University Southern California Trojans
USC - Oregon Football Preview
October 08, 2000 | Football
Oct. 8, 2000
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USC FOOTBALL - LOOKING TO SNAP 2-GAME LOSING STREAK - HOSTS NO. 9 OREGON
THE FACTS--USC (3-2 overall, 0-2 Pac-10 for ninth place tie) vs. Oregon (3-1, 2-0 for first place tie), Saturday (Oct. 14), 12:30 p.m. PDT, Los Angeles Coliseum.
THEMES - USC, at home for the second week in a row, tries to snap a 2-game losing streak and must do so against a Top 10-ranked team. It's the first time USC has played a Top 10 Oregon squad. UO, coming off bye, started Pac-10 play with impressive wins over UCLA and Washington. The Ducks, second in the Pac-10 in total offense and the leader in total defense (and Top 25 nationally in 5 defensive categories), feature one of the nation's top runners in TB Maurice Morris. USC wants to avenge a 3-overtime loss at Oregon last year. This is Oregon's first game in the Coliseum since 1997. The game will be shown live regionally on ABC-TV. It will also be the first time that USC has its own Spanish-language radio station calling the action.
RANKINGS - Oregon is ranked ninth by AP and 12th by USA Today/ESPN. USC is not ranked.
SERIES - USC holds a 33-13-2 record in its series with Oregon, dating to 1915. In the last 21 meetings, Troy is 16-4-1 against the Ducks, but has lost the last 2 and 3 of the past 4. USC has a 21-5-1 mark against Oregon in Los Angeles (and 1-0 in Pasadena). In 1997 in the last meeting in the Coliseum, USC (up by 18 points at halftime) held on for a 24-22 win over the Ducks when DE Marc Matock partially deflected a 36-yard field goal attempt by PK Joshua Smith that fell just short with 8 seconds to play. Troy built a 21-3 halftime lead behind a pair of TDs by FB Rodney Sermons (13-yard run and 15-yard pass from QB John Fox) and a 13-yard reverse run by WR R. Jay Soward. Then, Oregon stormed back behind a 61-yard interception return by CB Rashad Bauman, a 5-yard run by TB Saladin McCullough (whose brother, Sultan, is USC's current tailback) and a 3-yard run by QB Akili Smith (Oregon missed its conversions on the last 2 TDs).
Last year in Eugene, USC fell in triple overtime, 33-30, turning a heroic comeback into a devastating loss. Down 20-10 early in the fourth quarter, USC TB Chad Morton scored on a pair of short runs to go up 23-20 with 3:08 to go. But Oregon PK Nathan Villegas hit a 26-yard field goal with 26 seconds left to tie it up. Both teams missed field goals in the first overtime and then matched TDs in the second overtime before PK Josh Frankel (subbing for an injured Villegas) hit a game-winning 27-yard field goal following a USC miss in the third overtime. USC QB Mike Van Raaphorst, who filled in when starting QB Carson Palmer broke his collarbone at the end of the first half, was 20-of-36 for 227 yards. USC was penalized a Pac-10 record-tying 21 times in the game.
IN THE COLISEUM - USC has a 358-116-27 (.742) all-time record in the Coliseum since the stadium opened in 1923.
CONNECTIONS - Two Trojans prepped in Oregon: S Troy Polamalu (Douglas HS in Winston) and TE Chad Cook (Jesuit HS in Portland)?Some 52 Ducks - more than half of the team - claim California as their home state?USC linebackers coach A.J. Christoff was an assistant at Oregon for 6 years (1977-82)?When USC head coach Paul Hackett was the head coach of the UC Davis freshman squad in the early 1970s, his team captain was Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti?During Hackett's senior season on the UC Davis football team (1968), the linebackers coach was Oregon offensive line coach Neal Zoumboukos?Oregon defensive line coach Steve Greatwood was USC's offensive line coach the past 2 years (1998-99)?USC TB Sultan McCullough's brother, Saladin, was a tailback at Oregon in 1996 and 1997 (he scored a touchdown against the Trojans in 1997)?USC S Troy Polamalu's cousin, Leie Sualua, was a defensive lineman at Oregon (Sualua is also the nephew of USC running backs coach Kennedy Pola)?Oregon associate athletic director Renee (Mack) Baumgartner captained the USC women's golf team in 1995 and served as the Women of Troy's coach for 2 years (1994-95)?USC OG Zach Wilson will celebrate his 21st birthday on Saturday (Oct. 14).
LAST GAME - No. 18 USC - stymied on offense by a stingy Arizona defense that forced 5 turnovers and the victim on defense of several big plays - spotted the Wildcats a 21-0 first quarter lead before falling 31-15 in front of 49,342 fans at the Coliseum and an ABC-TV regional audience. The loss dropped the Trojans to 0-2 in the conference play for the first time since 1971. Arizona scored on the game's third play, a 75-yard bomb from QB Ortege Jenkins to WR Bobby Wade (the longest of each player's career and the longest allowed by Troy since a 90-yard UCLA TD in 1992). Jenkins then ran for a 1-yard score in the middle of the opening quarter and true freshman TB Clarence Farmer raced 80 yards for a TD late in the quarter. Following an interception by S DeShaun Hill, the Trojans got on the board late in the half on a 1-yard TD run by TB Petros Papadakis, the first TD allowed by the Wildcats in 10 quarters. On the opening drive of the second half, true freshman PK John Wall - in his first kick as a Trojan after replacing an ineffective David Newbury - nailed a 27-yard field goal. But after Arizona recovered a fumble by QB Carson Palmer deep in USC territory on Troy's next possession, Jenkins ran for a 4-yard TD. Palmer, who was 26-of-50 (a career high in attempts) for 321 yards, threw 3 second-half interceptions and the second set up a 29-yard field goal by PK Sean Keel in the middle of the fourth quarter. USC scored late in the game on Palmer's 7-yard toss to WR Matt Nickels. USC actually had more first downs (18-10), plays (77-57) and total yards (331-253) than Arizona, but the Wildcat defense - which entered the game ranked in the Top 20 in 4 defensive categories (scoring defense at 9.0, rushing defense at 75.3, turnover margin at +1.8 and total defense at 288.0 - held the Trojan offense in check when it mattered (USC ran for just 10 yards and converted only 7-of-17 third downs). Nickels and true freshman WR Keary Colbert had career bests in receptions and yardage, as Nickels caught a game-high 7 passes for 72 yards and Colbert had 6 receptions for a game-high 113 yards (joining R. Jay Soward and Kareem Kelly as the only Trojan true freshmen with 100-plus receiving yards). For UA, Jenkins was 6-of-12 for 110 yards, Farmer ran for a game-best 134 yards on 22 carries and Wade had 4 catches for 102 yards. USC's defense, which had 3 sacks and limited Arizona to 3-of-14 on third down conversions, was led by Hill's 9 tackles and LB Zeke Moreno's 8 stops.
SCHEDULE - Although USC plays 7 of its 12 games at home, its 2000 schedule began with a challenge as the Trojans traveled to East Rutherford, N.J., to play Penn State in the Kickoff Classic. Beyond that, Troy doesn't have a long road trip, going to defending Pac-10 champion Stanford, 1999 bowl teams Arizona State and Oregon State, and UCLA. Visiting the Coliseum are non-conference foes Colorado (the 1999 Insight.com Bowl winner), Notre Dame and San Jose State, plus Pac-10 opponents Oregon (the 1999 Sun Bowl champ), Arizona, California and Washington State.
FUN FACT - In their 48-game series, USC has never played an Oregon team ranked in the AP Top 10 (until this week). In fact, the Trojans have only played a ranked Oregon team 4 times, going 1-3 (losing to the No. 12 Ducks in 1998, 24-22, beating No. 18 Oregon in 1988, 42-14, losing to the No. 15 Ducks in 1958, 25-0, and losing to No. 16 Oregon in 1957, 16-7).
