University Southern California Trojans
No. 1 USC Football Hosts Arizona In Homecoming Game
November 07, 2004 | Football
Nov. 8, 2004
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It's Homecoming at USC and the top-ranked, defending national champion Trojans host Arizona. A USC victory would lock up--at worst--a Rose Bowl berth for the Trojans (and give Troy its third consecutive Pac-10 title, a first since the late 1980s). And a USC win would be its 20th consecutive at home, tying the school record (set twice in the 1920s). Troy also is looking to extend several other winning streaks: 18 overall games (second longest in school history) and 13 Pac-10 games. The Wildcats, who are making their first visit to the Coliseum in 4 years, are the last team to beat a No. 1-ranked USC squad, pulling off a 3-point upset in Los Angeles in 1981. This is the first of USC's final 3 regular-season games, all of which will be played in Southern California. USC--enjoying its best start since 1988--is coming off a hard-fought victory in the fog and cold at Oregon State. The productive Trojan offense features a pair of Heisman Trophy candidates--QB Matt Leinart and do-everything TB Reggie Bush--plus such other talents as TB LenDale White, TE Dominique Byrd and WR Dwayne Jarrett. For the second week in a row, USC is ranked in the NCAA's Top 6 in every defensive statistical category, thanks to the likes of a quartet of All-American candidates: DTs Shaun Cody (a Lombardi semifinalist) and Mike Patterson and LBs Matt Grootegoed (a Butkus semifinalist) and Lofa Tatupu. Arizona, finding its way under new head coach Mike Stoops, snapped a 7-game losing streak with a win last Saturday at Washington. USC's 2004 Athens Olympians will be saluted at halftime. The game will be shown live nationally on FSN cable.
SERIES
USC holds a 21-6 lead in its series with Arizona. The Trojans have won the past 2 meetings. Nine of the last 18 games have been decided by 7 points or less (including 3 by a field goal or less). USC won the first 9 games in the series and 15 of the first 16, but has split the last 4. In Los Angeles games, USC is 12-3. In last year's meeting in Tucson, QB Matt Leinart and WR Mike Williams hooked up on 3 touchdown passes and TB LenDale White ran for 2 more to lead No. 2 USC to a dominating 45-0 whitewash over Arizona. It was the first time in 146 games (dating to 1991) that Arizona was shut out. It was also USC's biggest margin of victory since a 55-point win over Hawaii in 1999, its highest scoring shutout since a 61-0 win over California in 1994 and its most decisive win over Arizona since a 71-point victory in 1928. USC, which was coming off a bye, built a 35-0 halftime lead. White scored on a 1-yard run on USC's first drive, then Leinart hit Williams on a 15-yard scoring toss on the Trojans' second series. The Leinart-Williams duo connected twice more in the second quarter for 22- and 26-yard TDs before TE Gregg Guenther made a spectacular onehanded grab of a 20-yard TD pass from Leinart late in the half. USC finished its scoring late in the third quarter on a 36-yard field goal by PK Ryan Killeen (who set a USC season record for PATs) followed by a 43-yard White run. USC's control over Arizona was complete. The Trojan offense had season bests in total yards (587), passing yards (367), first downs (32, the most since USC had 35 in 1988 against Arizona State), plays (85) and possession time (35:42). USC's defense limited the Wildcats to 195 total yards (just 50 on the ground) and 10 first downs on only 60 plays. Arizona converted just 2-of-15 third downs. Leinart was 22-of-30 for 296 yards and 4 TDs (he was taken out midway through the third quarter) while setting a USC season record for consecutive passes without an interception. Williams, who caught 11 passes for 157 yards and the 3 scores (all game highs), set a Trojan career record for TD catches. White had 90 yards on 15 carries with the 2 TDs and set a USC freshman mark for most rushing touchdowns.
WR Keary Colbert had 7 receptions for 76 yards, TB Reggie Bush ran for 64 yards on 11 tries (he also had a 58-yard kickoff return), TB Hershel Dennis added 52 yards on 10 attempts and QB John David Booty was 3-of-6 for 63 yards. S Jason Leach made 12 tackles (2 for losses) and LB Collin Ashton (who became just the second walk-on to start in at least the past 20 years) added 8 stops. CB Will Poole had 2 interceptions, while CB Marcell Allmond had an interception and a fumble recovery. Arizona QB Kris Heavner was 11-of-30 for 129, but was picked off 3 times.
In 2000 in the last meeting in the Coliseum, 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. 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 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.
HOMECOMING RECORD
USC has a 52-24-4 record in its Homecoming games, dating back to the first such event in 1924.
WIN STREAKS
The Trojans have captured their last 19 home games (with 4 shutouts). That's USC's longest Coliseum win streak since also getting 19 in a row during the 1931 through 1933 campaigns (the school record is 20, both in 1919-23 and 1927-29). Besides that Pac-10 leading 19- game home winning streak, USC also has the longest current Pac-10 win streaks for overall games (18), Pac-10 games (13) and road games (10). Troy's 18-game winning streak is the second longest in the nation (behind Boise State's 19) and is USC's longest since a schoolrecord 25 consecutive from 1931 to 1933. The 13-game Pac-10 win streak is USC's longest since a school-record 19 consecutive in 1987- 89. The 10-game road winning streak is the Trojans' longest since a school-record 14 in a row in 1978-80.
HIGH RANKING
USC has been ranked in the AP Top 10 for its past 28 games, its longest string since 34 in a row in 1978-80. The Trojans have been in the AP Top 5 in 24 of the last 28 polls. USC has been AP's No. 1 team in the last 13 polls.
RECORD WHEN NO. 1
USC has a 45-4-2 (.902) record in games when it is ranked No. 1 by AP. When a No. 1-ranked Trojan team faced a ranked opponent, it has gone 16-2-1 (.868), with the losses versus Oklahoma in 1963 and Alabama in 1977 and the tie with Oklahoma in 1973. When a No. 1 USC squad played an unranked opponent, it went 29-2-1 (.923), with the losses at Oregon State in 1967 and versus Arizona in 1981 and the tie with Stanford in 1979.
FUN FACT I
A No. 1-ranked USC team has faced Arizona only once...in 1981, when the Wildcats pulled off a 13-10 upset in the Coliseum. That makes Arizona the most recent of just 4 teams to ever defeat a top-ranked Trojan team (along with Oklahoma in 1963, Oregon State in 1967 and Alabama in 1977). In that 1981 contest, Troy jumped out to a 10-0 first quarter lead behind a 74-yard run by eventual Heisman Trophy winning TB Marcus Allen (he rushed for 211 yards in the game) and a 41-yard field goal by PK Steve Jordan. But the Wildcats rallied back on a pair of field goals by PK Brett Weber and then a decisive 13-yard, third quarter TD pass from QB Tom Tunnicliffe to RB Vance Johnson. Arizona piled up 405 total yards to USC's 297 (only 60 passing) and the Trojans had 4 turnovers.
FUN FACT II
This will be the first night game Arizona has played against USC in the Coliseum. However, Arizona played what is believed to be the first night college football game ever when it faced St. Vincent's College (now Loyola Marymount) in 1905 at the now-nonexistent Fiesta Park in downtown Los Angeles.
FUN FACT III
USC is 114-26-5 (.803) in presidential election years when Republicans won the White House, but just 70-33-9 (.663) when Democrats won.
BEST START
At 9-0, USC is off to its best start since the 1988 squad began 10-0.
IN THE COLISEUM
USC has a 378-122-27 (.743) all-time record in the Coliseum since the stadium opened in 1923.
IN NOVEMBER
USC has a 220-121-20 (.637) all-time record while playing in the month of November. USC head coach Pete Carroll is 11-0 in November.
CARROLL'S SECOND HALF SHOWING
Fourth-year head coach Pete Carroll's USC teams have been nearly unbeatable during the second half of the regular season. Indeed, his teams are 17-7 in the first half of the regular season and then 19-1 in the second half (not counting 2-1 in the bowls).
2003 COMPARISON
A 9-game statistical comparison shows that the No. 1-ranked Trojans of 2004 are similar to the 2003 national championship USC team in key categories.
WHAT IF?
A number of Trojans--mainly offensive players-- projected as starters in 2004 are not on the USC roster or have missed significant action. They include WR Mike Williams (not eligible after signing with an agent), DE Kenechi Udeze (left early for the NFL), FB Brandon Hancock (out all season with a knee injury), OT Winston Justice (suspended all season), TE Gregg Guenther (playing basketball) and WR Whitney Lewis (ineligible). And several others-- TE Dominique Byrd (missed USC's first 4 games of 2004 with a knee injury) and TB Hershel Dennis (missed first 2 games while suspended)-- have missed some contests this season, while WR Steve Smith (missed last 4 games with a broken leg) could be finished for the season.
HOME ATTENDANCE RECORD PACE
USC, which is averaging 84,649 fans per home game in 2004, is on pace to shatter the school home average attendance record it established last year (77,804). Troy's California and Arizona State home games were sold out, marking only the second time in Trojan history that there have been back-to-back sellouts in the Coliseum (the other time was in 1947 for the UCLA and Notre Dame games). Those 2 crowds (90,008 for California and 90,211 for Arizona State) were USC's largest crowds to see a non-UCLA/non-Notre Dame home game since 1952, when 94,677 fans attended the USC-California game when the Coliseum's capacity was greater than present.
SELLOUTS
USC has 3 home sellouts in 2004 (California, Arizona State, Notre Dame), a school record. USC also will play before at least 6 regularseason sellouts--home and away--in 2004 (the 3 home games plus road contests versus Virginia Tech, Washington State and Oregon State), which ties a school record (previously set in 1979 and 1985). The USC record for most season (including bowls) sellout games played in is 7, set in 1979. This mark could be in jeopardy, although none of the Trojans' other remaining games (against Arizona, at UCLA and in a bowl) have yet been announced as sellouts.
CONNECTIONS
While only 1 Trojan claims Arizona as home (OT Taitusi Lutui attended Mesa High and Mesa Community College), 41 Wildcats hail from California...C Norm Katnik's and TE Kurt Katnik's father, Norman, was a 2-year starting center at Arizona (1978-79); he's also the uncle of WR Brad Walker...C Ryan Kalil's father, Frank, was a center at Arizona (1980-82) and with the USFL's Arizona Wranglers (1983) and Houston Gamblers (1984)...DE Lawrence Jackson's brother, Keith, was an offensive tackle at Arizona...Offensive line coach Tim Davis was a graduate assistant at Arizona in 1987...WR John Zilka's sister, Allison, lettered on the Arizona women's soccer team in 1994.
LAST GAME
Playing in thick fog on a cold (40 degrees) night in Corvallis, TE Dominique Byrd caught a pair of TD passes from QB Matt Leinart and TB Reggie Bush had a dazzling scoring punt return for the second week in row to help No. 1 USC overcome feisty Oregon State, 28-20, before a sold-out crowd of 36,412 and a FSN national cable audience. It was USC's 18th consecutive win, as well as its 13th straight Pac- 10 win and it's 10th in a row on the road. After falling behind 13-0, the Trojans scored the next 28 points. The Beavers jumped ahead on a pair of first quarter field goals by PK Alexis Serna (25 yards after recovering a USC fumble and 32 yards) and then an 8-yard pass from QB Derek Anderson to WR Marcel Love in the second quarter. But then Byrd made a onehanded grab of a Leinart pass for an 18-yard TD late in the half. Following an interception by LB Lofa Tatupu early in the third quarter, Leinart hit Byrd for another score (a 25-yarder) to give USC the lead for good. Then, early in the fourth quarter, Bush was pinned along the OSU sideline after fielding a punt, but reversed his field and went 65 yards for a TD. USC scored again on its next possession, as TB LenDale White ran 5 yards for a score. Late in the game, Anderson hit WR Josh Hawkins for a 36-yard score (it was the first TD USC surrendered in the fourth quarter in 2004), but USC recovered the ensuing onside kick. USC's offense was balanced (210 yards rushing, 205 passing), while the Trojan defense limited OSU to 34 rushing yards and no third down conversions on 13 tries while posting 12 tackles for loss. Overall, Byrd caught 7 passes for 85 yards (career highs), White ran for 116 yards on 25 tries (his sixth career 100-yard game), Bush had 249 all-purpose yards (88 on 11 rushes, 82 on 3 kickoff returns, 73 on 3 punt returns and 6 on 2 receptions) and Leinart was 17-of-31 for 205 yards (he threw an interception at the goal line late in the first half). LB Matt Grootegoed had 9 tackles, including 4 for losses, and a fumble recovery, CB Justin Wyatt added a career-best 8 tackles, DT Mike Patterson had 7 stops, including 5 for losses and S Jason Leach had an interception. For OSU, Anderson was 22-of-51 for 330 yards and WR Mike Hass caught 8 passes for 119 yards. It was the first time USC played in fog since 1937.
SCHEDULE
USC is defending its national championship against a schedule that features 6 opponents who played in bowls last season. Troy's 2004 slate is currently ranked the nation's fifth most difficult, according to the USA Today/Sagarin ratings. USC and Oklahoma are the only schools in the nation to have beaten 3 teams in the current AP Top 25 poll. The challenge started right away, as the Trojans opened on Aug. 28 against perennial power Virginia Tech in the Black Coaches Association Football Classic in Landover, Md. USC then hosted Colorado State and traveled to BYU and Stanford before having a trio of home games (California, Arizona State and Washington)-- the first time since 1998 that Troy played 3 straight at home--followed by another pair of road contests (Washington State and Oregon State). The Trojans--who have 3 byes in 2004 for the second consecutive year-- then returned home to host Arizona and Notre Dame before concluding their season on "Championship Saturday" (Dec. 4) at UCLA. It's a schedule that could help USC better the average overall (72,806) and home (77,804) attendance school records it set last year...and gives credence to the Trojan marketing department's 2004 slogan of " Still The Hottest Ticket In Town."
