University Southern California Trojans
Southern California Coach Remains Optimistic
October 26, 2001 | Football
Oct. 26, 2001
By KEN PETERS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES - Southern California coach Pete Carroll is determined to remain upbeat despite a string of late-game meltdowns.
After beating Arizona State 48-17 on Oct. 13 to end a four-game losing streak, the Trojans (2-5, 1-3 Pac-10) fell back into their old rut last Saturday, faltering late and losing 27-16 at Notre Dame.
"Through these tough weeks of similar games where we have not been able to finish them, you might think that this is just going to drive me into the dirt and I'm not going to bounce back," Carroll said Tuesday.
"But, being an optimist, I keep looking for the things that are going to help us down the road, the things that are going to make us the type of team that can position itself to win these games."
The Trojans built an early 13-3 lead at South Bend and seemed to be taking control of the game. But USC punter Mike MacGillivray tried to run for a first down on fourth-and-4 from the USC 28 late in the first half, and was stopped for no gain. Notre Dame scored four plays later to pull to 13-10 and, it seemed, switch the momentum.
After the Trojans fell behind 17-16 in the third quarter, their offense sputtered the rest of the way.
"Our problems are in the fourth quarter," Carroll said. "We need to make some plays, in all facets of the game, to get us some wins. We continue to challenge our players so they can come through and make the plays we need to make.
"Unfortunately, the results have been pretty much the same."
Asked about MacGillivray's decision to run, Carroll said that the punter has that option if he sees the field wide open.
But the coach added that he was sorry he put MacGillivray on the spot, saying: "I would love to have not put him in that situation. It was just too difficult and the magnitude was too large."
The Trojans' offense again was inconsistent, with Carson Palmer throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble, all in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame's defense was able to key on him because USC's running game was unproductive in the second half.
The lack of a ground game to keep the pressure off Palmer has been a recurring problem for USC. Sultan McCullough was unable to play against the Irish because of an abdominal strain, and Carroll said the tailback has been slowed by the injury since the first game of the season.
"Sultan's been hurt since the second half of the San Jose State game," the coach said. "Most of the weeks, he hasn't been able to even run. That's 1,100 yards and a 6.2 rushing average (from last season) that we don't have in there.
"We've had to be in transition in that spot."
McCullough, who rushed for 167 yards and three TDs in a 21-10 win over San Jose State, hasn't played since the first quarter of the victory over Arizona State.
McCullough's status for Saturday's game at Arizona is uncertain.