HACKETT - Energetic and innovative Paul Hackett, a one-time USC assistant coach who has been on coaching staffs that have won a national championship in college and a Super Bowl in the pros, made an immediate mark on the Trojan football program upon his return to Troy as its head football coach. In his first year at USC's helm, he led the Trojans to an 8-5 record in 1998 (5-3 in the Pac-10 for a third place tie) and a berth in the Sun Bowl. With his 1998 opening win over Purdue, he became the first head coach to win his Trojan debut since Jess Hill in 1951, and by starting off 3-0, he became only the third Trojan coach since 1915 to win his first 3 games (joining Hill in 1951 and the legendary Howard Jones in 1925). Hackett is one of only two USC head coaches to have won their first outing against Notre Dame (John Robinson is the other). Hackett, Robinson and Larry Smith are the only USC coaches to have guided squads to a bowl game in their first seasons at Troy. In 1999 in his second year at USC, Hackett's team went 6-6 overall (4-5 in the Pac-10 for a sixth place tie) as Troy won its final 3 games of the season and snapped UCLA's 8-game winning streak over the Trojans. USC was in every game, as it was the first time ever that Troy lost all 6 games by 10 points or less. The 53-year-old Hackett signed a 5-year contract to replace Robinson on Dec. 17, 1997. Regarded as one of the game's most progressive offensive coaches, he has 31 years of experience as a college and professional assistant and head coach. He has tutored some of football's top players--including Joe Montana, Marcus Allen, Jerry Rice, Andre Rison, Tony Dorsett, Steve Bartkowski, Charles White, Brian Sipe, Herschel Walker, Danny White, Dwight Clark and Vince Evans--and has worked under such head coaches as Bill Walsh, Tom Landry, Marty Schottenheimer and Robinson. Before coming to Troy, Hackett was the offensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs for 5 years (1993-97). The Chiefs advanced to the NFL playoffs in 4 of those years, including 1997.
Before that, he was at the University of Pittsburgh (1989-92), the first season as the quarterbacks coach and then 3 seasons as the Panthers' head coach (posting a 13-20-1 record). As a college coach, he has a 30-33-1 overall mark in 5 seasons, including 17-13 in 3 years at USC. Hackett began his coaching career for 3 seasons (1969-71) at his alma mater, UC Davis. He then was an assistant at California for 4 years (1972-75).
Then, at age 29, Hackett moved to USC for 5 years (1976-80), where under Robinson he was in charge of the quarterbacks and receivers for the first 2 years and then the quarterbacks and passing game the final 3 years. During his Trojan tenure, USC was the 1978 national champion, won 4 bowl games (including 3 Rose Bowls), posted a 50-8-2 record and produced a Heisman Trophy winner (White). Hackett began his pro coaching career as quarterbacks coach with the Cleveland Browns for 2 seasons (1981-82). He next was the quarterbacks and receivers coach with the San Francisco 49ers for 3 years (1983-85). The 49ers won Super Bowl XIX in the 1984 season. He then became the pass offense coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys for 3 years (1986-88) before returning to the college ranks at Pitt. A 3-year starting quarterback at UC Davis (1966-68), Hackett collects old music juke boxes filled with 1950s and 1960s rock ?n roll music. A rock music fan, he sat in the front row at the final Beatles concert, held in 1966 in Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
Born on July 5, 1947 in Burlington, Vt., he shares a birthday with former USC head coach John McKay. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have 2 sons, David, 28, and Nathaniel, 20. David played on the 1988 Texas Division III state football champion while at Carroll High in Southlake, Tex., and then was an administrative assistant with the USC football program, while Nathaniel is a sophomore on UC Davis' football team. Hackett is 0-2 in his career against Oregon.
PALMER - Although he has struggled somewhat lately, there's little doubt that sophomore Carson Palmer (102-of-176, 58.0%, 1,303 yds, 6 TD, 8 int in 2000) is one of the nation's premier quarterbacks. He currently is 22nd nationally in total offense (253.6, second in Pac-10). How valuable is he to the Trojans? With Palmer at the reins, USC started off the 1999 season undefeated as he completed nearly 75% of his passes. But when he broke his collarbone 2 plays before halftime in Troy's third game (at Oregon), USC hit a tailspin from which it took a while to recover. After missing the rest of the 1999 campaign while rehabilitating the injury (he was allowed to redshirt because he was knocked out so early in the season), he is fully healthy now. He already ranks eighth on USC's career passing ladder (with 271 completions) with just 13 starts under his belt. He is also 14th on Troy's all-time total offense chart (3,399 yards).
--In his first game after an 11-month layoff, Palmer was 10-of-20 passing for 87 yards (with an interception) against Penn State.
--He bounced back from that shaky debut against Penn State by hitting 25-of-30 passes (83.3%) for 275 yards and a TD (3 of his passes were dropped) against Colorado. On USC's game-winning drive - a 9-play, 72-yard drive that began with 1:14 on the clock and culminated with a game-winning field goal with 13 seconds to play - he was 6-of-6 for 68 yards.
--For the second game in a row (and the first time since Rodney Peete did it in 1987 against Arizona and UCLA), he led USC on a late game-winning scoring drive: this time against San Jose State, he brought Troy back from a 12-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter by guiding the Trojans to 22 unanswered points. Overall, he hit 22-of-38 passes for a career-high 338 yards with 2 TDs, including 10-of-12 for 148 yards and a TD in the fourth quarter (he had 6 passes dropped).
--At Oregon State, he was 19-of-38 for 282 yards and 2 TDs, but threw a career-high 3 interceptions.
--He was 26-of-50 (a career-best in attempts) for 321 yards and a TD against Arizona, but for the second week in a row he threw a career-high 3 interceptions.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT CARSON PALMER
Shana Newell, El Paso Times: "Rarely has a Trojan quarterback demonstrated as much promise as Carson Palmer. He could become USC's biggest name yet."
USC tailback Petros Papadakis: "Someday I can tell my kids that Carson Palmer handed me the ball once."
USC offensive coordinator Hue Jackson: "He makes good things happen?Two things I've notice about Carson now (after the injury). He's maturing and he has a burning desire to show everyone he's the player we all think he is."
USC wide receiver Kareem Kelly: "I knew he was good from watching him in high school. But I had no idea he was this good?He's the nucleus of the team. We need Carson. He's a playmaker?He just adds so much to the offense. It's a totally different team when he's in?On the first day of (2000) spring practice, you could tell right away how bad he wanted to be back because usually he would just be walking to practice, but now he was sprinting out there."
USC wide receiver Matt Nickels, Palmer's prep teammate: "In high school, the whole varsity would watch his freshman games and just stand around in awe. I knew this guy was going to be big-time some day."
Former USC safety David Gibson: "He has, by far, the strongest arm I've played against. And it's just not how hard he throws, either. It's his accuracy and touch, too. He can put the ball anywhere. You can have a receiver covered, but he's going to find a way to get the ball to him."
Former USC All-American quarterback Paul McDonald, now USC's radio analyst: "He's so far ahead of the learning curve, it's scary." Former USC quarterbacks coach Ken O'Brien: "He is such a talented young man, with the potential to be as great as anyone I've seen."
Former UCLA cornerback Julius Williams: "If a receiver has a little bit of room and the defensive back is not covering him completely, Carson is going to throw the ball right there and there's no way the defensive back is going to get the ball."
Santa Margarita High coach Jim Hartigan: "Carson has the size of Troy Aikman and the arm strength of John Elway. He's got the super quick release of Dan Marino and the ability to put zip on the ball or touch depending on what the situation calls for. He is extremely calm and poised and he always makes the right decisions. He thrives on pressure. The bigger the game, the better he performs."
ALSO AT QUARTERBACK - USC might have the most experienced backup signalcaller in the nation in senior Mike Van Raaphorst. A 15-game starter in his career, he is 10th on USC's all-time passing list (232 completions) and 20th on the Trojans' career total offense chart (2,809 yards). He took over for 5 games in 1999 when Palmer went down before being replaced by John Fox. Against Stanford, he set USC single game passing yardage (415 yards) and total offense (390 yards) records. Also a star in the classroom, he has a team-best 3.72 GPA and is taking classes in USC's M.B.A. program this fall after receiving his bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism and political science this spring. He is applying for a Rhodes Scholarship.