QUOTABLE
OG Fred Matua, on his talkative nature: "You've got to be loud. Being loud puts pressure on yourself. I want to be the person calling the shots. It's a street attitude. Defense was my identity when I came here. On offense, you can't talk so much because you might end up missing your assignment. "
Pete Carroll
It took energetic and charismatic fourth-year USC head football coach Pete Carroll only 3 years to restore the glory of the Trojan football program and return Troy to national prominence. He is 38-9 (80.94%) as a college head coach (all at USC). His losses were by a total of 42 points (4.7 average) and only 1 was by more than a touchdown (it was by 11 points). After starting off his Trojan career 2-5, he has gone 36-4 (90.0%). He is 11-0 in November. His teams already have posted 6 shutouts. He also serves as USC's defensive coordinator.
--The 2003 season-his third at Troy-was one of the best in USC history. The Trojans won the AP national championship (USC's first national crown since 1978) and entered the Rose Bowl also ranked No. 1 in the USA Today/ ESPN poll but weren't allowed to keep the top spot after winning that bowl because of a contractual agreement which required the coaches to vote the Sugar Bowl winner as their poll's champion (USC ended up second).
USC was 12-1 overall (the only loss was by 3 points at California in triple overtime) and, at 7-1 in the Pac-10, Troy won its second consecutive league title for the first time since 1988-89 (and its first outright crown since 1989). His Trojans won their last 9 games (and 20 of the last 21) and posted back-to-back seasons of double digit wins for the first time since 1978 and 1979. For just the second time in history (the other time also was 1978 and 1979), USC swept traditional rivals UCLA and Notre Dame in consecutive years. His 2003 squad featured a potent offense, a stingy defense and productive special teams. USC, which scored at least 20 points in its last 26 games (a school record), had a stretch of 11 consecutive 30- point games (also a school mark) and 7 straight 40-point contests (a Pac-10 record). USC's 534 points was a Pac-10 record. The defense led the nation in rushing defense and was second in turnover margin, forced 42 turnovers and scored 8 touchdowns. And the Trojans topped the nation in net punting. Five Trojans-wide receiver Mike Williams, offensive tackle Jacob Rogers, defensive end Kenechi Udeze, punter Tom Malone and quarterback Matt Leinart-were first team All-Americans (Leinart and Williams finished sixth and eighth, respectively, in the Heisman Trophy voting).
For all this, Carroll was named the 2003 American Football Coaches Association Division IA Coach of the Year, Home Depot National Coach of the Year, Maxwell Club College Coach of the Year, ESPN.com National Coach of the Year, Pigskin Club of Washington D.C. Coach of the Year and All-American Football Foundation Frank Leahy Co- Coach of the Year. He also was the Pac-10 Co-Coach of the Year (USC's first honoree since Larry Smith in 1988).
--In 2002, just his second season at USC, his Trojans thrived despite playing what was ranked by the NCAA, Sagarin and the BCS as the nation's most difficult schedule (facing 9 AP-ranked teams and 11 bowl squads). USC-- which beat Iowa in the Orange Bowl--posted an 11-2 overall record and a No. 4 ranking in the final polls, and won the Pac-10 championship while going 7-1. The Trojans also won their last 9 home games. It was USC's first 11- win season since 1979 and its highest ranking since 1988. Troy won its final 8 games (scoring at least 30 points in each), including blowouts of traditional rivals UCLA and Notre Dame (the first time USC beat both in the same season since 1981 and the first time in back-toback games since 1978). USC led the Pac-10 in total offense (449.3) and total defense (284.9), as well as scoring offense (35.8) and scoring defense (18.5), and was in the NCAA's Top 25 in nearly every team statistical category on both sides of the ball. Heisman Trophy- winning quarterback Carson Palmer and safety Troy Polamalu were first team All-Americans. --Carroll brought big doses of experience, enthusiasm and leadership in his quest to revive the USC football program when he was named the Trojans' head football coach on Dec. 15, 2000 (he signed a 5-year contract).
After USC started off his opening 2001 season slowly at 1-4, Carroll stayed the course and got his troops to rally by winning 5 of their last 7 games (including the final 4 regular season contests) to finish at 6-6 overall. USC, which won its last 5 Pac-10 games after beginning league play at 0-3, placed fifth in the conference at 5-3 and earned a berth into the Sega Sports Las Vegas Bowl. Putting an exclamation point on the regular season was a 27-0 blanking of No. 20 UCLA, USC's first shutout in the crosstown rivalry since 1947 and the series' biggest margin of victory since 1979.
--The 53-year-old Carroll has 29 years of NFL and college experience, including 13 on the college level. He was the head coach of the NFL's New England Patriots for 3 seasons (1997-99) and New York Jets for 1 year (1994). He guided the Patriots into the playoffs in his first 2 seasons, winning the AFC Eastern Division title at 10-6 in 1997 and advancing to the second round of the playoffs. His overall record in New England was 27-21 in the regular season and 1-2 in the playoffs.
After serving as the Jets' defensive coordinator for 4 seasons (1990-93), he became the team's head coach the following season. His 1994 Jets went 6-10. He spent the next 2 years (1995-96) as the defensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers, who won the NFC Western Division title both seasons. Carroll began his coaching career at the college level, serving as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Pacific, for 3 years (1974-76), working with the wide receivers and secondary. He then spent a season as a graduate assistant working with the secondary at Arkansas (1977), and then a season each as an assistant in charge of the secondary at Iowa State (1978) and at Ohio State (1979). That Buckeye squad lost to USC in the 1980 Rose Bowl. He next spent 3 seasons (1980-82) as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at North Carolina State, then returned to Pacific in 1983 as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. He entered the NFL in 1984 as the defensive backs coach of the Buffalo Bills, then held a similar position with the Minnesota Vikings for 5 seasons (1985- 89). Carroll spent the 2000 season as a consultant for pro and college teams, doing charitable work for the NFL and writing a column about pro football for CNNSI.com. --Carroll was a 2-time (1971-72) All-Pacific Coast Conference free safety at Pacific and earned his bachelor's degree in 1973 in business administration. He received his secondary teaching credential and a master's degree in physical education from Pacific in 1976. He was inducted into the Pacific Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. He was born on Sept. 15, 1951 in San Francisco. He and his wife, Glena, who played volleyball at Pacific, have 3 children: sons Brennan, 24, who played tight end at Pittsburgh (he previously played at Delaware) and is now an assistant at USC, and Nathan, 16, and daughter Jaime, 21, a senior at USC who played on the Women of Troy's highly-ranked volleyball team which competed in the 2000 NCAA Final Four.
PRE-SEASON HONORS
QB Matt Leinart, DE-DT Shaun Cody, P Tom Malone, TB Reggie Bush, LB Matt Grootegoed and DT Mike Patterson were named to various 2004 pre-season All-American first teams.
WATCH LISTS
The following Trojans have made the official "Watch Lists" for national 2004 post-season awards: QB Matt Leinart
Davey O'Brien Award (top quarterback)
Maxwell Award (top player)*
Walter Camp Award (top player)
DE-DT Shaun Cody
Lombardi Award (top lineman)*
Nagurski Trophy (top defensive player)
Outland Trophy (top lineman)
Bednarik Award (top defensive player)*
Hendricks Award (top defensive end)
Lott Trophy (top defensive impact player)*
LB Matt Grootegoed
Lombardi Award (top lineman)
Butkus Award (top linebacker)*
Walter Camp Award (top player)
Bednarik Award (top defensive player)
Lott Trophy (top defensive impact player)
DT Mike Patterson
Lombardi Award (top lineman)
Outland Trophy (top lineman)
P Tom Malone
Ray Guy Award (top punter)*
TB Reggie Bush
Doak Walker Award (top running back)
Maxwell Award (top player)*
TB LenDale White
Doak Walker Award (top running back)
LB Lofa Tatupu
Butkus Award (top linebacker)
TE Alex Holmes
Mackey Award (top tight end)
S Darnell Bing
Thorpe Award (top defensive back)
PK Ryan Killeen
Groza Award (top placekicker)
Coach Pete Carroll
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award
George Munger Award (coach of year)*
*Semifinalist
LEINART
USC has perhaps the nation's top quarterback in record-setting All-American first teamer Matt Leinart (176-of-274, 64.2%, 2068 yds, 20 TD, 5 int 2004, plus 38 tcb, -23 yds, -0.6 avg, 3 TD), a leading Heisman Trophy candidate. His statistics are comparable or better in 2004 than they were at the same point last year (see chart below), and he's doing it this year without 2003's top 3 pass catchers--WRs Mike Williams, Keary Colbert and now Steve Smith-- and behind a rebuilt offensive line. And at this point in 2004, he has fewer interceptions and a better completion percentage and passing rating--and has led USC to more wins--than Carson Palmer did after 9 games of his 2002 Heisman Trophy season (see chart below). Against USC's 3 opponents of 2004 currently ranked by AP (Virginia Tech, California and Arizona State), he threw for 660 yards and 9 TDs with only 1 interception. He currently is 16th nationally in passing efficiency (148.1, second in Pac-10). His 176 completions in 2004 already is 12th on USC's season list and his 2,045 yards of total offense is 17th on USC's season ladder. He is fourth on USC's career passing list (431 completions) and fifth on the total offense chart (5,539 yards). He already has thrown 58 touchdowns in just 22 career starts, with at least 1 TD in every game he has started and at least 2 TDs in all but 2 games (he had a string of at least 2 TDs in 15 consecutive games). He also has thrown at least 3 TDs 10 times (and at least 4 TDs 5 times).
He is averaging a TD pass every 11.7 career attempts. During USC's current 18-game winning streak, he has thrown 50 TDs and just 8 interceptions (his career TD/interception ratio is 58/14). His 58 career TD passes--already tied for 14th on the Pac-10 career ladder-- are the most ever in back-to-back seasons by a Pac-10 quarterback. USC is 21-1 when Leinart starts. He is a semifinalist for the 2004 Maxwell Award. The junior finished sixth in last year's Heisman Trophy voting and was only the second sophomore (along with Stanford's John Elway) to win Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year honors. The accurate and efficient left-handed Leinart came out of relative obscurity to more-than-capably fill the shoes of 2002 Heisman winner Carson Palmer. He hit 63.4% of his passes (255-of-402) for 3,556 yards with just 9 interceptions in 2003. He gave an early indication of his talent when his first career pass went for a touchdown at Auburn in last fall's opener. He went on to throw a Pac-10 record 38 TDs (1 shy of the NCAA sophomore mark). His 164.5 passing efficiency rating ranked third nationally and was a USC record. His 255 completions was third on the USC season chart. He set a Pac-10 season mark with 212 consecutive passes without an interception (just 4 throws short of the league's career record). His 3,494 yards of total offense in 2003 was second in USC history. And he punctuated USC's Rose Bowl victory over Michigan by catching a 15-yard scoring pass off a reverse.
--In the opener against Virginia Tech while breaking in a new receiving corps, he hit 65.5% of his passes (19-of-29, despite missing on his first 4 throws) for 272 yards and 3 long TDs (he was 11-of-13 for 170 yards and 2 TDs in the second half, with 11 consecutive completions at one point).
--He was 20-of-31 for 231 yards and 2 short TDs (with 4 drops) in just 3 quarters of action against Colorado State (he also ran for a career-high 46 yards on 7 attempts).
--At BYU, he hit 22-of-34 passes for 236 yards and 2 TDs with an interception (breaking a streak of 102 pass attempts without a pick) and he also ran for a 1-yard TD (his first career score).
--He hit a career-best 76.7% of his passes (23- of-30) for 284 yards with a TD at Stanford and he also scored on a 1-yard sneak to earn Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors.
--He was 15-of-24 for 164 yards and 2 TDs (with a pick) against California.
--In just 3 quarters of action against Arizona State, he threw 4 TD passes on 13-of-24 passing for 224 yards with no interceptions and also had a 1- yard sneak for a touchdown to earn The Sporting News National Player of the Week honors.
--He was 24-of-43 (a career high for attempts) for 217 yards and 2 scores (with a pick) against Washington (he came out after the first series of the final quarter).
--He hit a career-best 82.1% of his passes (23- of-28) for 235 yards and 2 TDs at Washington State (he was 18-of-21, 85.7%, for 203 yards and a TD in the first half).
--In the fog at Oregon State, he completed 17-of-31 passes for 205 yards with 2 TDs and an interception.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT Matt Leinart
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times:
"That's Leinart, as in Highz-man. He's back, emerging from the belly of preseason hype...His name is back atop the list for podium reservations at the Downtown Athletic Club."
Steve Dilbeck, Los Angeles Daily News:
"Matt Leinart is slowing, consistently building a case that he is indeed the finest college football player in the land...He is having an even more impressive season than Carson Palmer had in 2002 when he won the Heisman. Leinart also is having a better year than in 2003, when he finished sixth in the Heisman voting. He's putting up equal or better numbers, despite losing his top three receivers from last year and despite playing behind an almost all-new offensive line...The most dramatic thing about Leinart might be his consistency...And the way he takes advantage off all the talent around him is Palmeresque." Luke Winn, SI.com: "If I had to predict the winner of the 2004 Heisman, it would be Leinart, who's turning it on at just the right time."
Kelly Whiteside, USA Today:
"In the celebrity-driven culture of Los Angeles, it's been suggested that Matt Leianrt just might be L.A.'s new leading man. Though as unassuming as a movie-set backdrop, Leinart has Central Casting qualities. A Heisman Trophy candidate, quarterback for the defending national cochampion and pre-season No. 1 Trojans, with boyish good looks and big-lug charm, Leinart's got everything going for him."
Matt Hayes, The Sporting News:
"Go ahead, pick a fantasy. Dream it up. You know what? Matt Leinart has got you beat. And the ride is just beginning. Come on, who among us wouldn't love to switch places with this guy? A hip quarterback at a private Los Angeles university with a stars-aligned, bathein- the-glory-of-it-all lifestyle. He looks like a Ken doll, a 6-5 statue glowing amid one of the most storied programs in the history of college football...Leinart could be the biggest college football star in decades. He already is the king of the city that's fashionably late...But he isn't who you think he is. It's touchdowns and titles and tinseltown on the surface. It's just plain Matty inside."
