University Southern California Trojans
Carson Palmer Turns the Game Around
June 21, 1999 | Football
Oct. 3, 1998
LOS ANGELES - Forget about USC linebacker Chris Claiborne hitting like a freight train and J.R. Redmond rewriting the Arizona State record book. USC fans already have.
All they can remember is that when true freshman QB Carson Palmer entered the game in the third quarter, the fabled Coliseum started rocking and the game turned around. Immediately.
Ok, Ok. So we won't let the details of seven frenetic minutes and touchdowns scored on a blocked punt and interception get in the way.
This budding relationship -- between Palmer and the Trojans faithful -- is a match made in Heritage Hall Heaven. And oh yeah, the Trojans are off to a strong 2 & 0 start in the Pac-10 and 4 & 1 record overall. Here's why.
Late in the third with the offense stalled, Palmer came off of the bench and hit Billy Miller on his first snap. Next pass, he went deep to R. Jay Soward, who drew an interference call.
"It always feels good to come in a get a completion" Palmer said. "The short ones open up the long ones."
On the next snap (the first play of the fourth quarter), Carson did what Soward says he told him to do in the huddle -- audible and throw a long one.
Palmer stepped to the line, read a blitz by both ASU safeties, and threw a perfect 20-yard strike to Soward to make the score 24-19.
He wasn't done. On a two-point conversion try, Palmer rolled right and flipped a 2-yarder to Ted Iacenda. The crowd of 56,093 erupted.
"He's just Carson," Soward beamed to reporters. "You guys heard the crowd. He makes something happen."
SC trailed by only 24-2, but that changed quickly.
On the next Sun Devil possession, SC's Antuan Simmons blocked the punt and Ifenayi Ohalete returned it 14 yards for the touchdown. With 13:17 remaining, SC took the lead 28-24.
Five minutes later with the crowd screaming for more, Trojan linebacker David Gibson intercepted a Chad Elliott pass and returned it 16 yards untouched. Final score 35-24.
The budding star started it. The fans got involved. And, Palmer himself said afterwards, "each conference game is a step to the Rose Bowl."