RUNNING BACKS - One tailback usually carried the ball for Troy in 1999: Chad Morton, a 2-year starter who ended his career as USC's No. 8 rusher (2,511 yards), including a dozen 100-yard outings, and now plays in the NFL. Last fall, he ran for 1,141 yards (the most at USC since 1990) and 15 TDs (the most by a Trojan since 1981). In 2000, a combination of speed burners and power runners to share the load at tailback. Sophomore Sultan McCullough (101 tcb, team-high 420 yds, 4.2 avg, 1 TD in 2000, plus 4 rec, 3.2 avg), who has started all 5 games of 2000, is a legitimate speed merchant. The 1999 Pac-10 100 meters champion and eighth-place finisher in the 2000 NCAA 100 (he also ran a leg on USC's 400-meter relay which was fifth at the 2000 NCAA Meet), McCullough is the fastest Trojan footballer ever (10.17 in the 100, the best mark in the world in 1999 by an under-20 runner). He showed flashes of his gridiron potential last fall, even jetting 48 yards against UCLA for Troy's longest run of 1999. The power guys are senior Petros Papadakis (38 tcb, 109 yds, 2.9 avg, team-high 5 TD in 2000, plus 1 rec, 11.0 avg), who ran for 365 yards and a team-best 8 touchdowns while starting 4 times in 1998 but missed all of 1999 and last spring's practice with a serious foot injury (he is healthy now) and junior Malaefou MacKenzie (18 tcb, 61 yds, 3.4 avg in 2000, plus 11 rec, 9.6 avg and 1 KOR, 20.0 avg), who has 542 rushing yards and 2 starts in a career that has been injury-plagued. Look for Papadakis in USC's short-yardage formations (his 5 rushing TDs in 2000 have all been 5 yards or less). A pair of Trojans appear at fullback, led by returning starter Charlie Landrigan (3 tcb, 9 yds, 3.0 avg in 2000, plus 3 rec, 5.7 avg), an unheralded junior who performed solidly in 1999, and sophomore Chad Pierson (3 tcb, 16 yds, 5.3 avg in 2000, plus 4 rec, 15.2 avg, 1 TD). Both are rugged blockers and good pass catchers, but none has been asked yet to prove his running ability.
--In his first-ever career start, McCullough ran for 128 yards on 29 carries (both career highs) against Penn State (he also caught 3 passes for 16 yards) to gain Kickoff Classic MVP honors, while Papadakis had 29 yards on 11 carries (with a 2-yard TD on his first carry of 2000 after missing the 1999 season with a broken foot) and Pierson had 16 yards on 2 carries and another 28 yards on 2 catches.
--Against Colorado, McCullough ran for a team-best 91 yards on 28 carries and had a 5-yard TD run, while Papadakis had 23 yards on 5 tries, MacKenzie caught 2 passes for 16 yards and Landrigan caught an 11-yard pass.
--McCullough had 21 carries for a career-best 136 yards, both game highs, against San Jose State, while Papadakis ran for 52 yards and a career-best 3 TDs (1, 5 and 3 yards) on a career-high 15 carries (his 5-yard score was the game winner with 2:34 to play).
--At Oregon State, McCullough had a team-best 33 yards on 10 carries before leaving early in the second half with a knee injury, MacKenzie added 28 yards on 9 tries and another 68 yards on 4 catches and Pierson caught 2 passes for 33 yards (including a 1-yard TD grab).
--McCullough had just 32 yards on 13 tries against Arizona and Papadakis scored on a 1-yard run.
WIDE RECEIVERS--You'd think that USC would be in trouble at the wide receiver spots in 2000, since such high-caliber players as starters R. Jay Soward and Windrell Hayes are gone. After all, Soward finished his time at Troy as the school's No. 4 all-time pass catcher (161 grabs, including 51 last fall) and was an NFL first round draft pick. Hayes, another NFL draftee, caught 79 passes in his Trojan career, including a team-best 55 in 1999 with 4 TDs. But USC might have the best young wideout corps anywhere, led by experienced sophs Kareem Kelly (team-high 20 rec, 13.9 avg, 1 TD in 2000, plus 2 tcb, 1.5 avg), Marcell Allmond (16 rec, 15.2 avg in 2000, plus 2 tcb, 23.0 avg and 1 KOR, 16.0 avg) and Steve Stevenson (5 rec, 15.5 avg in 2000, plus 15.5 KOR avg). Kelly, the 1999 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American second teamer, was USC's second-leading receiver last fall. He set Pac-10 freshman records for most catches (54) and receiving yards (902) while starting twice. The only Trojan with a catch in every game in 1999, he had 4 outings with 100 receiving yards. He's on the 2000 Biletnikoff Award Watch List. He has caught a pass in every game he has played in since he arrived at USC (16 in a row, he sat out this year's Arizona game with an injury) and has 6 100-yard receiving games in his career. With 74 career receptions, Kelly is 21st on USC's all-time pass catching list.
Allmond - who broke his leg against Arizona and is out for the rest of the 2000 season - started 3 times in 1999, while Stevenson's start at Oregon in 1999 marked the first time that a true freshman started at wide receiver for USC since 1984. Kelly (sprints) and Allmond (hurdles, decathlon), former California state prep champs in their specialties, also compete for the Trojan tracksters. Kelly owns the world junior record in the indoor 50-meter dash, while Allmond was second in the 110-meter high hurdles and seventh in the decathlon at the 2000 Pac-10 Meet. Other wideouts who contribute are senior Matt Nickels (12 rec, 11.1 avg, 3 TD in 2000), an ex-walk-on who earned a scholarship this season, and prep All-American Keary Colbert (13 rec, 17.4 avg in 2000), a true freshman.
--Kelly had 2 catches for 15 yards against Penn State and Allmond added a 21-yard grab (Fletcher ran a blocked punt 6 yards for a TD on special teams).
--Kelly had a career-best 10 catches for 145 yards (both game highs) against Colorado, while Allmond (18 yards), Nickels (26 yards) and Colbert (34 yards) each had 3 grabs (Nickels caught an 8-yard TD).
--Against San Jose State, Kelly had a game-high 7 catches for 106 yards (including a 61-yard TD), Allmond made 4 grabs for a career-best 99 yards, Stevenson (28 yards) and Colbert (29 yards) each had big catches in USC's game-winning scoring drive (Colbert had 2 grabs for 40 yards in the game) and Nickels made a spectacular 2-point conversion grab.
--At Oregon State, Allmond had 5 catches for 75 yards (tying for game high and career best in receptions), Nickels had 2 grabs for 35 yards (including an acrobatic 12-yard TD on the side of the end zone, Colbert added 2 catches for 39 yards and Kelly had 1 for 11 yards.
--With Kelly sidelined against Arizona with quad and ankle injuries and Allmond suffering a season-ending broken leg (he had 3 catches for 31 yards before the injury, he did not start for disciplinary reasons), Nickels and Colbert both started and came through with career bests in receptions and yardage. Nickels caught a game-high 7 passes for 72 yards and Colbert had 6 receptions for a game-high 113 yards (joining Kelly and R. Jay Soward as the only Trojan true freshmen with 100-plus receiving yards).
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT KAREEM KELLY
Former USC tailback Chad Morton: "He's going to be one of the game's greats. That's the Biletnikoff Award winner right there."
Karen Crouse, Los Angeles Daily News: "Kareem Kelly has more tools than a carpenter. Before he's through, he could add on another wing to Heritage Hall. He has height, heart, great hands, a gazelle's gait and as many gears as a Ferrari's just naturally equipped for success is an astute student of the game. On the field, the only thing churning faster than his legs is his mind."
Long Beach Poly track coach Don Norford: "His gait is so smooth and relaxed that you really can't judge how fast Kareem is. It's like when a cheetah attacks the gazelle. The gazelle doesn't realize how fast the cheetah is until it's right into him. With Kareem, a cornerback thinks he has an angle on him, then he shifts into another gear. And Kareem has about three or four more gears he can use."
TIGHT ENDS - Look for USC's tight ends to be more prominent in 2000. Senior Antoine Harris (7 rec, 10.0 avg, 1 TD in 2000), a reliable veteran, starts at tight end for his fourth season in 2000 and could be in for a big senior campaign. An accomplished blocker and able receiver, he has 38 receptions with 3 touchdowns in his career. Besides backup Scott Huber, a sophomore (he started the 2000 Arizona game for an injured Harris), a pair of top-quality recruits have entered the picture this fall: sophomore Doyal Butler (3 rec, 15.3 avg in 2000), who spent 1998 at Purdue, and freshman Alex Holmes (3 rec, 7.3 avg in 2000).
--Against Colorado, Harris had 2 catches for 28 yards.
--Harris had 2 receptions for 21 yards against San Jose State, including an 8-yard TD midway through the fourth quarter to start USC's comeback.
--At Oregon State, Harris had 3 catches for 21 yards.