Todd Harmonson, Orange County Register:
"College football's flavor of the season arrived this summer with his SoCal, so-chiseled mug on the cover of at least 10 national publications. He is portrayed as the practicioner of poise, the commissioner of cool and the quarterback on a quest for another championship...Another huge season for Leinart likely would make him a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, and doing it without Mike Williams and Keary Colbert could earn him the prize."
Ivan Maisel, ESPN.com:
"Matt Leinart went from unknown to unstoppable in the course of one season. He owns a national championship ring. He owns a post position in the 2004 Heisman Derby. And if he were any calmer, he would be asleep." USC tailback Reggie Bush: "Matt's got the world in his hands."
OTHER QUARTERBACKS
Behind Matt Leinart is a stable of very capable backups, but none have seen much time yet at USC. Sophomore John David Booty, believed to be the first football player to graduate a full year early from high school and enroll at a major Division I-A university when he did so last year, became Leinart's backup by the middle of the 2003 season before breaking his wrist late in the year (an elbow injury has sidelined him so far in 2004; he'll likely redshirt). Then there's senior Matt Cassel (7-of-10, 70.0%, 64 yds, 1 int in 2004, plus 6 tcb, 11 yds, 1.8 avg), the current No. 2 signalcaller who also has spent time in his career at tight end and is a pitcher on the Trojan baseball team, as well as senior Brandon Hance, who started 9 games at Purdue in 2001 and was No. 2 at USC after Booty got hurt last year, junior Billy Hart, an infielder/outfielder on USC's baseball team, and walk-on redshirt freshman Michael McDonald, the son of ex- USC All-American quarterback Paul McDonald. Joining the signalcalling corps this fall as a freshman was prep All-American Rocky Hinds.
--Cassel and Hance saw brief action against Colorado State, but neither threw a pass.
--Cassel saw brief action at BYU, but did not throw a pass.
--Cassel (who went 3-of-3 for 25 yards) and Hance each directed a series late in the Arizona State game.
--Cassel was 4-of-5 for 39 yards versus Washington (he also ran for 12 yards on 2 carries), while Hance directed the game's final series (but did not throw a pass).
--Cassel was 0-of-2 (with an interception) at Washington State.
"THUNDER AND LIGHTNING" TAILBACKS
USC features a "Thunder and Lightning" duo splitting time at tailback: sophomores LenDale White (142 tcb, 741 yds, 5.2 avg, 10 TD in 2004, plus 9 rec, 84 yds, 9.3 avg, 2 TD) and Heisman Trophy candidate Reggie Bush (102 tcb, 559 yds, 5.5 avg, 4 TD in 2004, plus 30 rec, 317 yds, 10.6 avg, 6 TD and 20 PR, 349 yds, 17.5 avg, 2 TD and 14 KOR, 397 yds, 28.4 avg and 1-of-1 passing, 100.0%, 52 yds, 1 TD).
Either White or Bush has scored a touchdown in each of USC's last 20 games (USC is 11-0 when both score a TD). Both are tied for the team lead in TDs scored in 2004 (12); USC's opponents have scored only 13 TDs in 2004. The last time that a pair of Trojan running backs both scored 10 TDs in a season was 1976 (Ricky Bell had 14 and Charles White had 11).
They have combined for 46 TDs in USC's last 22 games, 3 more than Troy's opponents have scored during that stretch. At times, they are on the field at the same time in USC's "Pony" package. The bull-like White has 23 rushing TDs in 22 career games (he has 26 TDs overall), along with 6 games with 100 rushing yards (3 times in 2004). He already is 29th on USC's prestigious career rushing list (with 1,495 yards). Some 429 of his rushing yards in 2004 have come after contact. He had a trio of 100-yard games last season when he was the first true freshman to lead USC in rushing (his 754 yards in 2003 were the second most by a Trojan frosh behind Charles White's 858 in 1976) and his 13 rushing TDs were a USC freshman mark (his 14 total TDs tied the USC frosh record). The electrifying, multi-purpose Bush currently is second nationally in all-purpose running (180.2, first in Pac-10), seventh in punt returns (17.5, first in Pac-10) and 12th in kickoff returns (28.4, second in Pac-10). If he tops the Pac-10 in punt returns (for the first time by a Trojan since Raymond Butler in 1979), he would be the first Trojan to win Pac-10 titles in both punt and kickoff returns (he was the league's 2003 kickoff return leader). And if he leads the Pac-10 in all-purpose yardage, he'd be the first Trojan to do so since Marcus Allen in 1981 (when he topped the NCAA). His 2 scoring punt returns in 2004 are the most in a season by a Trojan since R. Jay Soward also had 2 in 1998 (and are 1 shy of the USC and Pac-10 season records). He has 1622 allpurpose yards in 2004 and is averaging 9.8 yards every time he touches the ball (166 touches). He already has 23 plays of 20-plus yards in 2004. In his career, he has proven to be a 5-way threat as he has produced touchdowns via rushing, receiving, kickoff returning, punt returning and passing. He has scored 20 TDs in his 22-game career (7 rushing, 10 receiving, 1 on kickoff returns, 2 on punt returns). He has 2,953 all-purpose yards in his career. He is a semifinalist for the 2004 Maxwell Award. He earned Freshman All-American first team honors as he set the USC freshman all-purpose yardage record (1,331 yards) and, as a hold-your-breath-when-he-getsthe- ball runner, had 24 plays of 20-plus yards in 2003. He was 10th nationally in kickoff returns (27.3, first in Pac-10) and had a scoring runback. He rushed for 521 yards in 2003.
--In the opener against Virginia Tech, Bush caught 3 long scoring passes to become the 10t h USC player to catch a school-record 3 TD passes in a game (but the first running back to do so) and he had 258 all-purpose yards (127 on 5 receptions, 60 on 4 punt returns, 44 on 3 kickoff returns and 27 on 9 rushes), all of which earned him Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors, while White added a team-best 78 rushing yards on 15 carries (5.2 avg).
--White ran for a game-best 123 yards (the fourth 100-yard outing in his career) with 3 first-half TDs on just 14 carries (8.8 average) against Colorado State (he also caught a 22-yard pass), while Bush rushed for 84 yards and a TD on 12 tries (along with a 39-yard kickoff return, 3 punt returns for 17 yards and a 2-yard catch).
--At BYU, Bush and White became the first Trojan duo to each break the 100-yard rushing barrier since Chad Morton and LaVale Woods did so against Oregon State in 1996, as Bush had 124 yards (the first 100-yard outing of his career) with a career-long 66- yard TD run on 14 carries (he had 211 all-purpose yards as he also caught 4 passes for 42 yards, including a 21-yard TD, returned a kickoff 38 yards and had 7 yards on a pair of punt returns) and White had 110 yards (with a 43-yard TD) on 17 carries (it was his second consecutive 100-yard game) and a 7-yard reception.
--Bush had 240 all-purpose yards (95 on 16 rushes, 25 on 4 receptions, 85 on 4 kickoff returns and 35 on 2 punt returns) at Stanford, with a 17-yard tackle-breaking TD run and a 33-yard zig-zagging punt return to set up USC's winning score, while White added 24 yards on 11 carries, including the gamewinning 2-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter.
--White ran for 52 yards on 11 carries against California and caught 2 passes for 10 yards (with a 5-yard TD catch), while Bush had 109 yards on 2 kickoff returns (including an 84-yarder), plus he rushed 8 times for 23 yards and caught a 6-yard pass.
--Both Bush (10 yards) and White (9 yards) caught first quarter TD passes against Arizona State, as Bush had 115 all-purpose yards (49 on 2 punt returns, including a 41-yarder in which he barely stepped out of bounds as he was breaking into the clear, plus 45 yards on 2 receptions and 21 on 5 carries) and White ran for 68 yards on 16 carries and had 2 catches for 22 yards (both played only 3 quarters).
--White ran for 93 yards with 2 short TDs on 17 carries against Washington (he also caught 2 passes for 18 yards), while Bush had 126 all-purpose yards (55 on 13 carries and 41 on a game- and careerbest 6 receptions with a 15-yard TD, plus a 30-yard punt return).
--At Washington State, White had a game-high 77 yards on 16 carries with 2 short TDs, while Bush had 143 all-purpose yards (42 on 14 carries, 23 on 5 receptions and 78 on 3 punt returns) with 2 TDs (a 19- yard run and 57-yard punt return).
--At Oregon State, Bush had 249 all-purpose yards (88 on 11 rushes, 82 on 3 kickoff returns, 73 on 3 punt returns and 6 on 2 receptions) and had a dazzling reverse-his-field scoring punt return for the second consecutive week (this one was 65 yards), while White ran for 116 yards on 25 tries (his sixth career 100-yard game and third of 2004) with a 5-yard TD and caught a 5-yard pass.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT LenDale White
Ted Miller, ESPN.com:
"White is Hemingway. He is 6- foot-2, 235 pounds of power and streamlined footwork; he cuts and goes without a lot of decorative maneuvers. He is good...White has been compared to former Trojan great Ricky Bell or Eddie George."
Todd Harmonson, Orange County Register:
"White is the thunder and has drawn comparisons to bruising backs ranging from Jamal Lewis to former USC great Ricky Bell...He is a tackle-breaking bulldozer who delivers punishment with a try-to-stop-me grin...Off the field, White is the fun-lover who raves about seeing Beyonce at the BET Awards, adds tattoos the way he does yards and always seems to be laughing."
USC tailback Reggie Bush:
"He's very physical. He softens them up and I run by them."
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT Reggie Bush
Washington State head coach Bill Doba: "If you've got a linebacker covering him, you might as well start singing their fight song."
Oregon State quarterback Derek Anderson:
"The kid is unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it, in the NFL or wherever."
Stanford head coach Buddy Teevens:
"You can't really stop Bush, to be perfectly honest. He's in a class by himself."
California head coach Jeff Tedford:
"If he's not the best player in the country, he's one of the top, no question...He is so talented than any one-on-one situation, he's going to win. You have to pay attention to where he is."
Stanford assistant coach Tom Williams:
"He is the most versatile player in the country and, in my opinion, he's the best player in the country." Arizona State head coach Dirk Koetter: "He can do it all. Every time he touches the ball, you hold your breath."
Virginia Teach head coach Frank Beamer:
"If he could throw, he'd be Michael Vick."
BYU head coach Gary Crowton:
"He's as good as any receiver on their team, and the next moment, he's running with power, makes one guy miss and he's so fast he can go the distance. He just has the ability to create lots of matchup problems without them changing personnel groups. That's a real luxury they have. It kind of reminds me of Marshall Faulk." Colorado State head coach Sonny Lubick: "I can't believe he's only a sophomore. The thing that makes him so darned good is he's such a confident young guy and he's never out of the play, no matter how bleak it looks, no matter how much you have him surrounded."
Washington head coach Keith Gilbertson:
"I don't care what formation they're in, you better know where No. 5 is, OK? End of story."
Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN :
"I've decided how I am going to vote already this year. I'm going to give the legs of the Heisman pick to Reggie Bush and the upper body of the trophy to Matt Leinart. While I weekly have more and more admiration for Leinart and his decision making and poise, I said it last year and I'll say it again this year. The most explosive player in college football is Reggie Bush. The best player in the country wears No. 5 for USC. If you get a chance, check him out. Reggie Bush...He's the most electrifying player in college football. Every time he touches the ball, he can score."
Bud Withers, Seattle Times:
"There is little doubt that Bush is the most dynamic player in the nation. He may not win the Heisman Trophy, but voters ought to think long and hard if defenders' broken ankles, Bush's gasp-inducing cuts and spinning, serpentine dashes matter."
Ted Miller, ESPN.com:
"Bush is Shakespeare. He's gifted with speedy brilliance and flourish. Bush is 200 pounds of sound and fury signifying touchdown. He doth rise from the ground like feathered Mercury striding the heavens...He resembles the elusive Gale Sayers or the versatile Marshall Faulk."
David Leon Moore, USA Today:
"Bush is basically a sworn enemy of a straight line. He's all switchbacks and zigzags, spin moves and ankle-breaking shimmies. Some people even think he is already the most entertaining, and maybe best, college football player in the country...He is a quiet sort, polite, humble, good grades, solid citizen...On a football field, he gets around like nobody else. Here, there, this sideline, that end zone, he's running, receiving, returning, making plays, scoring touchdowns, winning games...He runs with a can't-take-your-eyes-off-him style that seems part Marshall Faulk, part Barry Sanders, part Gale Sayers."
Steve Bisheff, Orange County Register:
"Bush is definitely the most exciting player in college football. Bush with the football in an open space is like Barry Bonds at the plate with the bases loaded. Immediately, your senses heighten. Your pulse races. Your eyes refuse to look anywhere else...No one in college football has anyone like him. No one else is even close...The Trojans' flashy hummingbird of an all-purpose player is an amalgam of all the great USC backs through the years."
USC quarterback Matt Leinart:
"Every time Reggie touches the ball, anything can happen...He's an awesome weapon...A lot of people think he's an outside runner, but he's tough. He can run in between the tackles."
USC tailback LenDale White:
"He's smooth. He's got mad, crazy speed...If Reggie's not the best there is, he's one of the best. He opens this offense up so much just by being there."
Former USC All-American wide receiver Mike Williams:
"Reggie's the ultimate weapon."
Patrick Kinmartin, Daily Trojan:
"His combination of track-sprinter speed and music-video shiftiness makes him a one-man show."
Dan Weber, Riverside Press-Telegram:
"Bush awes his teammates daily with his ability to get to full speed on his second step."
Todd Harmonson, Orange County Register:
"Bush is a highlight-show fixture with physiology-defying, didhe- do-that moves. The easy comparison is to Marshall Faulk because of the similarity in all-around games, but those who saw Gale Sayers recognize the speed, spins and spellbinding cuts...He is a speed demon who sees Christmas morning when a linebacker tries to defend him and a winnable challenge when a quick corner draws the assignment...Off the field, Bush is a quiet leader who is on track to graduate in 3 ½ years."
