traditional football school, and Colorado. Notre Dame was the school Claiborne had dreamed of attending, watching heroes Ricky Watters and Jerome Bettis play there while growing up.
Love is one thing.
You pick the best situation of what you need, not what you love. USC was best academically and traditionally for me. Plus I'm a California kid. The coaches asked Claiborne to wear the number, to represent traditionally the best player on USC defense. They were two big defensive players who left legacies behind them while previously sporting Claiborne's red and gold No. 55.