--Harris missed the Arizona game with a neck injury (Huber started in his place), while Butler had 3 grabs for 46 yards and Holmes caught a 6-yard pass.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN - For the first time in Paul Hackett's 3 years, USC has solid depth on its offensive line. But, as has been the case the past 2 seasons, Troy's offensive success will depend heavily on the performance of these blockers. Dependable senior Brent McCaffrey starts for his third season at left tackle. Senior Trevor Roberts, who started 3 times at left tackle last year, entered the fall as the starting left guard, but has been slowed with a foot injury (his first action came as a backup against Arizona). So, redshirt freshman Lenny Vandermade, who can also play center (he played there in the second half against Arizona), has stepped in there for the first 5 games.
The right side of USC's line suffered the loss of 1999 All-Pac-10 first team tackle Travis Claridge, last year's Pac-10 Morris Trophy winner who started all 48 games of his USC career (the first Trojan offensive lineman ever to do so without redshirting) and is now in the NFL. But junior Faaesea Mailo, who started 5 times last fall at guard, has moved out to right tackle. He also was used as a fullback in short yardage situations at times last year and proved to be a devastating blocker, watch for him in the backfield again in 2000.
Sophomore Zach Wilson, who started the final 7 games of 1999 at right guard and was impressive enough to earn Freshman All-American second team notice, starts there once again. Senior Eric Denmon returns at center after starting there most of last year at center, but his Trojan career has been marked by nagging injuries (he sprained an ankle against Arizona this year).
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN - The defensive line is the most veteran unit on the entire USC team. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better pair of tackles than USC's returning starters: senior Ennis Davis (20 tac, 6 for losses, 3 sac, 1 dfl, 1 FF in 2000), a 2-year starter and on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy "Watch List," and junior Ryan Nielsen (12 tac, 2 for losses, 2 dfl, 1 FF in 2000). Davis, a 1998 All-Pac-10 first teamer, was never quite himself last season after suffering a knee injury in the 1998 Sun Bowl, but he still showed his big-play potential often, tying for the team lead in sacks (5) and even intercepting a pair of passes (returning one 30 yards for a TD as he hurdled his 300-pound body over an opponent to get into the end zone). The underrated Nielsen was named USC's Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1999. Sophomore Bernard Riley (6 tac,1 for loss, 1 FR, 1 BLK in 2000), who appeared mostly in short yardage situations last fall, will push this duo for time (he started against Arizona for an injury-slowed Nielsen). USC's already-deep group of ends was bolstered by the return of senior Sultan Abdul-Malik (9 tac, 4 for loss, 1 sac in 2000) to the position. He was USC's sack leader in 1997 and 1998 while starting at end, but started at strongside linebacker last fall. He was moved back to the line to take advantage of his pass rushing skills (he has 20 sacks in his career). Abdul-Malik competes with junior Lonnie Ford (5 tac, 3 for losses, 2 sac, 2 dfl, 1 FF in 2000), who started at end in 1999 after playing tight end earlier in his USC career. Ford's 5 sacks last fall gave him a share of the Trojan lead. The other end spot again is manned by seniors Matt Childers (18 tac, 4 for loss, 2 sac, 1 FF in 2000) and Shamsud-Din Abdul-Shaheed (7 tac, 2 for loss, 1 sac in 2000). They are an interchangeable pair as Childers started 7 times last season and Abdul-Shaheed had 5 starts. Childers tied for the team lead in sacks (5) in 1999.
--Davis had 4 tackles (2 for losses, with a 17-yard sack) against Penn State, Childers added 3 stops and Ford had 2 tackles (with a 4-yard sack) and a deflection.
--Against Colorado, Davis had 5 tackles (2 were sacks), Abdul-Malik and Childers each added 3 stops (with 1 sack apiece, Childers also forced a fumble which USC recovered), Nielsen had 3 tackles and Riley made 2 stops and blocked a field goal.
--Abdul-Malik had 3 tackles (2 for losses) against San Jose State, Davis and Childers added 2 stops each (1 for losses, with Davis also getting a deflection), and Nielsen and Abdul-Shaheed 1 each (Abdul-Shaheed's was for a loss).
--At Oregon State, Childers had 8 tackles (2 for losses), Davis and Nielsen both added 5 tackles and forced fumbles which USC recovered (Nielsen's was returned 80 yards for a TD by Zeke Moreno, he also deflected 2 passes), Abdul-Shaheed had 4 tackles (1 sack) and Abdul-Malik had 2 stops.
--Davis had 4 tackles (1 for a loss) against Arizona, Riley started for an injury-slowed Nielsen and added 2 stops (1 for a loss) and recovered a fumble, Ford had 2 stops (both for losses, including a sack) and forced a fumble and deflected a pass, and Childers had 2 tackles.
MORENO/STEELE--USC's 2 returning starters at linebacker are good enough to merit consideration for the Butkus Award (both are on the Butkus Award "Watch List"): seniors Zeke Moreno (team-best 38 tac, 10 for losses, 3 sac, 1 dfl, 1 FR for a TD in 2000) in the middle and Markus Steele (36 tac, team-best 11 for losses, 2 sac, 1 dfl, 1 FR in 2000) on the weak side. Steele currently leads the Pac-10 in tackles for losses (11) and Moreno is tied for second (10). Moreno, who is starting for his third year and is also on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy "Watch List," was USC's leading tackler in 1999. He was third in the Pac-10 in tackles (9.0), tied for first in forced fumbles (5) and tied for third in fumble recoveries (2). Steele, who made an immediate impact in 1999 after transferring from a junior college, topped Troy in tackles for losses last season and was second in total tackles. He was third in the Pac-10 in forced fumbles (3) and tied for third in fumble recoveries (2). Each found the end zone in 1999, Moreno twice (on an interception and fumble recovery against Oregon State) and Steele once (on a fumble recovery at Hawaii).
--Moreno led USC with 6 tackles (including 3 for losses) against Penn State, while Steele added 3 stops.
--Against Colorado, Steele tied for the game high in tackles with 9 (2 were sacks) and Moreno added 7 stops and broke up a pass.
--Steele had a game-high 12 tackles (4 for losses) against San Jose State and Moreno added 6 stops (2 for losses).
--At Oregon State, Moreno had a game-best 11 tackles (3 for losses, including 2 sacks) and returned a fumble 80 yards for a TD (the second year in a row he has done so against the Beavers), while Steele added 7 stops (1 for a loss) and also recovered a fumble.
--Moreno had 8 tackles (2 for losses, with a sack) against Arizona and Steele had 5 stops (4 for losses) with a deflection.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT ZEKE MORENO & MARKUS STEELE
San Jose State head coach Dave Baldwin: "The best pair of tandem inside linebackers that I have ever seen. We've watched film and one moment you'll think Zeke Moreno is the better one, then you watch Markus Steele and think he looks better. They are tremendous together."
Penn State fullback Mike Cerimele: "A great linebacking corps. They fly to the ball."
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Tom Reynolds, USC Report: "On the field, Moreno - USC's ferocious inside linebacker - stalks every play, searching for a ball carrier to pounce on. He is like a cat searching for prey. Off the field, Moreno couldn't be any more the opposite of his on-field demeanor. He is a soft-spoken, God-fearing momma's boy (by his own admission). But don't call him soft."
David Cisneros, Daily Trojan: "Ask anybody who knows him. They'll tell you what a wonderful guy he is. They might tell you how he has become a role model. And they'll tell you he's a hell of a middle linebacker?Moreno displays character rarely seen in sports."
Arizona head coach Dick Tomey: "He's an incredible player. There was nobody in our conference who was as outstanding at linebacker in 1999."
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USC cornerback Kris Richard: "Markus can play. He had a lot of hype coming in and he backed it up. When you watch him on film, it's pretty amazing. To be as fast as he is at that position. He plays fast and he hits hard. And he is so intelligent on the field."
Former USC tailback Chad Morton: "He's fast, real fast. People try comparing him to (ex-USC Butkus Award winner) Chris Claiborne, but they're not the same type of players. Chris would run through people and rough you up. Markus' game is to get to the ball and cover well. He's very fast. He'll catch you if you're not running your fastest."
USC safety DeShaun Hill, Steele's junior college teammate: "The first time I saw him with pads on, I knew what the deal was. I started calling him ?freak' because he has freaky athletic ability. He's fast enough to play defensive back but strong enough to take on offensive tackles. He's just amazing. He's just scratching the surface."