Phil Collin, South Bay Daily Breeze:
"Around USC now, they're simply wondering what Reggie will come up with next. The thing is, they know it's coming. Opponents do too...As brilliant as he can be on the football field, Bush is simply that humble off of it. He smiles sheepishly at the mention of his nickname, `The President.'" Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times: "Keith Gilbertson halfjokingly labeled the situation unfair. Bill Doba called the potential problems monstrous. Mike Riley found only one word to describe it--horrible. That's what these Pac-10 coaches said when asked to assess difficulties created for defenses when Reggie Bush lines up as a receiver."
Michael Ventre, MSNBC.com:
"Bush is young and multi-talented. He's a running back. He's a receiver. He's a kick returner. He's a punt returner. He's even a passer. If you try to pigeonhole him, you'd better have lots of pigeonholes...Bush can stop on a dime, give you nine cents change, then blow past you before you can bend to pick it up...When it comes to pure, all-around, pound-for-pound value from a college football player, it's hard to beat what Bush brings to the table...He's a genuine once-in-a-generation player...And he's a good kid--smart, down to earth, respectful of others yet supremely confident...He has turned a run-of-the-mill punt return into an event. He causes teams to kick away from him on kickoffs. When he comes into the game, defenders cast desperate looks at their sideline for advice."
OTHER TAILBACKS
Besides LenDale White and Reggie Bush, USC has some other talented tailbacks. Junior Hershel Dennis (24 tcb, 105 yds, 4.4 avg in 2004), the veteran of the group, started each game last year and was effective. He gained 661 yards on 137 carries (4.8 avg) with 4 TDs in 2003. He was part of a 3-tailback rotation in 2003 that saw the threesome combine for 1,906 rushing yards (146.6 yards a game) with 20 TDs; each rushed for at least 500 yards (the first time that had happened at USC since 1988) and averaged at least 4.8 yards per carry. He missed the Virginia Tech and Colorado State games in 2004 while suspended for a team rules violation. Looking to break into the tailback rotation in 2004 is quick redshirt freshman Desmond Reed (26 tcb, 132 yds, 5.1 avg, 1 TD in 2004, plus 2 rec, -1 yds, - 0.5 avg and 4 KOR, 75 yds, 18.8 avg and 1 PR, 16 yds, 16.0 avg and 3 tac, 1 for loss, 1 FF), who worked at wide receiver and in the secondary last fall, along with a pair of walk-ons in junior Andre Woodert and redshirt freshman John Griffin (2 tcb, 9 yds, 4.5 avg in 2004).
--Reed had 56 yards on 8 carries (the first of his career) against Colorado State.
--At BYU, Reed had 21 yards on 7 carries, while Dennis saw his first action of 2004 while getting 18 yards on 3 tries.
--Dennis had a 1-yard carry at Stanford.
--Reed returned a kickoff 15 yards against California, plus he tackled the punter after a bad snap and forced a fumble.
--Dennis ran for 19 yards on 5 carries against Arizona State, while Reed had a 21-yard kickoff return, a carry for no yards and a tackle.
--Reed ran for a 28-yard TD (the first of his career) against Washington (he also caught a 2-yard pass and had a tackle), while Dennis added 12 yards on 4 carries and Griffin had 9 yards on 2 carries (his first career attempts).
--Dennis had 55 yards on 11 carries at Washington State, while Reed ran for 27 yards on 9 tries and also had a 16-yard punt return and a 7-yard kickoff return.
--Reed had a 32-yard kickoff return at Oregon State.
FULLBACKS
At fullback, fleet junior Brandon Hancock, a tough blocker and excellent receiver, was expected to return as the starter, but he'll likely miss 2004 while recuperating from knee surgery. So senior Lee Webb (5 tcb, 25 yds, 5.0 avg, 1 TD in 2004, plus 1 rec, 14 yds, 14.0 avg)--he started 5 times at fullback last year after seeing action at linebacker (where he played in 2001 and the first half of 2002)--took over the starting job. Backing him is junior David Kirtman (7 tcb, 41 yds, 5.9 avg in 2004, plus 15 rec, 132 yds, 8.8 avg), a rugged blocker who has starting experience and is a key special teamer, and redshirt freshman Jody Adewale (1 rec, 16 yds, 16.0 avg in 2004), a converted tailback. Walk-on redshirt freshman Sean Kelly, another former tailback, also is available.
--Kirtman had 3 catches for 32 yards against Virginia Tech, while Webb caught a 14-yard.
--Kirtman ran for 17 yards on 3 tries and caught 2 passes for 30 yards against Colorado State.
--At BYU, Webb scored his first career TD on his only carry of the game (a 9-yarder), while Kirtman caught 2 passes for 19 yards.
--Kirtman had 2 catches for 4 yards at Stanford. --Kirtman had a 2-yard catch against California.
--Against Arizona State, Kirtman ran for 24 yards on 4 carries and caught a 7-yard pass, while Webb had 16 yards on 4 carries.
--Adewale (16 yards) and Kirtman (9 yards) each caught a pass against Washington (it was the first of Adewale's career).
--Kirtman caught 2 passes for 12 yards at Washington State.
--Kirtman had a 17-yard reception at Oregon State.
WIDE RECEIVERS
It's always difficult to lose a pair of players the caliber of 4-year starter Keary Colbert and All-American first teamer Mike Williams.
Colbert was USC's career receptions leader (207) who had 1,000-yard receiving seasons the past 2 years (including 1,013 yards and 9 TDs on 69 catches in 2003). His underrated, yet steady, ability--remember his highlight reel touchdown grabs against Michigan in last season's Rose Bowl--made it unwise for teams to double-cover Williams. Colbert was selected in the NFL's second round. This past February when a court ruled that players didn't have to wait until after their third year out of high school to enter the NFL draft, Williams quickly decided to give up his final 2 seasons at Troy and go pro. But he was not selected because of a judicial stay on that ruling, which was then overturned. So he sought to have his collegiate eligibility restored, but the NCAA ruled against him on Aug. 26. In his 2-year Trojan career, Williams has 176 receptions for 2,579 yards and a USC record 30 touchdowns. He placed eighth in the 2003 Heisman balloting when he had 95 catches for 1,314 yards and a USC record 16 TDs. But there's a host of talented players filling the void: promising sophomores Steve Smith (27 rec, 414 yds, 15.3 avg, 2 TD in 2004, plus 1 tcb, -1 yd, -1.0 avg rushing), who was USC's No. 3 wideout last fall (but he broke his leg against California this year and is sidelined), and Chris McFoy (20 rec, 254 yds, 12.7 avg in 2004), senior Jason Mitchell (4 rec, 78 yds, 19.5 avg, 1 TD in 2004), and juniors Greig Carlson (4 PR, 8 yds, 2.0 avg in 2004, plus 1 tac), who was USC's top punt returner last season, and one-time cornerbacks William Buchanon (1 rec, -1 yds, -1.0 avg in 2004) and John Walker (1 rec, 22 yds, 22.0 avg in 2004, plus 3 tac). Then there's eye-opening freshman Dwayne Jarrett (team-high 33 rec, 444 yds, 13.5 avg, 8 TD in 2004), who came in this fall after earning prep All-American acclaim last year. Jarrett has just 1 less TD catch than Williams had at this point in his 2003 All-American sophomore campaign (and just 2 less than Williams had in 2002 when he was a Freshman All-American). Walk-ons Chris Bocage, a senior who missed 2004 spring practice while recovering from a knee injury (he also can play safety), junior Wil Smith, redshirt freshman John Zilka and true freshman Brad Walker, the cousin of current Trojan tight end Kurt Katnik, also are available.
--Steve Smith had 4 catches for 68 yards against Virginia Tech, while McFoy (11 yards) and Jarrett (8 yards) each had 2 grabs.
--Steve Smith had a career-high 8 catches for 79 yards (with a 5-yard TD) against Colorado State, while McFoy added 4 grabs for 59 yards and Jarrett had 3 for 32 (with a 4-yard score).
--At BYU, Steve Smith had a team-high 6 catches for 62 yards, McFoy added 4 for 37 yards and Jarrett had 3 for 58 yards (including a 15-yard TD).
--Steve Smith had 7 catches for 153 yards (with a 2-yard TD) at Stanford, while Jarrett added 5 receptions for 54 yards and McFoy had 2 for 28 yards.
--Jarrett had a team-best 4 catches for 37 yards (with a 16-yard TD) versus California, while Steve Smith caught 2 passes for 76 yards (but suffered a broken left leg), McFoy had 2 grabs for 20 yards and Walker had a tackle.
--Jarrett tied the USC single game TD catch record with his 3 scores (19, 52 and 34 yards, all in the second quarter) against Arizona State (overall, he caught 5 passes for a career-best 139 yards) to earn Rivals.com National Freshman of the Week honors, while McFoy added a 19-yard reception.
--Jarrett had 5 catches for 31 yards versus Washington, while McFoy had 2 for 26 yards, Mitchell had a 29-yard TD (his first career score), Walker added a 22-yard catch (his first career reception) and Buchanon had a catch for -1 yard (his first career grab).
--Jarrett had 4 catches for 64 yards at Washington State, with 2 TDs (42 and 4 yards), while McFoy caught 3 passes for 54 yards and Mitchell had a 33- yard grab.
--At Oregon State, Jarrett had 2 catches for 21 yards and Mitchell had an 11-yard grab.
TIGHT ENDS
Another deep unit for USC in 2004--9 deep, in fact--is the tight ends corps. And that's even without Gregg Guenther Jr., who became the starter by mid-2003 and performed well (he had 17 grabs for 167 yards and 2 TDs in 2003). USC's tallest player at 6-8, once football season concluded he would change into a basketball jersey and star for the Trojan hoopsters. However, he'll concentrate solely on basketball in his 2004 senior season. Junior Dominique Byrd (20 rec, 223 yds, 11.1 avg, 2 TD in 2004, plus 1 tac) started the first half of 2003 (he had 14 catches for 268 yards and a score) and was impressive before suffering a season-ending knee injury (he missed 2004 spring drills while recuperating, then broke his kneecap a week before 2004 fall camp and missed USC's first 4 games; he's back in the rotation now). Senior Alex Holmes (16 rec, 158 yds, 9.9 avg in 2004), who has 74 career catches to rank 25th on USC's all-time list, is back after sitting out last fall with a back injury. He started all of 2002 and has won back his job in 2004; he's playing like his old self. Also in the mix are sophomore ex-center Kurt Katnik (however, he has been sidelined all of 2004 with a concussion), sophomore Nick Vanderboom, a one-time walk-on who earned a scholarship this fall (he suffered a knee injury at Stanford and is sidelined), redshirt freshman Chris Barrett, who this midseason moved over from defensive end, and senior walk-on Owen Hanson, a one-time USC volleyballer. First-year freshman Fred Davis (4 rec, 30 yds, 7.5 avg in 2004) graduated a semester early from high school after being a prep All-American in 2003 and enrolled at USC this past spring (he originally came in as a wide receiver). Two prep All- Americans--Jimmy Miller and Dale Thompson (1 tac in 2004)--came aboard this fall as freshmen.
--Holmes had 2 catches for 12 yards against Virginia Tech.
--Holmes had a 7-yard reception versus Colorado State.
--Holmes had 2 catches for 11 yards at BYU.
--Holmes had 2 catches for 29 yards at
Stanford, while Davis grabbed a 15-yard pass for his first career reception.
--Holmes had 2 catches for 8 yards versus California. --Byrd had 3 catches for 39 yards against Arizona State (his first receptions in 13 games since getting injured), while Holmes made a nice, onehanded 14-yard catch.
--Byrd had 5 catches for 57 yards against Washington, while Holmes had a catch for -3 yards.
--Byrd had 5 catches for 32 yards at Washington State and Holmes added 2 for 20 yards, while Thompson had a tackle.
--Byrd had 7 catches for 85 yards with 2 TDs (a one-handed 18-yarder and a 25-yarder)--all career highs--at Oregon State, while Holmes had 3 grabs for 60 yards, including a career-long 48-yarder.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
A key to USC's success in 2004 will be the play of the partially-rebuilt offensive line, which could be the biggest in Trojan history (there are 8 linemen who weigh at least 300 pounds). Ten years of starting experience had to be replaced now that 2003 All-American first team left tackle Jacob Rogers (3-year starter), who was a second round NFL pick, plus All-Pac-10 first team center Norm Katnik (3-year starter) and left guard Lenny Vandermade (4-year starter) are gone. Last year, USC allowed just 1.2 sacks a game (its lowest average since 1987). Also, junior tackle Winston Justice, who from his right side spot protected Leinart's blind side, was slated to start for his third year and be an All-American candidate. But he was ineligible for this past spring's practice and will not participate in the 2004 season because of a student conduct violation. Sophomore Fred Matua started most of last season at right guard and brings a defensive lineman's mentality to the offensive front. He is starting again there, while senior John Drake is starting at left guard. After transferring from a junior college, Drake had moved into the lineup by mid-2003, where he split 7 starting assignments between right guard and tackle. He proved to be a load at 350 pounds before breaking his ankle late in the year (he missed 2004 spring drills while recuperating). There's a new center, with sophomore Ryan Kalil winning out over first-year freshman Jeff Byers, a prep All-American who was the national high school player of the year in 2003 (Byers can also play guard), and junior walk-on Ross Burruel. Competing for time at guard are senior Travis Watkins, sophomore walk-on John Lanza, sophomore junior college transfer Alatini Malu, who enrolled at USC this spring, and freshmen Travis Draper (originally a 2003 signee, he didn't enroll at USC until this spring) and prep All- American Chilo Rachal, a first-year freshman who also can play tackle. Redshirt freshmen Sam Baker and 370-pound junior Taitusi Lutui, a J.C. All-American transfer this fall, captured the starting tackle spots (Baker on the left and Lutui on the right). Also in the hunt for time at tackle are sophomore Kyle Williams and redshirt freshmen Drew Radovich and Matt Spanos.
