University Southern California Trojans
Carroll Hopes Trojans Get On A Roll
October 19, 2001 | Football
Oct. 19, 2001
By KEN PETERS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES - Now that the USC Trojans have ended their four-game losing streak, a relieved Pete Carroll hopes they get on a roll.
"It feels a lot better, coming off a win and feeling like we have accomplished something," the USC coach said Tuesday, looking back on a 48-17 victory over Arizona State.
"It gives us the kind of confidence needed to put together a big-time win in South Bend."
The Trojans (2-4, 1-3 Pac-10) play at Notre Dame (2-3) on Saturday.
USC had lost four straight - all to teams that either were nationally ranked or moved into the rankings afterward - by a total of 14 points. They lost at No. 5 Oregon and at No. 15 Washington on field goals in the closing seconds.
Carroll, in his first college head coaching job after spending most of the past two decades working in the NFL, was impressed by the way his USC players weathered the string of narrow defeats.
"It was a hard streak that we had to deal with. We had to endure it and hopefully we can make some positives out of it," he said. "I hate learning the hard way.
"I am really pleased that we were able to maintain our attitude through it. We played very aggressive through that whole portion and it looks like we are coming around and playing better football."
Carroll was particularly pleased with the play of quarterback Carson Palmer, who had been inconsistent during the losing streak.
"I thought Carson Palmer had a great football game last week," the coach said. "He really has put together back-to-back weeks of solid ball. He ran the ball well and made some good choices with audibles at the line of scrimmage. He made some really good throws."
Palmer went 8-of-14 for 152 yards and two touchdowns in the Trojans' 27-24 loss at Washington. He then completed 18-of-26 for 295 yards and three touchdowns and rushed eight times for 28 yards against Arizona State.
The Trojans also got a boost from an unexpected source. Sunny Byrd, a redshirt junior who had never carried for the Trojans, scored two touchdowns and bulled his way for 63 yards on 20 carries against the Sun Devils after taking over for injured tailback Sultan McCullough.
"The explosion of Sunny Byrd on the scene really helped us out," Carroll said. "He gave us a different style of a runner. He attacked the line of scrimmage and showed he can be physical.
"That was probably the greatest 63 yards I've ever seen."
Byrd, a 6-foot, 220-pounder who has been a reserve fullback and special teams player, provided a sharp contrast to McCullough, a speedster who's better in the open field.
"I'm sure ASU didn't expect them to throw me in there and run the ball up the middle," Byrd said.
Carroll said McCullough, who has an abdominal strain, is day-to-day and his status is uncertain for the Notre Dame game.
Byrd is expected to start at tailback and also remain on the kickoff and punt return teams, the same duties he performed against Arizona State.
He grinned and said, "That's why I was kind of tired."