Phil Collin, South Bay Daily Breeze: "He makes numerous highlight film-type plays with his relentless pursuit and ability to slither away from blocking schemes designed to slow him down."
Scott Wolf, Los Angeles Daily News: "His speed and size make him attractive. He could probably even play strong safety in the NFL because of his athleticism."
Former USC linebackers coach Shawn Slocum: "He's a guy with the ability to make plays all over the field. He's just plain fast. He comes off the edge and slithers through. What stands out is his range and that he plays with violence."
USC football television analyst Craig Fertig, a former Trojan player and assistant coach: "People are starting to run away from him. But, hey, go ahead. He'll catch them."
Long Beach City College head coach Larry Reisbig: "He's the best player I've ever had. Sure, he's got great athletic ability, but he's much more than just a great athlete. He has a real feel for the game and how the position is supposed to be played. He'd constantly talk to the coaches and watch as much film as he could. He's a great leader and a wonderful kid to coach."
OTHER LINEBACKERS--Even though one of 1999's starting linebackers--Sultan Abdul-Malik--moved to the defensive line, there's no cause for concern at the Trojans' strongside linebacker position in 2000. The new starter there is junior Kori Dickerson (13 tac in 2000), who played defensive end earlier in his career (even starting once there last fall). He also high jumps for the USC track squad, with a best of 6-8.
--Dickerson made 2 tackles against Penn State.
--Dickerson had 2 stops versus Colorado.
--He had 2 tackles against San Jose State.
--He made 1 tackle at Oregon State.
--He had 6 tackles against Arizona.
DEFENSIVE BACKS--If it's competition you're looking for, watch USC's secondary throughout the 2000 season. The Trojans are well-stocked here, particularly at the cornerback spots, so expect all the players to be going all out all the time to get into the lineup. Both cornerbacks who started in 1999 came back, although only one will see the field in 2000. Junior Kris Richard (4 tac, 3 dfl in 2000, plus 10 PR, 9.3 avg) led USC in interceptions (6, tied for 17th nationally) last season (he returned 2 for scores), opening some eyes in the process. Senior pre-season All-American Antuan Simmons, a 3-year starter who has blocked 6 kicks in his career (including 2 field goals and a PAT last year), missed spring drills while recovering from late-season back surgery. He then had surgery in May to remove a benign abdominal tumor and will redshirt the 2000 season while recuperating. He returned a fumble 44 yards for a TD at Arizona in 1999.
Sharing Simmons' corner spot have been a trio of players: sophomores Darrell Rideaux (11 tac, team-high 4 dfl in 2000) and Kevin Arbet (13 tac, 1 for a loss, 2 dfl in 2000, plus 6 KOR, 22.7 avg), and junior Chris Cash (15 tac, 1 int, 2 dfl, 1 FF in 2000). Rideaux, who started USC's last 2 games of 1999 for an injured Simmons and was named a Freshman All-American second teamer, started USC's first 4 games of 2000. He doubles as a sprinter for the Trojan tracksters (in the spring of 2000, he was fifth in the 100 meters at the Pac-10 Meet and ran leadoff for the 400-meter relay squad which was fifth at the NCAA Meet).
Arbet, a one-time walk-on who made such an immediate impression in 1999 that he earned a scholarship during his initial fall camp, started against Arizona this year and started twice in 1999 as an extra defensive back (returned an interception 75 yards for a TD against Louisiana Tech last season).
Cash, a junior college transfer who enrolled at USC last spring and participated in spring practice, started the San Jose State game for an injury-slowed Richard. Last season's starting free safety, senior Ifeanyi Ohalete (28 tac, 1 for a loss, 3 dfl in 2000) is back and joins with new starting strong safety Troy Polamalu (17 tac, 1 sac, 2 dfl, 1 int for TD, 1 FR in 2000), a sophomore. Ohalete led USC in deflections (15) and was third in tackles (84) in 1999, and also tied for first in the Pac-10 in forced fumbles (5) and fumbles recovered (3). Polamalu is filling the shoes of USC's only departed defensive starter from last season, 1999 All-Pac-10 first teamer David Gibson, a 3-year starter who had 241 career tackles (81 last fall).
Two other safeties see playing time: junior Frank Strong (5 tac, 1 BLK in 2000, plus 20.0 KOR avg), a one-time tailback who was moved to defense in the middle of last season, and sophomore DeShaun Hill (14 tac, 3 for a loss, 1 sac, 1 int, 1 dfl in 2000), who was able to redshirt last fall after suffering an early-season back injury.
--Ohalete had 5 tackles versus Penn State, Arbet and Rideaux had 2 apiece (Rideaux also broke up 2 passes), Polamalu had a 43-yard scoring interception return to go along with 2 tackles, Strong blocked a punt which USC returned for a TD, Cash forced a fumble and Richard broke up 2 passes.
--Against Colorado, Ohalete tied for the game high in tackles with 9, Polamalu made 5 stops and returned a fumble 19 yards to set up a USC TD, Arbet had 4 tackles, Cash made 3 stops and Richard had 2 stops and a deflection before leaving with a knee sprain.
--Cash, who made his first start in the San Jose State game, and notched 9 tackles and intercepted a pass late in the contest to seal the win, while Ohalete added 5 stops (1 for a loss) and a deflection, Polamalu had 4 tackles with a deflection, Hill made 3 stops (1 for a loss), Rideaux had 3 tackles and 2 deflections, Strong and Richard had a tackle each and Arbet broke up 2 passes.
--At Oregon State, Ohalete had 7 tackles and 2 deflections, Polamalu and Arbet had 5 stops each (Polamalu also had a sack), Rideaux and Cash had 2 tackles each, and Strong, Richard and Hill added 1 stop apiece.
--Hill had a game-high 9 tackles (2 for losses, with a sack) and also intercepted a pass (to set up a USC TD) against Arizona, Ohalete and Rideaux had 2 stops each (Ohalete injured an ankle mid-game), and Arbet started for Rideaux and got a tackle.
SPECIALISTS--Junior Mike MacGillivray (40.7 avg in 2000) is back for his third season as USC's punter and is listed on the "Watch List" for the Ray Guy Award. An effective placement punter (64 of his 183 career punts have pinned opponents inside the 20) with an above-average leg (23 of his career punts have traveled at least 50 yards), he is looking to become more consistent in 2000. Although junior David Newbury (4-of-9 FG, 9-of-12 PAT in 2000) was USC's placekicker last fall, a 3-way battle for the job was waged this fall between Newbury, senior David Bell and 1999 prep All-American John Wall (1-of-1 FG, 0-of-1 PAT in 2000), a true freshman. Newbury, who regained his job for 2000 before faltering and being replaced by Wall in the middle of the Arizona game, began his first year at Troy by nailing a season-long 48-yard field goal on his first attempt at Hawaii in 1999, but then struggled with consistency the rest of the way. Bell, who is in his fourth season as USC's strong-legged kickoff man, has had touchbacks on 15 of his 24 kickoffs in 2000 (3 others were not returned past the 20, another 4 didn't advance past the 26 and 2 were unsuccessful on-side kicks). Last year, he took over the placement chores for Newbury in the third quarter of the season-ending Louisiana Tech game and nailed a 38-yard field goal and both extra point kicks.
--Newbury, who missed 9-of-20 field goals in 1999, hit all 3 attempts (47, 27 and 44 yards) against Penn State to tie a Kickoff Classic game record, MacGillivray averaged 46.3 yards punting (but had 1 blocked for a safety) and 5 of Bell's 6 kickoffs were touchbacks.
--Newbury, who had missed a pair of field goals earlier in the Colorado game, nailed a game-winning 24-yarder with 13 seconds to play (it was the latest in a game that a Trojan kicked a game-winnign field goal since Don Shafer did so at the gun at Baylor in 1986), for his performance, he was named the Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week. MacGillivray averaged 48.0 yards on his 2 punts against the Buffs and 3 of Bell's 4 kickoffs were touchbacks (the other was not returned past the 20).
--Against San Jose State, 3 of Bell's 6 kickoffs were touchbacks (2 others weren't returned past the 20) and MacGillivray averaged 40.0 yards on his 4 punts (but had another blocked for a TD).
--At Oregon State, MacGillivray averaged 40.3 yards on his 6 punts (2 were pinned OSU within the 20) and 2 of Bell's 4 kickoffs were touchbacks.