--Baker, Drake, Kalil, Matua and Lutui (from left to right) started on the offensive line against Virginia Tech, Colorado State, BYU, Stanford, California, Arizona State, Washington and Washington State.
--Byers started for an injured Drake at left guard at Oregon State (the rest of the line remained the same).
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
USC's highly-regarded "Wild Bunch II" defensive line of the past 2 years is now down to "Wild Bunch ½," as veteran starting ends Kenechi Udeze and Omar Nazel are gone. All-American first teamer Udeze--a 3-year starter and Hendricks Award finalist who tied for the national lead in sacks in 2003 while posting 56 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 26 tackles for loss and 5 forced fumbles--opted to skip his senior year and head to the NFL, where he was a first round pick. Nazel, the defense's vocal leader, was a 2-year starter who last year notched 27 tackles, including 6.5 for loss (with 4 sacks), 2 fumble recoveries and an interception. But all is not lost, as the 2 starting tackles returned...and they're among the nation's best. Both are battle-tested seniors and are All-American nominees after winning All-Pac-10 first team honors last fall (the last time USC had a pair of All-American defensive linemen was 1969, with Jimmy Gunn and Al Cowlings). Shaun Cody (31 tac, 11 for loss, team-best 9 sack, 2 FF, 1 BLK, 2 dfl in 2004) starts for his fourth year (at times, he slides out to end and starts there). He is a semifinalist for the 2004 Lombardi Award, Bednarik Award and Lott Trophy. He has 5 blocked field goals in his career. He had 10.5 tackles for loss (with 6 sacks) among his 26 stops last year and also blocked 3 field goals. Nose tackle Mike Patterson (33 tac, team-best 13 for loss, 5.5 sack, team-best 4 FR, 2 FF, 2 dfl in 2004), who last fall had the most tackles for a loss (13.5) of any Trojan tackle since 1996, starts for his third season. He posted 55 total tackles, including 7 sacks, and recovered 3 fumbles (returning 1 for a TD) in 2003. Patterson currently leads the Pac-10 in fumble recoveries (4).
Both have a knack for creating havoc. Between them, Cody and Patterson have 24 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in 2004. When Cody moves to end, sophomore Manuel Wright (20 tac, 3.5 for loss, 2 sack, 2 FR with 1 for a TD, 2 dfl in 2004) assumes his tackle spot.
Another backup tackle is redshirt freshman Sedrick Ellis (2 tac in 2004). Joining the tackles this fall as freshmen were prep All-American Lawrence Miles and Fili Moala, plus walkon frosh Jeff Tola. Junior Frostee Rucker (20 tac, 4.5 for loss, 1.5 sack, 1 FR, 1 FF in 2004), who started 5 games last year when Nazel was injured, and redshirt freshman Lawrence Jackson (22 tac, 8 for loss, 5 sack, 1 dfl in 2004) are the new starters at end. Among those looking to get into the action at end are junior LaJuan Ramsey (1 tac in 2004), who also might work at tackle, sophomore Travis Tofi (1 tac in 2004), who also can play tackle, redshirt freshman Alex Morrow (1 tac in 2004), junior juco transfer junior Rashaad Goodrum (1 tac, 1 for loss, 1 sack in 2004) and new freshman Jeff Schweiger (11 tac, 3.5 for loss, 2 sack, 1 FF, 1 dfl in 2004), who was a prep All-American.
--Four of Patterson 6 tackles against Virginia Tech were for a loss (including 2.5 sacks) and he forced a fumble late in the game that set up a USC field goal, while Cody and Schweiger each had 3 tackles (Schweiger had an 11-yard sack on his second play as a Trojan), Jackson had 2 tackles (with 0.5 sack), and Rucker and Tofi each had 1 stop.
--Wright had a team-high 6 tackles (with 2 for loss, including a sack) and returned a fumble 20 yards for a TD against Colorado State, while Cody had 4 tackles (2 for loss, with a sack), Schweiger had 4 stops (2.5 for loss, with a sack that caused a fumble), Jackson had 3 tackles, Rucker had 2 stops and Patterson had a sack and deflection.
--At BYU, 3 of Cody's 4 tackles were sacks, while Rucker and Wright each had 2 tackles (Rucker had 1 for a loss), Goodrum had a sack and Patterson and Jackson each had a tackle.
--At Stanford, Cody had 3 tackles, Jackson had 2 tackles for losses (with a sack), Patterson and Rucker had 2 tackles (Patterson had 1 for a loss), and Wright had a stop.
--Against California, Patterson had a careerbest 10 tackles (2 for loss, with a sack) along with 2 fumble recoveries (1 set up a field goal) and a forced fumble to win Walter Camp Football Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week, Football Writres Association of America Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week honors, while Rucker added 6 tackles (with 0.5 sack), Cody had 4 tackles (with a sack) and a forced fumble, Wright had 3 tackles (with a sack) and Jackson had 2 stops (with 1.5 sacks).
--Against Arizona State, Wright had 3 tackles (with a sack) and a deflection, Rucker and Cody each had 2 stops with a sack (Cody also blocked a field goal), Patterson had 2 tackles, and Schweiger, Ellis and Ramsey each added 1 stop.
--Rucker had 3 tackles (including 3 for losses), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery (to set up a USC TD) against Washington, while Cody had 4 tackles (0.5 for loss), Schweiger had 3 stops and a deflection, Jackson had 2 tackles (1.5 for loss, with a sack), Patterson had 2 tackles (1 for a loss) with a deflection, Wright also had 2 and Morrow had 1.
--Cody had 2 tackles, including a sack that caused a fumble (which USC recovered to set up a TD), and also had 2 deflections at Washington State, while Patterson had 2 tackles (1 for a loss, with 0.5 sack) and recovered 2 fumbles (1 set up a TD), Wright had 2 tackles, a fumble recovery and a deflection, and Rucker and Jackson each had 1 stop.
--Patterson had 7 tackles, including 3 for losses (with 0.5 sack), at Oregon State, while Cody added 5 stops (2.5 for loss, with a sack), Jackson also had 5 tackles (1.5 for loss), and Rucker, Wright and Ellis each had a tackle.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT Shaun Cody AND Mike Patterson
Arizona State head coach Dirk Koetter:
"In Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson, I can't imagine a better tandem in college football...Every pass is an adventure because Cody or Patterson has a chance to beat their man every time...In our game, Cody played up and down the line at all positions. Almost every one of our offensive linemen got a shot to go against him, and the guy has got everything. He's got power, he's got speed, he's got counter moves. And Patterson can almost control a game. When USC beat California, I thought Patterson was the difference in the game."
Washington State head coach Bill Doba:
"Mike Patterson and Shaun Cody. Those two guys are the best in the country. With a defense built around two tackles like that, you can't stand back in the pocket as a quarterback because they can get pressure with a four-man rush."
USC head coach Pete Carroll:
"Shaun and Mike are the pillars that we built this defense on. I can't even begin to imagine what it will be like to coach USC without having them here."
Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times:
"Cody and Patterson-- both All-American candidates--are the leaders of a group that once again ranks among the nation's most productive units...Cody is regarded as the cornerstone of USC's turnaround...Patterson is regarded as perhaps the nation's quickest tackle."
LINEBACKERS
USC's strength on defense is its linebacking corps. Only 2-year starting weakside linebacker Melvin Simmons is gone (he had 55 tackles and 3 fumble recoveries last season).
Trojan linebackers have intercepted 11 passes in the past 11 games (dating to 2003). Junior middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu (team-high 63 tac, 10.5 for loss, 4 sack, 2 FR, 2 FF, team-best 8 dfl, 2 int in 2004) returns after making the improbable jump from starting at Maine in 2001 to doing so at USC last fall. He ended up as the Trojans' leading tackler in 2003, getting 98 tackles, including 11.5 for loss, to go along with his 10 deflections and 4 interceptions (including 1 for a TD). Senior Matt Grootegoed (47 tac, 9.5 for loss, 2 sack, teamhigh 4 int, 3 dfl, 1 FR, 1 FF in 2004), who started the past 3 years at strongside linebacker (he is on the weak side in 2004), has a knack for always being around the ball. He has been named a 2004 Butkus Award semifinalist. He currently is tied for 15th nationally in interceptions (0.4, tied for second in Pac-10). He has 4 interceptions in the past 8 games. Both are good enough to merit All-American consideration (Grootegoed was a Butkus Award and Lombardi Award semifinalist last season). Junior Dallas Sartz (39 tac, 2 for loss, 0.5 sack, 1 int, 4 dfl, 1 FF in 2004) has assumed the starting strongside job. He's more than capable, as he started there the last 6 games of 2003 when Grootegoed was bothered by an ankle sprain (he posted 60 tackles last year). Other possibilities on the outside among the returnees are junior Collin Ashton (11 tac, 1 for loss, 1 sack in 2004), who performed admirably while starting twice late last year when Simmons was injured (a one-time walk-on, Ashton received a scholarship this fall), and redshirt freshman Thomas Williams (8 tac, 2 for loss, 1 sack in 2004), plus walk-on sophomore Mike Brittingham (1 tac in 2004), who also can play fullback. On the inside, there is senior walk-on Marco Chavez (he sat out 2003 after transferring from Hawaii), plus sophomore Oscar Lua (9 tac, 1 for loss in 2004), who was sidelined most of last season because of a knee injury (he missed some of 2004 spring drills while recuperating). Enrolling this fall were J.C. All-American Ryan Powdrell, who is a junior, and prep All-Americans Keith Rivers (17 tac, 2.5 for loss, 2 sack, 1 int, 1 FF in 2004) and Michael Stuart, who both are freshmen, along with walk-on freshman Clay Matthews, the son of the ex-USC All-American linebacker of the same name.
--Tatupu had a team-best 8 tackles (2.5 for loss, with a sack), returned an interception 32 yards to set up USC's first TD and had a deflection in the opener against Virginia Tech, while Grootegoed added 6 stops, Sartz had 3, Lua had 2 and Ashton had 1.
--Tatupu had a team-best 6 tackles (1 for loss) and a forced fumble against Colorado State, while Grootegoed intercepted 2 passes that set up TDs (he also had a tackle), Rivers added 5 stops, Ashton had 4, Sartz had 2 tackles with an interception and deflection and Lua and Williams each had a tackle.
--At BYU, Tatupu had a team-best 7 tackles (0.5 for loss) with a fumble recovery (to set up a USC TD) and a deflection, while Ashton and Grootegoed each had 4 stops (Grootegoed also intercepted a pass), Rivers had 2 tackles and Sartz had 1.
--Tatupu had a game-best 10 tackles (1 for loss), with a forced fumble and deflection, at Stanford, while Grootegoed added 7 tackles (1 for loss), Sartz had 4 stops, Rivers had 3 tackles (with 2 sacks) and a forced fumble, and Thomas Williams and Oscar Lua each had a stop.
--Tatupu had a game-high 13 tackles (1 for loss) against California, while Sartz added 10 tackles (1 for loss) and Grootegoed had 6 stops.
--Sartz led USC with 7 tackles against Arizona State (he also had a deflection), while Tatupu added 6 stops (with a sack) and 3 deflections, Grootegoed had 3 tackles and returned an interception 41 yards to set up a TD, Williams had 2 tackles, Ashton had a sack and Lua and Rivers both had a tackle.
--Grootegoed had a team-best 5 tackles (2 for loss) and forced a fumble against Washington, while Rivers had 4 stops and returned an interception 22 yards, Tatupu had 4 tackles, recovered a fumble to set up a field goal and had 2 deflections, Williams and Sartz each had 2 tackles (Williams had 1 for a loss), and Lua had a stop.
--Grootegoed had a team-high 6 tackles (3 for losses, with a sack) and a deflection at Washington State, while Tatupu had 5 stops (2.5 for loss, with a sack), Sartz also had 5 tackles (1 for a loss, with 0.5 sack) along with 2 deflections and a forced fumble, Williams added 2 tackles (with a sack), Rivers also had 2 stops (0.5 for a loss), and Ashton and Lua each had 1 tackle.
--Grootegoed had a team-best 9 tackles (3.5 for loss, with a sack), plus a fumble recovery and 2 deflections at Oregon State, while Sartz added 5 stops, Tatupu had 4 tackles (with a sack) and intercepted a pass to set up a USC TD, Lua had 2 tackles and Brittingham had 1.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The good news in the secondary is that both starting safeties return. Sophomore strong safety Darnell Bing (37 tac, 3 for loss, 2 int, 2 FF, 4 dfl in 2004) was a Freshman All-American first team selection last year when he had 69 tackles and 2 interceptions. He has an unlimited future. Hard-hitting senior free safety Jason Leach (34 tac, 1 for loss, 1 FR, 1 FF, 4 dfl, 1 int in 2004) was USC's No. 2 tackler last season with 88 stops (he also had 2 interceptions, including 1 for a TD). Providing safety depth is senior Greg Farr (2 tac in2004), a former walk-on who received a scholarship this fall, and twin redshirt freshmen Brandon Ting (1 tac in 2004) and Ryan Ting (Ryan Ting also can play cornerback). Then, enrolling in the fall were J.C. All-American Scott Ware (16 tac, 1 dfl in 2004), who is a junior (he has started 3 times at free safety, with Leach moving to strong safety), and prep All-American Josh Pinkard (6 tac in 2004, plus 1 KOR, 0 yds), who is a freshman. Ware missed the Arizona State and Washington games with a foot injury. Both of 2003's starting cornerbacks are gone: Will Poole, an All-Pac-10 first teamer and NFL fourth rounder whose 7 interceptions (the most at USC since 1994) and 19 deflections last year ranked him in the top 10 nationally in those categories (he also had 80 tackles, 4 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries), and Marcell Allmond, who helped Troy to an 18-1 record when he started in the secondary (he had 3 picks and 48 stops in 2003). Losing that duo might not be as much of a concern as it appears, however, because their replacements include experienced seniors with plenty of starts under their belts.