--After Newbury missed a pair of field goals and had a PAT kick blocked against in the first half of the Arizona game, Wall assumed the placekicking duties in the second half and nailed a 27-yard field goal on his first kick as a Trojan (he had a PAT kick blocked). Bell had 2 of his kickoffs land as touchbacks (another wasn't returned past the 25 and the fourth was an unsuccessful on-side kick), while MacGillivray averaged 37.0 yards on 7 punts (with 3 pinning the Wildcats within the 20).
TO THE RESCUE - Four USC players--DT Bernard Riley and Malcolm Wooldridge, WR Steve Stevenson and S Kyle Matthews--have received quite a bit of national attention for their role in coming to the aid of an injured USC student early in the season. In the early morning hours on Sept. 1, USC sophomore Danielle Dauenhauer accidentally fell head first out of the second floor window of her campus apartment, only to get impaled in the buttocks by a pair of spikes on a security fence. The players, who were in the downstairs apartment, heard her screams and rushed outside. For the next 20 minutes, they supported the 165-pound woman (her feet were sticking in the air, her head was pointed down) to relieve the pressure of the spikes while paramedics were summoned. They also kept talking with her to help calm her down. When the paramedics arrived, the bars were cut off the fence still sticking in her, she was taken to a local hospital where the bars were removed, and unbelievably she was released the following day in good condition. (If she hadn't been impaled, she likely would have landed on her head and broken her neck). The players subsequently appeared on such national television shows as NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and ESPN's "College GameDay." They also received a commendation from California lieutenant governor Cruz M. Bustamante.
STATS OF NOTE - In its last 3 games, USC has spotted opponents a cumulative 49-0 lead before scoring (14-0 versus both San Jose State and Oregon State and 21-0 versus Arizona)?USC, which had 25 turnovers in 1999 (2.1 a game), already has 15 in 2000 (3.0 a game), including 13 in the past 3 games (4 each versus San Jose State and Oregon State and 5 against Arizona)?USC, which had a national-best 39 takeaways in 1999 (3.3 a game), has just 7 in 2000 (1.4 average)?USC is converting 44.7% (34-of-76) of its third downs and holding opponents to 25.7% (19-of-74), with both figures leading the Pac-10...USC has allowed opponents to return only 8 of 24 kickoffs (fewest in the Pac-10)?USC has decisively outscored opponents in the second (41-21) and fourth (44-20) quarters, but the Trojans have been drastically outscored in the first quarter (48-21)?USC is outgaining its opponents (386.4 total yards to 300.8)?USC has had 2 punts blocked in 2000 (one for a safety and another for a TD)?USC, which was penalized an average of 10.7 times for 91.1 yards a game in 1999, has improved somewhat in that area in 2000, where it has had 8.2 penalties for 72.0 yards per outing (USC had 7 penalties in its first 2 games, then 8-9-10 in the past 3).
RANDOM NOTES
***A pair of senior former walk-ons?WR Matt Nickels and LB Ryan Shapiro?earned scholarships in 2000.
***Quarterback Mike Van Raaphorst has 15 career starts, is 10th on USC's all-time passing list, owns the USC single game passing record (415 yards), has a team-best 3.72 GPA, already earned his bachelor's degree and is taking courses in USC's M.B.A. program this fall. Not bad for a backup!
***OT Brent McCaffrey, who worked on his grandfather's Fresno farm as a youngster, was named to the 2000 All-American Farm Team by Successful Farming magazine (he was similarly honored in 1999).
***James Pursell, USC's oldest living football letterman, turned 100 on Aug. 20. He lettered in 1921-22-23 as a 156-pound guard and was a member of USC's first Rose Bowl team (Troy beat Penn State, 14-3, in the 1923 Rose Bowl).
***Marcus Allen, USC's 1981 Heisman Trophy-winning tailback, will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this Dec. 12. USC has 29 representatives in the College Football Hall of Fame, including 22 players.
***This year's San Jose State contest was USC's 500th football game in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
***The 2000 season is the 50th anniversary of the adoption of "Conquest" as USC's battle cry and the 100th anniversary of the birth of the song's composer, Alfred Newman.
***This might be one of the fastest teams USC has fielded. In fact, the Trojan men's track team (which won the 2000 Pac-10 title and was seventh at the NCAA meet) has benefited greatly from the USC football squad.
TB Sultan McCullough (bests of 10.17 in the 100 meters, 20.61 in the 200 meters) won the 100 at the 1999 Pac-10 meet, placed eighth in the 100 in the 2000 NCAA meet and 3 times has clocked 10.17 in the 100 to become the fastest Trojan footballer ever.
WR Kareem Kelly (10.28, 20.53), who set the world junior record in the indoor 50-meter dash (5.67) and ran a best of 10.33 in the 100 in 2000, won the 100 and 200 at the 1999 California state meet after capturing the 200 in 1998.
CB Darrell Rideaux (10.30, 21.03), who clocked a best of 10.37 in the 100 in 2000, won the California state 100 in 1998 (he was second in 1999 and third in 1997) and was fourth in the 200 in 1999.
CB Miguel Fletcher (10.47, 20.94), who went a best of 10.61 in the 100 and 21.06 in the 200 in 2000, was the runnerup in the California state 100 in 1997 and 1998 and in the 200 in 1998. The Rideaux-McCullough-Fletcher-Kelly quartet even ran an early-season 400-meter relay in 2000, winning in 40.08.
WR Marcell Allmond (13.54 in the 110-meter high hurdles) won the California state high hurdles in 1998 and 1999 (he was sixth in the 1999 intermediates), and also set a National Junior Olympics record in the decathlon in 1999.
In 2000, he was second in the high hurdles in the Pac-10 meet and the U.S. Junior Nationals, and ran a best of 13.89. And speaking of track, another Trojan footballer contributes in the field portion of the sport. LB Kori Dickerson (6-8 high jump) placed third in the high jump at the 1999 and 2000 USC-UCLA dual meets.
***OT-OG Faaesea Mailo, a 6-4, 330-pound Hawaiian, participated in the sumo club in high school, where he won the Hawaii state championship. He even went to Japan in 1996 to train with pro sumo wrestlers, who tried unsuccessfully to convince him to take up the sport as a profession. He missed the 1997 and 1998 USC seasons while on a Mormon mission in Sapporo, Japan (imagine opening your door and seeing him!). In short yardage situations last season, he lined up at fullback a la Refrigerator Perry and proved to be a devastating blocker (USC converted all but one try in that formation), he's doing that again in 2000.
***LB John Cousins is deaf in one ear and impaired in the other. He wears a hearing aid. That handicap could present some unique challenges on the football field.
***OT Phillip Eaves spent part of 1997 in the Army at Fort Jackson, S.C.
***Four Trojans have fathers who played on national championship USC football squads: DE Sultan Abdul-Malik (father, Ed Powell (now Wali Abdul-Malik) was on 1972 and 1974 teams, OT-OG Derek Graf (father, Allan, was on 1972 team), OT Brent McCaffrey (father, Bob McCaffrey, was on 1972 and 1974 teams), and S Kyle Matthews (father, 1977 All-American Clay, was on the 1974 team). Matthews' uncle, Bruce, was a 1982 All-American offensive guard at USC.
Two other Trojans have dads who lettered at Troy in 1970 and 1971: TB Petros Papadakis (father, John) and S John Morgan (father, Mike). And S-CB Kevin Arbet is the stepson of ex-Trojan (1980-82) Jeff Simmons. Papadakis also has a brother (Taso, 1994 and 1996) who played at USC, as does LB Darryl Knight (Ryan, 1984-87, and Sammy, 1993-96). Two Trojans have cousins who played at USC--WR Kareem Kelly (Rashard Cook, 1995-98) and TE-SNP Joe Boskovich (Martin Boskovich, 1993)--and two have uncles who were Trojan footballers: S Troy Polamalu (Kennedy Pola, 1982-85, now USC's running backs coach) and OG-C Norm Katnik (John Katnik, 1986-87).
***Speaking of genes: DE Sultan Abdul-Malik's brother, Hassan, is a junior safety on Cal State Northridge's football team, while brother Saeed is a senior defensive end at UNLV.
S-CB Kevin Arbet's cousin, Lamarr Arbet, is a freshman defensive lineman at San Jose State and his uncle, Darren Arbet, is the head coach of the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League.
TE Alex Holmes' father, Mike, lettered at defensive end at Michigan in 1974 and 1975. Besides his 2 brothers who played at USC, another of LB Darryl Knight's brothers, Greg, played defensive line at Colorado, and his father, Sam Sr., played on the California state championship basketball team in the early 1960s at Riverside (Calif.) Community College that was coached by Jerry Tarkanian.
TB Sultan McCullough's brother, Saladin, was a tailback at Oregon, while his late father, Bruce, ran track at San Jose State in the 1960s.
OT-OG Faaesea Mailo's father, James, played football at Hawaii, while brother, Anipati, is a sophomore linebacker at Hawaii and brother, Fulutusi, is a freshman linebacker at Montana State.
LB Zeke Moreno's brother, Moses, was a 3-year (1995-97) starting quarterback at Colorado State who now plays for the San Diego Chargers, his mother, Arcinia Arenas, played fullback and linebacker with the Mighty Mommas in a San Diego women's tackle football league for a season when Zeke was little.
PK David Newbury's father, Gerry, played professional soccer in England.
S Ifeanyi Ohalete's half brother, Earl Simpson, played football at Texas A&M and another, Carl, plays pro basketball overseas.
S Troy Polamalu's uncle is former USC fullback Kennedy Pola (1982-85), now the Trojans' running backs coach, while another uncle, Al Pola, played football at Penn State, a cousin, Nicky Sualua, was a running back with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys who attended Ohio State, another cousin, Leie Sualua, was a defensive lineman at Oregon, and another cousin, Joe Polamalu, played for Oregon State in 1987 and 1988.
LB A.J. Single's father, Doug, played at Stanford, then was the Cardinal's offensive line coach before serving as athletic director at Northwestern and SMU.
QB Mike Van Raaphorst's brother, Jeff, was a record-setting quarterback at Arizona State (1983-86) and the 1987 Rose Bowl MVP, his dad, Dick, was a kicker with Ohio State and the San Diego Chargers, while another brother, Bill, was an offensive lineman at San Diego State.
TE coach Brian Schottenheimer is the son of ex-Kansas City Chiefs head coach Marty Schottenheimer.
DB coach Dennis Thurman's brother, Junior, was a USC defensive back (1985-86).
LB coach A.J. Christoff's son, Rob, is an assistant football coach at Montana State.
***Two Trojans have Hollywood connections. OT Derek Graf's father, Allan, is a stuntman, stunt coordinator and second unit director who has been involved in many noted Hollywood films, most recently "On Any Given Sunday" and "The Replacements." TE Antoine Harris' late stepfather was comedian/actor Robin Harris, who appeared in movies such as "Mo' Better Blue," "House Party," "Do The Right Thing," and "Harlem Nights." The cartoon series, "Bebe's Kids," is based on characters in Robin's comedy routine.
***USC head coach Paul Hackett is a rock music fan. He sat in the front row at the final Beatles concert, in 1966 in Candlestick Park in San Francisco. He still goes to concerts quite frequently. As a hobby, he collects old music juke boxes filled with 1950s and '60s rock 'n roll music.
CAPTAINS - USC's season captains, as elected by their teammates, are LB Zeke Moreno, DT Ennis Davis, TB Petros Papadakis and C Eric Denmon, all seniors.
ROSTER UPDATES - There are several personnel updates that are not listed in the 2000 USC football media guide: Malcolm Wooldridge, a 6-2, 300-pound first-year freshman defensive tackle (he'll wear #96), joined the Trojans midway through training camp as a scholarship player. He played at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., in 1999 after spending the 1997 and 1998 seasons at Olympic Heights High in Boca Raton, Fl. (he was a 1998 All-Palm Beach County Athletic Conference Class 5-A first teamer and made 80 tackles with 9 sacks in 1997)...OT Nate Steinbacher is now #71, SNP-TE Joe Boskovich is now #64 and S Danny Bravo is now #47...Ten walk-ons have joined the Trojan squad: #5, QB Richie Wessman (6-1, 195, San Clemente, San Clemente HS/Orange Coast JC), #13, CB Peter Polk (5-10, 175, Los Angeles, St. Bernard HS/West Los Angeles CC), #15, QB Matt Harris (6-4, 210, Las Vegas, NV, Meadows HS), #18, P Tommy Huff (6-1, 225, Bellevue, WA, Bellevue HS, U. of Michigan), #31, P-PK Drew Thomas (6-3, 200, Johnson City, TN, Westlake HS), #41, P-CB Matt Lemos (5-10, 165, Redwood City, St. Francis HS), #46, WR Forrest Mozart (6-1, 195, Los Altos Hills, St. Francis HS), #48, S Kyle Matthews (6-0, 170, Agoura, Westlake HS), #61, LB Aaron Orndorff (6-1, 235, Bakersfield, Stockdale HS), and #70, OG Spencer Torgan (6-1, 265, Calabasas, Harvard-Westlake HS). Wessman and Polk are sophomores, Huff is a redshirt freshman and the others are first-year freshmen...A trio of walk-ons?#40 Michael Torres, #47 Spencer McCroskey and #82 D. Hale?has quit the team, as has #57 Carlos Acosta...Freshman DT Sagan Atuatasi did not meet USC admission standards and is not with the Trojans in 2000.
USC: COLLEGE OF THE YEAR 2000--USC was named the "College of the Year" by the 2000 edition of the Time/The Princeton Review College Guide. USC was chosen because of the remarkable bonds the university has forged with local schools, community residents, police, businesses and community organizations. "More institutions might do well to emulate USC's enlightened self-interest," according to the guide's editors. "For not only has the 'hood dramatically improved, but so has the university." The editors cited the university's model of service learning -- the practice of applying academic theory to real-life situations through public service -- as their main reason for choosing USC as college of the year, saying USC has one of the most ambitious social-outreach programs of any university in the nation. USC also has seen its undergraduate applications nearly double over the last few years and enrolled the most academically accomplished freshman class in its history. And USC is the only university in history to have received three individual gifts of $100 million or more. USC: "HOT SCHOOL" OF 2001--USC has been chosen as one of America's nine "hottest schools" by the 2001 edition of the Newsweek/Kaplan College Guide. USC was selected because it lives up to its reputation as a top-notch institution of higher education. "Just as East Coast students go for New York and NYU, the West Coast is gravitating to USC in Los Angeles," according to the guide's article. "USC has morphed from a jock school to a serious contender for top students." Students quoted in the article said Los Angeles' ethnic diversity, the offer of scholarships, the small classroom sizes and USC's standing in academe attracted them to the university.
ACADEMICS--USC's official 2000 NCAA football graduation rate is an all-time high 80%...and the 2001 rate will rise to 82%. That rate is more than 20 points higher than the national football average for Division I schools. Among the top scholars on the 2000 Trojan squad are QB Mike Van Raaphorst and LB Ryan Shapiro, who both sport a team-best 3.72 GPA. Both received their bachelor's degrees last spring and are taking graduate courses this fall (Van Raaphorst - who is applying for a Rhodes Scholarship--received his degree in broadcast journalism/political science and is now taking M.B.A. classes, while Shapiro was a business administration grad who is going after his master's in communication). Other USC footballers who star in the classroom are: FB Brennan Ochs (3.12, political science), TE Scott Huber (3.10, business), TE Chad Cook (3.00, business), OG-OT Trevor Roberts (2.96, public policy and management), OT Brent McCaffrey (2.82, planning and development), DT-DE Bobby DeMars (2.82, business administration) and OT Phillip Eaves (2.80, business). Van Raaphorst and Ochs made the 1999 Pac-10 All-Academic first team (Van Raaphorst was an honorable mention selection in 1997 and 1998 and Ochs was an honorable mention pick in 1998), while Huber was an 1999 Pac-10 All-Academic honorable mention pick. In its history, USC football has produced 22 Academic All-American first teamers (tops in the Pac-10 and tied for fifth in the nation), 20 NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship winners, 12 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athletes, 4 NCAA Today's Top Six winners, 1 Rhodes Scholar and 1 Academic All-American Hall of Famer.