Senior Ronald Nunn (18 tac, 1.5 for loss, 1 sack, 1 FR, 1 FF in 2004), known for his big plays (he returned an interception and a fumble for TDs in 2003), started 3 times in 2002 and played often in extra defensive back formations last year. He competes with senior Kevin Arbet (25 tac, 0.5 for loss, 1 int, 2 dfl in 2004), who has 8 career starts, for a starting spot (the other usually serves as the nickel back). Arbet received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA in 2004 because he was out of action for most of the past 2 seasons with a foot injury (he missed 2004 spring drills while recuperating). Also a key special teams player, he led the Trojans in punt returns in 2001 with 25 for 225 yards (9.0 average) and earned All-Pac-10 first team honors as a special teamer that season. Junior Justin Wyatt (30 tac, 3 for loss, 0.5 sack, 1 FF, 4 dfl in 2004), who also saw some action at wide receiver last fall, has claimed the other starting cornerback job. Also pushing for playing time at the corner spots are redshirt freshmen Eric Wright (16 tac, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 int, 3 dfl, 1 FR in 2004) and Terrell Thomas (6 tac, 2 int, 2 dfl in 2004), plus 3 walkons: juniors Alex Gomez and Justin Tolliver (1 tac in 2004) and first-year freshman Jim Abbott.
--Bing had 7 tackles (1 for a loss) versus Virginia Tech, Leach added 5 stops and a deflection, Wyatt had 3 tackles and a deflection, and Arbet, Wright and Nunn each had 2 stops (Nunn also recovered a fumble late in the game that set up a USC field goal).
--Leach had 5 tackles (1 for a loss), a fumble recovery and a deflection against Colorado State (he started at strong safety for an injured Bing), while Nunn also had 5 stops (0.5 for loss), Wyatt had 3 tackles, a forced fumble and a deflection, Ware had 3 stops (while starting at free safety), Wright had 2 tackles and an interception, Bing and Arbet each had 2 tackles, and Thomas and Pinkard each had 1.
--At BYU, Leach had 5 tackles and a forced fumble, Bing had 4 stops and an interception, 2.5 of Wyatt's 3 tackles were for losses, Wright, Thomas and Nunn each had 2 tackles (Thomas also had an endzone interception, which he returned 29 yards), Arbet had a tackle and a deflection, and Ware had a tackle.
--At Stanford, Bing and Leach each had 6 tackles (Bing also had a forced fumble and deflection), Nunn had 4 tackles, Arbet had 3 stops and returned an interception 66 yards to set up a TD, Wyatt had 2 tackles and Ware had a deflection.
--Against California, Ware started and had 12 tackles, Arbet added 7 stops, Eric Wright had tackles and recovered a fumbled punt, Wyatt and Leach each had 4 stops (Leach started at strong safety for an injured Bing), and Pinkard had a tackle.
--Bing had 6 tackles (0.5 for loss) and intercepted a pass against Arizona State, Arbet had 4 stops and a deflection, Wright had 3 tackles (with a sack) and a deflection, Thomas also had 3 tackles, Wyatt and Pinkard both had 2 stops, Nunn had a sack and forced a fumble, and Tolliver and Brandon Ting each had a tackle.
--Against Washington, Leach had 3 tackles, Wyatt and Bing had 2 each, Arbet and Nunn each had 1 and Wright deflected 2 passes. --Bing had 5 tackles (1.5 for loss) and 2 deflections at Washington State, Wyatt, Arbet and Nunn each added 3 stops (Arbet had 0.5 for a loss and Wyatt also had a deflection), Farr and Leach each had 2 tackles, Wright and Pinkard each had 1 stop and Thomas had an interception in the end zone. --Wyatt had a career-high 8 tackles (with 0.5 sack) and a deflection at Oregon State, while Bing added 5 stops with a deflection and forced fumble, Leach had 4 tackles with an interception and 2 deflections, Arbet had 2 stops, Wright and Pinkard each had a tackle and Thomas deflected 2 passes.
SPECIALISTS
All-American junior Tom Malone (43.6 avg in 2004), the nation's best punter and a leading candidate for the Ray Guy Award, has proven to be a weapon whenever he boots the ball. He currently ranks 16th nationally in punting (43.6, second in Pac-10). Some 23 of his 37 punts in 2004 have pinned opponents within the 20-yard line and 11 have traveled at least 50 yards (with a pair of 62-yarders). His career average of 44.6 is above the school standard (44.1). He is a semifinalist for the 2004 Ray Guy Award. He broke the USC season punting average record by 3.4 yards last fall (his 49.0 mark was just 0.3 off of the Pac-10 standard). He led the nation in punting for 5 consecutive weeks in the middle of the 2003 campaign and would have finished as the leader (by 1.0 yard), but the efficiency of USC's offense left him 5 punts shy of having the NCAA-required minimum 3.6 punts per game. In 2003, 24 of his 42 punts traveled at least 50 yards and 28 pinned opponents within the 20-yard line. Senior Ryan Killeen (7-of-15 FG and 43-of-43 PAT in 2004, plus 1 tac) ranks among the nation's top placekickers. Some 43 of his 58 kickoffs in 2004 have kept opponents within the 20-yard line, including 33 touchbacks. The Lou Groza Award candidate was 12th nationally in scoring (9.4, second in Pac-10) and tied for 18th in field goals (1.5, third in Pac-10) in 2003. His 65 PATs last fall were a Pac-10 season record and his 19 field goals tied the USC season mark. The 122 points he scored in 2003 were the second-most ever tallied at USC. He had 35 touchbacks among his 99 kickoffs in 2003 (and he kept foes within the 20-yard line 58 times).
He also backs up Malone at punter. Behind Killeen is walk-on redshirt freshman Mario Danelo, the son of ex-NFL kicker Joe Danelo, and walk-on first-year frosh Taylor Odegard. It might not sound like a big deal, but USC had to replace both of its long-time snappers: 4-year short snapper Joe Boskovich and 3- year long snapper Matt Hayward. Both performed flawlessly during their careers. Their replacements are junior walk-on linebacker Collin Ashton on long snaps and redshirt freshman Will Collins, a one-time walk-on who earned a scholarship this spring, on short snaps. Junior punter Tom Malone is the holder for his third season, with senior quarterback Matt Cassel as his backup. USC has back from last year its top kickoff returner in sophomore tailback Reggie Bush (14 KOR, 397 yds, 28.4 avg in 2004), who was 10th nationally in kickoff returns in 2003 (27.3, first in Pac-10) and was the first Trojan to lead the league in kickoff returns since Anthony Davis in 1974 (Bush returned a 96-yarder for a score last year), and its top punt returner in junior wide receiver Greig Carlson (4 PR, 8 yds, 2.0 avg in 2004).
Bush (20 PR, 349 yds, 17.5 avg, 2 TD in 2004) also returns punts. Bush currently is seventh nationally in punt returns (17.5, first in Pac-10) and 12th in kickoff returns (28.4, second in Pac- 10). Other potential returners are junior tailback Hershel Dennis, who led USC in kickoff returns in 2002, senior cornerback Kevin Arbet, who led USC in punt returns in 2001, junior cornerback Justin Wyatt and redshirt freshman tailback Desmond Reed (4 KOR, 75 yds, 18.8 avg in 2004, plus 1 PR, 16 yds, 16.0 avg).
--Malone averaged 42.8 yards on his 5 punts versus Virginia Tech (1 traveled 53 yards and 2 pinned the Hokies within the 20), while Killeen hit 1-of-2 field goals (a 41-yarder) and all 3 PATs, plus 3 of his 5 kickoffs kept Virginia Tech within the 20 (with 2 touchbacks).
--Killeen nailed all 7 of his PATs against Colorado State and 6 of his 8 kickoffs kept the Rams within the 20 (with 2 touchbacks), while Malone averaged 43.2 yards on his 4 punts (with 2 keeping CSU within the 20).
--At BYU, 6 of Killeen's 7 kickoffs were touchbacks and he nailed all 6 of his PATs (but he did miss both of his field goal attempts), while Malone averaged 44.0 yards on 4 punts (all pinned the Cougars within the 20).
--At Stanford, Malone averaged 40.3 yards on his 3 punts, while Killeen hit all 4 of his PATs and made 1-of-2 field goals (a 23-yarder).
--Killeen hit all 3 of his field goal attempts (31, 33 and 42 yards) and both of his PATs against California, and all 6 of his kickoffs were touchbacks, as he was named Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week, while Malone averaged 57.0 yards on his 2 punts (with a 62-yarder).
--Malone averaged 48.7 yards on his 3 punts against Arizona State (with a 62-yarder for the second consecutive game), while Killeen hit his field goal try (a 34-yarder) and all 6 of his PATs, plus 6 of his 8 kickoffs were touchbacks (all 8 pinned ASU within the 20).
--Against Washington, 6 of Killeen's 7 kickoffs were touchbacks (all 7 pinned the Huskies within the 20) and he was 1-of-2 on field goals (hitting a 29- yarder) and 5-of-5 on PATs, while Malone averaged 48.3 yards on his 3 punts (all of them kept UW within the 20), with a pair of 50-yarders.
--Killeen made all 6 of his PATs (he missed a field goal) at Washington State and 5 of his 6 kickoffs kept the Cougars within the 20 (with 4 touchbacks), while Malone averaged 37.3 yards on his 6 punts (3 pinned WSU within the 20).
--Malone averaged 43.1 yards on 7 punts at Oregon State (5 pinned OSU within the 20), while Killeen hit all 4 PATs but missed a pair of field goals (1 was blocked).
ASSISTANT COACHES
USC's assistant coaching staff welcomed 3 new faces in 2004: QB coach Carl Smith, who has 32 years of coaching experience (his last 17 years were spent in the NFL); RB coach Todd McNair, a former NFL running back and assistant; and DEF/LB coach Ken Norton Jr., the ex-NFL and UCLA star linebacker. There were also some slight adjustments involving 3 returning coaches. Rocky Seto switched from safeties to linebackers. Brennan Carroll, an offensive assistant the past 2 seasons, became a full-time assistant, handling the tight ends. And WR coach Lane Kiffin took on the added duty of passing game coordinator.
STATS OF NOTE
WINS
***USC has won 29 of its last 30 games, 30 of its last 32, 32 of its last 35 and 36 of its last 40.
DEFENSE
***Defensively, USC currently is ranked in the nation's Top 6 in every defensive category: second in turnover margin (+1.6, first in Pac-10), third in scoring defense (11.9, first in Pac-10), third in rushing defense (66.9, first in Pac-10), fifth in pass efficiency defense (98.5, first in Pac-10) and sixth in total defense (267.7, first in Pac-10).
***USC's total defense average of 267.7 is its lowest since the 1989 season (238.4) and the 4.1 yards per play allowed is its lowest since 1982's 3.9. ***In the last 3 games, USC has allowed only 75 yards rushing, forced 11 fumbles (recovering 6), and allowed just 5-of-45 on third-down conversions (including none in 27 tries by Washington and Oregon State).
***USC has allowed just 1 touchdown and 1 field goal in the fourth quarter in 2004. ***USC has allowed just 5 touchdowns (1 was on an interception return) and 2 field goals in its last 17 quarters of 2004 (and had a stretch of no points allowed in 8 straight quarters).
***USC has held opponents scoreless in 22 of 36 quarters in 2004.
***During its current 18-game winning streak, USC has not allowed a team to score more than 28 points.
***USC has posted 39 sacks in 2004 (4.3 per game).
***USC has forced 28 turnovers in 2004 (15 interceptions, 13 fumbles).
***USC is allowing opponents to convert just 28.0% of third downs (37-of-132).
***Opponents have advanced into the red zone only 16 times in 2004.
***USC has not lost the turnover battle in any game in 2004 (the Trojans are 29-4 under Pete Carroll when winning the turnover battle).
***USC has intercepted a pass in 30 of the last 32 games, including 16 consecutive games before being blanked at Notre Dame in 2003.
***USC has held 26 of its last 35 opposing teams to less than 100 rushing yards (6 times in 2004, 10 games in 2003 and 10 times in 2002).
***Only 2 opposing runners have rushed for 100 yards against USC in the past 33 games (California's Adimchinobe Echemandu did so in 2003, breaking a streak of 16 consecutive games without a 100-yard rusher, and Cal's J.J. Arrington did so in 2004).
***USC has 4 shutouts in its past 22 games (and 3 in its last 13 outings).
***USC has posted a pair of shutouts in both 2003 and 2004 (before that, the last time USC had 2 shutouts in a season was 1982, when it had 3).
***USC's first 3 opponents of 2004 and its past 3 foes of 2004 were held to less than 300 total yards (previously, the last time that happened was the first 3 games of 1996).
***Under Pete Carroll, USC is 20-0 when holding opponents to less than 300 yards of total offense (6 times in 2004).
***Since allowing a 69-yard TD pass in the third quarter of the BYU game in 2004, USC has not allowed a pass completion longer than 37 yards (a span of 25 quarters).
OFFENSE
***Offensively , USC currently is 11th nationally in scoring offense (35.8, second in Pac-10) and 16th in passing efficiency (148.5, second in Pac-10). ***USC's 600 combined rushing yards against Colorado State (322) and BYU (278) were the most by Troy in back-to-back games since getting 638 against Ohio State and Washington State in 1990.
***All 7 of USC's running backs who have carried the ball in 2004 are averaging at least 4.4 yards per carry (5 are at least at 5.0).
***USC has allowed just 19 sacks in 2004. ***Of USC's 48 offensive scoring drives in 2003, 31 have taken less than 3 minutes (including 20 under 2 minutes).
SCORING
***USC has scored at least 20 points in its last 35 games, a school record (and in 35 of its past 36). ***USC has scored at least 30 points in 25 of its last 30 games.
***USC has scored at least 40 points 19 times under Pete Carroll.
***USC had scored at least 30 points in 15 consecutive Pac-10 games before being held to 23 points by California in 2004.
***USC has scored 96 points (12 TDs, 4 field goals) after getting a turnover in 2004.
***USC has a +23.9 scoring margin in 2004.
***USC has outscored opponents 183-71 in the first half and 139-36 in the second half in 2004.
***USC has a knack for scoring unanswered points (49 versus Colorado State, 21 twice at BYU, 21 and 24 versus Arizona State, 31 versus Washington, 35 at Washington State, 28 at Oregon State), continuing a trend from 2003 (11 times) and 2004 (also 11 times) when Troy scored 20 or more consecutive points.
***In its current 18-game winning streak, USC has won by a combined 420 points (an average of 23.3).
***During the Pete Carroll era, USC has more than doubled the score of its opponents in the second half of games (788 to 371 points).
MISCELLANEOUS
***On special teams, USC currently is fourth nationally in net punting (41.4, first in Pac-10), 13th in punt returns (14.9, first in Pac-10) and 17th in kickoff returns (23.6, second in Pac-10).
*** USC's first 6 opponents of 2004 entered their games against Troy with a cumulative 11-2 record, as 4 were undefeated and 2 were ranked in the AP Top 15 (USC's remaining 3 opponents currently have a 13-14 overall mark).
***USC has won its last 6 games against AP Top 7 teams (No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 3 Iowa in 2002, No. 6 Auburn, No. 6 Washington State and No. 4 Michigan in 2003, and No. 7 California in 2004) and has done so by a 199-77 score (an average of 33-13).
***USC has won its last 10 games against AP Top 25 teams (the 6 mentioned in the previous item, plus No. 22 Washington, No. 14 Oregon and No. 25 UCLA in 2002, and No. 15 Arizona State in 2004) and has done so by a 381-159 score (an average score of 38-16).
***USC has played before crowds of at least 85,000 in 6 of its past 12 games.
***USC's last 2 losses (at Washington State in 2002 and California in 2003) have come in 4 overtimes. ***Eight of the 9 losses in the Pete Carroll era at USC have been by a touchdown or less (the other was by 11 points).
TAKEAWAYS
USC has been effective in the takeaway department during head coach Pete Carroll's 4-year tenure. In 2004, USC is +1.6 in turnover margin (second in the U.S. and first in the Pac- 10) by getting 15 interceptions and 13 fumbles (while giving back only 6 fumbles and 5 interceptions). USC's +1.3 turnover margin over Carroll's first 3 seasons was the best in the nation and its 113 takeaways during that span also were the most. In 2003, USC was +1.5 in turnover margin (second in the U.S. and first in the Pac-10) by getting 22 interceptions and 20 fumbles (and yielding only 9 interceptions and 13 fumbles). In 2002, the Trojans had 36 takeaways (19 fumbles and 17 interceptions) and ranked fifth nationally in turnover margin (+1.4). In 2001, Troy had 35 takeaways (20 picks, 15 fumbles) and ranked fifth in the nation in turnover margin at +1.3. USC's ball security was impressive, too (only 19 turnovers in 2001 and just 18 in 2002).
RANDOM NOTES
***USC's 2004 captains, as elected by their teammates at the end of fall camp, are QB Matt Leinart, DE-DT Shaun Cody and LB Matt Grootegoed.
***QB Matt Leinart hosts a daily web log ("blog"), chronicling his observations of the USC football team this season. Check it out at www.mattleinartblog.com. It makes for a fun read each day.
*** The 50 millionth fan (Jim Farrell of Long Beach) to see a USC football game, home and away, came through the gates at this year's Arizona State home game.
***Late USC 2-time All-American tailback Ricky Bell was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., this Aug. 13-14, while former USC All-American tight end Charles Young will be inducted into the Hall at a Dec. 7 dinner in New York (he'll be enshrined in August of 2005). Bell, who earned All-American honors in 1975 and 1976 (he was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1976), ran for 3,689 yards at Troy and then was the No. 1 pick of the 1977 NFL draft (he played 6 years in the NFL) before dying in 1984 of heart disease. Young was a unanimous All- American on USC's 1972 national championship team and caught 68 passes in his Trojan career before playing 13 years in the NFL. USC has 26 former players, 2 ex-head coaches, 4 one-time assistant coaches and a former athletic director in the College Football Hall of Fame.
***FieldTurf, the popular artificial turf, was installed this past summer on a portion of USC's practice field. It covers the L-shaped portion on the northwest corner of Howard Jones Field. This marks the first time that USC ever has had artificial turf on its practice field.
***After doing significant research, USC now is recognizing its 1939 football team as a national champion, giving the Trojans 10 national titles in program history (1928-31-32-39- 62-67-72-74-78-2003). The 1939 Trojans went 8-0-2 and finished atop the Dickinson System poll, thereby winning the Knute Rockne Intercollegiate Memorial Trophy (at the time emblematic of the nation's No. 1 team). According to the NCAA Football Records Book, the Dickinson System was the first to gain widespread nation public and media acceptance as a "major selector."
***No USC football letterman in history has been heavier than current Trojan OLs Taitusi Lutui (370 pounds), John Drake (350) or Alatini Malu (335, equaling the weight of 1995-98 letterman Ken Bowen).
***QB John David Booty, who enrolled at USC in the fall of 2003, is believed to be the first football player to graduate a full year early from high school and enroll at a major Division I-A university.
***USC also has 5 players who graduated a semester early from high school and enrolled at USC in the spring. P Tom Malone and FB Brandon Hancock came to USC in the spring of 2002. Identical twin DBs Brandon and Ryan Ting did so in the spring of 2003. WR Fred Davis enrolled at USC this past spring.
***USC has retired the jersey numbers of its 5 Heisman Trophy winners. However, S Darnell Bing received permission from USC athletic director Mike Garrett (Troy's 1965 Heismanwinning tailback) to wear Garrett's retired No. 20 jersey.
***Several Trojans have participated in other sports at Troy. QB Billy Hart was on the USC baseball team the past 3 seasons (2002-04). He led USC in batting average (.367) and triples (3) in 2004 while starting 44 games in the outfield and then at third base (he also had 58 hits, 26 runs, 9 doubles, 2 home runs and 29 RBI). He started 22 times in right field in 2003, hitting .238 in 42 games with 20 hits, 14 runs, 1 home run and 4 RBI (he redshirted in 2002). QB Matt Cassel was a pitcher for the 2004 Trojans, posting an 0-1 record and 9.35 ERA in 8 games, with 10 strikeouts and 4 walks (he was selected in the 36th round of the 2004 draft by the Oakland Athletics). OG Travis Watkins was a shot putter for the 2001 Trojan track squad (he redshirted). Walk-on CB Justin Tolliver was a sprinter for the 2002 and 2003 Trojans, but did not compete in a meet. Walkon TE Owen Hanson was a reserve on the USC men's volleyball team for 3 seasons (2001-03), seeing action in 1 match in 2003.
***As a youngster, LB Collin Ashton was a ballboy for several years for the USC men's basketball team.
***OT Taitusi Lutui is USC's only married player. He and his wife, Pua, were married in July of 2004.
***USC's 2004 schedule includes 6 night games (starting at 5 p.m. or later, local time), a school record dating to Troy's first night game in 1944.
***Who's the fastest among the 2004 Trojans? It might be TB Reggie Bush, with bests of 10.42 in the 100 meters and 21.06 in the 200. He placed third in the 100 in the 2002 California state meet.
***QB Matt Cassel played on the Northridge (Calif.) team that was a finalist at the 1994 Little League World Series. And LB Matt Grootegoed was a finalist as a 10-year-old in the national Punt, Pass and Kick competition.
***Several Trojans have Hollywood connections. As a youngster, CB John Walker was a television actor who appeared in such shows as "E.R." and "7th Heaven" (in fact, he didn't play football until his sophomore year of high school because a clause in his acting contract prevented him from doing anything that could affect his appearance). QB Matt Cassel was featured in the HBO documentary "Freshman Year," which was filmed at his high school in 1999-2000. And QB Brandon Hance, a music industry major, has interned at several Beverly Hills entertainment-based talent and management agencies.
***On DE-DT Shaun Cody's right biceps is a large tattoo of the interlock "SC" logo, which stands both for his initials and his university. ***FB Brandon Hancock has been featured in various body building magazines, including Muscle Magazine International.
***QB Brandon Hance, who was hospitalized briefly in the summer of 2003 with a viral form of spinal meningitis, recorded a public service announcement for the Meningitis Foundation of America as part of the MFA's Meningitis Awareness and Prevention month in August of 2003. Hance's 30-second radio message was geared toward college students.
***In his 32-year collegiate coaching career at BYU, North Carolina State and now USC, offensive coordinator Norm Chow has coached quarterbacks who combined have thrown for more than 70,000 career yards...or about 40 miles! Besides Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer at Troy, Chow has tutored BYU's Steve Young, Jim McMahon, Marc Wilson, Gifford Nielsen, Ty Detmer and Robbie Bosco and North Carolina State's Philip Rivers. Two of his pupils (Palmer and Detmer) won the Heisman Trophy (4 others finished in the top 3 of the voting).
***"The Tradition Continues," a 75-minute video look at the USC football team's exciting 2003 national championship season, is available in both DVD and VHS format. It can be purchased for $24.95 at the USC Bookstore on campus, as well as ordered online at www.uscthestore.com or by calling the USC Bookstore at 800-447-8620. The video includes highlights from all 13 of USC's games, neverbefore- seen pre-game, halftime and postgame lockerroom footage, and interviews with current and former players and coaches. Also available at the USC Bookstore and online is a 150-minute DVD of ABC-TV's entire commercial-free broadcast of the 2004 Rose Bowl, a 28-14 Trojan victory over Michigan. It is priced at $24.95.
***"UCLA Vs. USC: 75 Years Of The Greatest Rivalry In Sports," a 272-page book authored by Los Angeles Times sportswriter (and former Trojan footballer) Lonnie White, has been published this fall and is available at Southern California-area bookstores. The book provides a comprehensive review of all clashes in all sports between the crosstown rivals. Trojan and Bruins luminaries Mike Garrett, Rod Dedeaux, Cheryl Miller, John Wooden, Bill Walton and Rafer Johnson wrote the forewords.
***Strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle has beaten cancer. He learned he had Hodgkin's Disease in December of 2000, began radiation treatments in Tennessee (where he was still the Volunteers' associate strength and conditioning coach), was hired by USC in February of 2001, kept his illness a secret except to Trojan head coach Pete Carroll, continued treatments in Tennessee and at USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital, then doctors told him in the summer of 2001 that the cancer was in remission. He informed the USC players of his ordeal at the start of fall 2001 camp. He was 1 of 17 nominees for the 2003 Most Courageous Award presented by the Football Writers Association of America.
***Politically speaking, TB Reggie Bush's nickname is "The President." Troy also presidentially features a Jackson (DE Lawrence Jackson) and a Buchanan (WR William Buchanon, spelled slightly different than the President). And TE Dominique Byrd was an intern for Minnesota senator Mark Dayton. By the way, USC is 184-59-14 (.743) during presidential election years and won 3 of its 10 football national championships in those years (1928-32-72).
***USC is 168-52-10 (.752) in seasons that the Summer Olympics have been held. The Trojans won 3 national championships (1928, 1932 and 1972) and played in 9 bowls (winning 6) during those Olympic seasons. Two USC football lettermen have won Olympic gold medals: Fred Kelly (lettered in 1914-15- 16) in the high hurdles in the 1912 Games (he is USC's first gold medalist) and Ken Carpenter (1934-37) in the discus in the 1936 Games. Although 2-time gold medalist Quincy Watts (400 meters and 1600-meter relay in the 1992 Olympics) never lettered in football, he was a receiver on the 1990 Trojans (he didn't get into a game).
***Seven Trojans have relatives who played on national championship USC football squads: SNP Will Collins (uncle, Joe Collins, was on the 1974 team), TE Kurt Katnik (brother, Norm Katnik, was on the 2003 team), LB Clay Matthews (father, 1977 All-American Clay Matthews, was on the 1974 team and brother, Kyle Matthews, was on the 2003 team), QB Michael McDonald (father, 1979 All-American Paul McDonald, was on the 1978 team), LB Lofa Tatupu (father, Mosi Tatupu, was on the 1974 team), CB Justin Tolliver (father, Kevin Williams, was on the 1978 team) and WR Brad Walker (cousins, Norm and Kurt Katnik, were on the 2003 team).
***Several Trojans have other relatives with USC football connections. CB Kevin Arbet is the stepson of ex-Trojan (1980-82) Jeff Simmons. SNP Will Collins' brother, Rob Collins, was a walk-on at USC in the 1980s. Four Trojans have uncles who were Trojan footballers: TE Kurt Katnik (John Katnik, 1986-87), LB Clay Matthews (Bruce Matthews, 1980-82, 1982 All- American), OG Fred Matua (Titus Tuiasosopo, 1990-92) and WR Brad Walker (John Katnik, 1986-87). WR William Buchanon's second cousin is former Trojan C.R. Roberts (1955-56).