IN THE NFL--USC is always well-represented in the NFL. There were 31 ex-Trojans on 2000 opening day NFL rosters (tied for seventh among all schools), including players such as LB Junior Seau, OLs Tony Boselli and Bruce Matthews, DLs Willie McGinest and Darrell Russell, WRs Keyshawn Johnson, Curtis Conway and Johnnie Morton, QB Rob Johnson, and DBs Jason Sehorn and Mark Carrier. Six NFL head coaches have USC ties (either as former players or assistants): New York Giants' Jim Fassel, Tennessee's Jeff Fisher, Seattle's Mike Holmgren, San Francisco's Steve Mariucci, Washington's Norv Turner and San Diego's Mike Riley. Seven current USC players have relatives with NFL playing backgrounds: C Eric Denmon (cousin, Rod Jones), WR Kareem Kelly (cousin, Rashard Cook), LB Darryl Knight (brother, Sammy), S Kyle Matthews (grandfather, Clay Sr., father, Clay Matthews, uncle, Bruce Matthews), OT Brent McCaffrey (father, Bob McCaffrey, uncle, Mike McCaffrey), S Troy Polamalu, (cousin, Nicky Sualua), QB Mike Van Raaphorst, (father, Dick Van Raaphorst). Additionally, head coach Paul Hackett and assistants Dennis Thurman and Brian Schottenheimer were NFL assistants (Thurman also played in the NFL).
ON TV--USC is one of America's most televised teams. The Trojans have appeared on live national, regional or local telecasts 277 times, including all 12 games in 1998 and 1999. In fact, USC had an amazing streak of 111 consecutive games on some form of live television from 1988 to 1997.
SCOUTING OREGON - Oregon, which had a bye last weekend, has won 3 in a row (all at home) after a close (27-23) loss at Wisconsin, including decisive wins over UCLA (29-10) and Washington (23-16). Sixth-year head coach Mike Bellotti has him team in the national Top 25 in 5 defensive categories - second in pass efficiency defense (81.7, second in Pac-10), eighth in total defense (262.4, first in Pac-10), tied for ninth in turnover margin (+1.4, third in Pac-10), 18th in scoring defense (14.6, second in Pac-10) and 25th in rushing defense (104.0, third in Pac-10) - and in the Pac-10's Top Two in 3 offensive categories - first in rushing offense (194.2, 20th nationally) and scoring offense (30.6) and second in total offense (413.8). Junior TB Maurice Morris (122 tcb, 625 yds, 5.1 avg, 5 TD in 2000, plus 7 rec, 5.7 avg) is 10th nationally in rushing (125.0, second in Pac-10). Junior QB Joey Harrington (70-of-148, 47.3%, 958 yds, 6 TD, 4 int in 2000) - 8-1 as a starter in his career - leads the passing attack, with top targets being sophomore FL Keenan Howry (20 rec, 15.7 avg, 2 TD in 2000, plus 17 PR, 7.1 avg) and senior SE Marshaun Tucker (13 rec, 18.5 avg in 2000). A trio of seniors - MLB Matt Smith (34 tac, 4 for losses, 2 int, 1 FR in 2000), DE Saul Patu (28 tac, 10 for losses, 1 FR in 2000) and OLB Garrett Sabol (21 tac, 3 for losses in 2000) - top the Duck defense. Senior PK Josh Frankel (9-of-17 FG, 15-of-16 PAT in 2000) is tied for fifth nationally in field goals (1.8, first in Pac-10).
HACKETT SAYS - "In the loss to Arizona, we exhibited the same characteristics as we did the week before at Oregon State. We got behind as some big plays did us in and the pressure was all on us while Arizona got in a comfort zone. They did an excellent job defending us and held the ball successfully on offense. We made a little run in the second half, but turnovers were a problem. We're out of sorts right now. We just have to step back and reassess things. We have one goal and that's to beat Oregon?This week's game is a great challenge for us because Oregon is riding the highest of anyone in the conference right now. They have momentum and will be fresh coming off a bye. They have a nice combination in Maurice Morris running the ball and Joey Harrington throwing it. But the biggest surprise is their defense. They play very well together on defense and really frustrated Washington. Oregon is on a roll right now. So, this is a huge challenge for us and it's our only focus."
GAME PROMOTIONS - Sophomore Ali Fennell, a midfielder on USC's Top-20 ranked women's soccer team who has a 3.25 GPA, will be recognized during the Verizon Academic Salute?The USC men's and women's track teams, Top 10 finishers at last year's NCAA meet, will be saluted during the Team Trojan Spotlight?It's High School Band Day, with 2,000 members from local high schools performing with the Trojan Marching Band?It's also Trojan Family Day, as family members join their USC students at the game.
INJURY UPDATE - OUT: WR Marcell Allmond (leg), S Matt Grootegoed (mono), Joe McGuire (back), Gregg Guenther (back), TB Chris Howard (knee), LB John Cousins (finger), CB Antuan Simmons (abdominal tumor), TE Chad Cook (knee), DE Jamaal Williams (leg), S John Morgan (knee). PROBABLE: TE Antoine Harris (neck), C Eric Denmon (ankle), Kris Richard (knee). POSSIBLE: WR Kareem Kelly (quad, ankle), S Ifeanyi Ohalete (ankle).
TICKETS - Tickets for the USC-Oregon game, priced at $27, are available at the USC Ticket Office (213-740-GO SC), L.A. Sports Arena box office and all Ticketmaster agencies. For group discounts (25 or more), call (213) 740-4170.
RADIO-TV - Live regional TV: 12:30 p.m. (PDT), ABC-TV, Keith Jackson, Tim Brant, Todd Harris.
Live local radio: 10:30 a.m. (PDT), XTRA-AM (690), Lee Hamilton, Paul McDonald, Tim Ryan (includes 1-hour USC pre- and post-game shows sandwiched by 1-hour college football pre- and post-game shows). Four other stations are included on the USC radio network: KMPC-AM 1540 in Los Angeles, KGEO-AM 1230 in Bakersfield, KFIG-AM 1430 in Fresno and KRLV-AM 1340 in Las Vegas, Nev. Fans also can hear the live XTRA broadcast on the Internet on www.usctrojans.com or can pay to listen to it live by dialing 1-800-846-4675 ext. 5933.
Live local Spanish-language radio: 12:10 p.m. (PDT), XPRS-AM (1090), Ivan Lara (includes 20-minute pre-game show).
USC Sports Magazine Show: 6 p.m. (PDT), Thursday, (Oct. 12), and 3:30 a.m. (PDT), Friday (Oct. 13), FOX Sports Net West 2, Tom Kelly.
USC Trojan Talk: 7 p.m. (PDT), Sundays during football season, KDWN-AM (720), Harvey Hyde, Chuck Hayes. Fans also can hear the live KDWN broadcast on the Internet (type http://www.usctrojans.com).
USC HOTLINE--Dial (213) 743-2989 for a brief taped interview with USC coach Paul Hackett.
INFO CONNECTION--Dial (770) 558-6000, passcode 72210, for the Pac-10 Info Connection, a fax-on-demand system that provides access to press releases from the Pac-10 Office and all Pac-10 schools on a 24-hour-a-day basis. Media callers must have a PIN number (which can be obtained by calling 770-399-0096). Media can also access information at www.mediateamlink.com.
USC ONLINE--The USC athletic department has an official "home page" on the World Wide Web, featuring current and historical information about Trojan sports. For access, type http://www.usctrojans.com.
IT'S NOT SOUTHERN CAL--Note to the media: In editorial references to athletic teams of the University of Southern California, the following are preferred: USC, Southern California, So. California, Troy, Trojans and (for women's teams) Women of Troy. PLEASE do not use Southern Cal.
PAC-10 ONLINE--Pac-10 information, press releases, statistics and links to all league schools are available online at http://www.pac-10.org.
PAC-10 SATELLITE FEED - The Pac-10 provides a weekly satellite feed featuring interviews with coaches and selected players regarding upcoming games along with highlight footage. The half hour feed airs every Wednesday at noon (PDT) through Nov. 22. Coordinates are Telstar 5, Transponder 16 (C-band). Trouble numbers: 310-543-1835 or 310-286-3749 or pager 888-423-0095 or 925-932-4411.
PAC-10 COACHES TELECONFERENCES - Pac-10 football coaches are available for 10 minutes each on a media teleconference beginning at 9:30 a.m. (PDT) every other Tuesday during the season. The remaining dates are Oct. 10, Oct. 24 and Nov. 7. USC coach Paul Hackett comes on at 10:45 a.m. (PDT). Beginning at 1:30 p.m. (PDT) each of those Tuesdays, a taped replay of the teleconference is available anytime. Call the Pac-10 office (925-932-4411) or USC sports information office (213-740-8480) to obtain the media-only phone numbers for the Pac-10 Coaches Teleconference.