***Speaking of genes: CB Kevin Arbet's cousin, Lamarr Arbet, was a 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. OT Sam Baker's father, David, formerly played basketball at UC Irvine and then professionally in Europe, while his brother, Ben, was an offensive lineman at Duke. QB John David Booty's father, Johnny, played quarterback at Arkansas, Louisiana Tech and Mississippi State, while his brother, Josh, played quarterback at LSU for 2 seasons (1999-2000) following a 5-year (1994-98) baseball career as an infielder in the Florida Marlins organization (he then played with the NFL's Cleveland Browns) and another brother, Abram, was a wide receiver at LSU (1997-99) and Valdosta State (2001). LB-FB Mike Brittingham has 5 relatives with athletic backgrounds: sister, Kristine, lettered on UCLA's women's soccer team in 2000 and 2001, cousins Jack and Robert Brittingham were 3-year (1933-35) football lettermen at California, great uncle Richard Munroe lettered in football at both Stanford (1942) and California (1943), and great great grandfather Louis Sumner lettered in football at Wisconsin (1889, 1891-92). WR William Buchanon is the son of ex-NFL star Willie Buchanon, a 1971 All-American cornerback at San Diego State who was a 3-time Pro Bowler during his 11-year (1972- 82) NFL career with the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers. QB Matt Cassel's older brother, Jack, is a pitcher in the San Diego Padres organization, while his younger brother, Justin, is a sophomore on UC Irvine's baseball team. PK Mario Danelo's father, Joe, was a placekicker at Washington State
1979 DÉJÀ VU?
There were numerous similarities between last year's national champion Trojans and the USC team from 25 years earlier, the 1978 national champs. This year, again there are many coincidental repeats between the 2004 Trojans and the USC team from 25 years earlier, the 1979 squad that went 11-0-1 and finished No. 2 in the polls. As in 2004, that 1979 team was a pre-season No. 1 coming off a controversial split national title shared with an SEC team (Alabama) and a Rose Bowl win over a Top 5 Michigan team, and was led by a head coach in his fourth year at the helm (John Robinson). More similarities for both teams: an opening win against a "Tech" team (Texas Tech, Virginia Tech), an efficient left-handed quarterback in his second year as a starter (Paul McDonald, Matt Leinart) who set the school season touchdown pass record the previous year, a running back named White (Charles, who wore 12, and LenDale, who is No. 21), a player named Mike McDonald (this year's Mike is the son of the 1979 quarterback, Paul), a highly-touted freshman receiver from New Jersey (Timmy White, Dwayne Jarrett), a top Heisman candidate (Charles White, Matt Leinart) and a No. 1-ranked recruiting class. Also, eerily, the previous season for both squads featured a Heisman winner from Oklahoma who returned for his final year (Billy Sims, Jason White).
74) before playing in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers (1975), New York Giants (1976- 82) and Buffalo Bills (1983-84). TB Hershel Dennis' father, Hershel Sr., played tailback at North Carolina A&T. DE Rashaad Goodrum's brother, Nuru, is a sophomore fullback at The Citadel. LB Matt Grootegoed's brother, John, was an offensive guard at San Jose State in 1994 and 1995. TE Alex Holmes' father, Mike, lettered at defensive end at Michigan in 1974 and 1975. DE Lawrence Jackson's brother, Keith, was an offensive tackle at Arizona. WR Dwayne Jarrett's cousin, Desmond Belton, is a freshman wide receiver at Idaho. C Ryan Kalil's father, Frank, was a center at Arizona (1980-82) and with the USFL's Arizona Wranglers (1983) and Houston Gamblers (1984). TE Kurt Katnik's father, Norman, was a 2-year starting center at Arizona (1978-79). FB Sean Kelly's father, Mike, was an All-American swimmer at USC (1977-80) and his great grandfather, Arnold Horween, kicked the winning PAT in Harvard's 7-6 victory over Oregon in the 1920 Rose Bowl to help the Crimson to the last of its 7 national football championships (also a fullback, Arnold played alongside his brother, RB Ralph Horween). FB David Kirtman's father, Louis, ran track at California, his brother, Michael, was on Pomona-Pitzer's football and track teams and his uncle, Nate Kirtman, played football at Stanford in 1967. S Jason Leach's cousin is former Arizona State S Alfred Williams (1999-2002). OT Taitusi Lutui's brother, Sam, is an assistant football coach at Southern Utah, where he also started on the line in 1995 and 1996, while he is also related to current BYU players Ofa Mohetau and David Tafuna and former Cougar T.J. Sitake (1999-2000). OG Fred Matua's uncle, Navy Tuiasosopo, played offensive line at Utah State and later with the Los Angeles Rams and a distant cousin, Manu Tuiasasosopo, was a 3-time All-Conference defensive lineman at UCLA (1976-78) who then played with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. WR Jason Mitchell's cousin, Christian Radley, was a coxswain on the USC women's rowing team in 2002. DT Fili Moala's cousin is Oregon sophomore defensive lineman Haloti Ngata. CB Ronald Nunn's sister, Natalie, is a redshirt freshman defender on the USC women's soccer team. OT Drew Radovich's father, Mark, was a linebacker at Arizona State (1974-76). LB Dallas Sartz's father, Jeff, played safety at Oregon State and his grandfather, also named Dallas, was a Golden Gloves boxer at Washington State and a professional hydroplane racer. Twin DBs Brandon and Ryan Ting's brother, Rich, was a quarterback at Yale (1998-2001). DT Travis Tofi's cousin, Suaese "Pooch" Taase, played football at Louisiana Tech. WR Brad Walker's uncle, Norman Katnik, was a 2-year starting center at Arizona (1978- 79). OG Travis Watkins' brother, Todd, is a junior wide receiver at BYU (he formerly played at 2001 Norfolk State), while his father, Don, was a lineman at Pasadena City College and his great uncle, Tom Watkins, was a running back at Iowa State and then played 8 seasons in the NFL in the 1960s with the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers. TB LenDale White is the cousin of former Notre Dame (1998) and Pittsburgh (2000-01) tailback/wide receiver Darcey Levy (who played in the NFL), ex-Wyoming (1998- 2002) linebacker Herman White and former Colorado point guard Chauncey Billups, now in the NBA. OT Kyle Williams' father, Scott, played college basketball, while an uncle, Eric Williams, was a defensive lineman with the Detroit Lions (1984-89) and Washington Redskins (1990-93, including on the 1991 Super Bowl champs) after earning 1983 All-Pac- 10 first team honors in his 3 years (1981-83) at Washington State; his grandfather, Roy Williams, played for the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers, another uncle played professional basketball in Europe, while his other grandfather played 3 sports at Lehigh in the 1960. DT Manuel Wright's cousin is former Arizona State tailback Mike Williams. CB Justin Wyatt's father, Porter, played baseball in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, while his uncle, Reggie, was in the Kansas City Royals system. WR John Zilka's grandfather, Jake Nagode, played basketball at Northwestern (1936-38) and then professionally in the late- 1940s, while his sister, Allison, lettered on the Arizona women's soccer team in 1994. DB coach Greg Burns' brother, Dexter, was a defensive back at San Jose State in the mid- 1990s. Head coach Pete Carroll's wife, Glena, played volleyball at Pacific, while his son, Brennan, was a tight end at Delaware and Pitt (he currently is an assistant football coach at USC) and his daughter, Jaime, played on the 2000 USC women's volleyball team. WR coach Lane Kiffin's father, Monte, is the defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (he is a longtime NFL and collegiate assistant coach who also served as North Carolina State's head coach in the early 1980s), while his brother, Chris, is a senior defensive lineman at Colorado State. LB coach Rocky Seto's wife, Sharla, played soccer at USC. TE coach Brennan Carroll is the son of USC head coach Pete Carroll. DEF/LB coach Ken Norton Jr. is the son of Ken Norton Sr., the former world heavyweight boxing champion who played football at Northeast Missouri State.
***How about these names: DE Frostee Rucker. OT Taitusi Lutui (he goes by "Deuce"). OG Alatini Malu, who answers to "Tiny" (he's 6-4 and 335 pounds). LB Lofa Tatupu . DT Travis Tofi. DT Fili Moala. Then, there's S Darnell Bing and the Ting twins (DBs Brandon and Ryan).
IN THE NFL
USC is always well-represented in the NFL. At the start of training camp this summer, there were 43 ex-Trojans on NFL rosters. Last year, there were 28 Trojans on opening day NFL rosters, including players such as LBs Junior Seau, Chris Claiborne and Zeke Moreno, DL Willie McGinest, WRs Keyshawn Johnson, Johnnie Morton and Curtis Conway, QBs Carson Palmer, Rodney Peete and Rob Johnson and DBs Sammy Knight, Troy Polamalu, Brian Kelly and Daylon McCutcheon. Six NFL head coaches have USC ties (either as former players or assistants): Tennessee's Jeff Fisher, Seattle's Mike Holmgren, San Francisco's Steve Mariucci, Miami's Dave Wannstedt, Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio and Oakland's Norv Turner. Thirteen current USC players have relatives with NFL playing backgrounds: QB John David Booty (brother, Josh Booty), WR William Buchanon (father, Willie Buchanon), PK Mario Danelo (father, Joe Danelo), TE Kurt Katnik (brother, Norm Katnik), OG Fred Matua (cousins, Navy and Manu Tuiasosopo), LB Clay Matthews (grandfather, Clay Matthews Sr.; father, Clay Matthews; uncle, Bruce Matthews), QB Michael McDonald (father, Paul McDonald), LB Lofa Tatupu (father, Mosi Tatupu), CB Justin Tolliver (father, Kevin Williams), WR Brad Walker (cousin, Norm Katnik), OG Travis Watkins (uncle, Tom Watkins), TB LenDale White (cousin, Darcey Levy) and OT Kyle Williams (uncle, Eric Williams; grandfather, Roy Williams). OT Sam Baker's father, David, is the commissioner of the Arena Football League. And C Ryan Kalil's father, Frank, played in the USFL. Additionally, head coach Pete Carroll was an NFL head coach and assistant coach, and assistants Carl Smith , Lane Kiffin and Todd McNair were NFL assistants. Four assistant coaches played professionally: Ken Norton Jr. and Todd McNair were in the NFL, while Norm Chow and Tim Davis were in the CFL (Davis also played in the USFL).
ROSTER UPDATES
There are a number of updates from the roster in the 2004 USC football media guide. ***There are 2 new scholarship players (complete bios below): #91 Fili Moala (DT, 6- 5, 300, Fr./Fr., Buena Park, Western HS) and #44 Rashaad Goodrum (DE, 6-3, 245, Jr./Jr., Fayetteville, NC, Pine Forest HS/Los Angeles Valley JC). ***A trio of former walk-ons--LB Collin Ashton, S Greg Farr and TE Nick Vanderboom--have been awarded a scholarship this fall (bios are below). ***Six players have joined the team as walk-ons: #22 Jim Abbott (CB, 5-10, 175, Fr./ Fr., San Marino, Loyola HS), #98 Mike Davis (DT, 6-0, 280, Jr./Jr., Irvine, Irvine HS/ Saddleback CC), #47 Clay Matthews (LB, 6- 3, 230, Fr./Fr., Agoura Hills, Agoura HS), #18 Taylor Odegard (P-PK, 5-10, 160, Fr./Fr., Mercer Island, WA, Mercer Island HS), #65 Jeff Tola (DT, 6-1, 225, Fr./Fr., Upland, Upland HS) and #48 Brad Walker (WR, 6-2, 200, Fr./Fr., Tustin, Foothill HS). ***Five players have changed numbers: OT Taitusi Lutui is now #71, Brandon Hance is now #4, Dwayne Jarrett is now #8, CB Eric Wright is now #25, CB Alex Gomez is now #46. ***Five players have switched positions: Chris Barrett is now a TE-DE, John Walker is now a WR-CB, Michael Stuart is now a LB-TE, Fred Davis is now a WR-TE, Chris Bocage is now a WR-S. Also, change the class standing of WR Wil Smith to Jr.*/Sr. ***Delete: DE Thomas Herring (ineligible), TE-LB Eugene Germany (ineligible), WR Mike Williams (ineligible), WR Derrick Jones (ineligible), WR Whitney Lewis (ineligible), TB Chauncey Washington (ineligible), DT Ryan Watson (ineligible), OT Winston Justice (suspended), TE Gregg Guenther Jr. (basketball).
BIOS OF NEW SCHOLARSHIP TROJANS
COLLIN ASHTON--A one-time walk-on linebacker and snapper, he earned a scholarship in the fall of 2004...As a sophomore in 2003 while appearing in all 13 games, he had 28 tackles (0.5 for a loss), 1 forced fumble and 1 deflection as a backup linebacker and key special teams player...He even started 2 late-season games (Arizona and UCLA), becoming just the second USC walk-on to start a game in the previous 20 years...He had 8 tackles at Arizona and 5 against UCLA...As a redshirt freshman in 2002, he made 3 tackles while seeing brief action in 3 games (Oregon State, Oregon and UCLA)...He redshirted as a first-year freshman in 2001...He prepped at Mission Viejo (Calif.) High...As a youngster, he served as a ballboy for several years for the USC men's basketball team.
GREG FARR--A one-time walk-on safety, he earned a scholarship in the fall of 2004...As a redshirt junior in 2003 while appearing in 10 games (all but Auburn, California and Arizona State), he made 6 tackles as a reserve safety and on special teams...As a junior in 2002, he saw brief action in just 1 game (w plays at Colorado), but he did not make a tackle (however, he petitioned the NCAA and was allowed to redshirt)...He transferred to USC in the fall of 2002 from Palomar Junior College in San Marcos (Calif.)...He prepped at Carlsbad (Calif.) High.
RASHAAD GOODRUM--He was a 2-year (2002-03) starting defensive end and linebacker at Los Angeles Valley Junior College in Valley Glen (Calif.)...He was a 2003 Super Prep Juco 100, J.C. Grid-Wire All-American honorable mention and All-Western State Conference Northern Division first team (unanimous) selection...He posted 55 tackles (35 solo), including 16 tackles for loss (with 6 sacks), and 2 forced fumbles in 2003...He also made the 2002 All-Western State Conference Northern Division first team...He originally signed with Washington in 2004, but did not enroll there in the spring because he did not graduate from junior college in time...He prepped at Pine Forest High in Fayetteville (N.C.), where he was a 2000 All-Mid South Conference second teamer as a senior linebacker and fullback...He averaged 6.0 yards per carry as a senior...He did not attend any school during the 2001 season...His brother, Nuru, is a sophomore fullback at The Citadel.
Fili Moala--He originally signed with USC in 2003, but did not qualify for admission, so he attended Cypress (Calif.) Junior College in 2003 as a parttime student (he didn't play football there)...He was a 2002 Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All- West, Tom Lemming All-West and Tacoma News Tribune Western 100 selection as a senior offensive and defensive lineman at Western High in Anaheim (Calif.)...He missed all but 2 games of his 2002 senior season because of an injured left foot ligament...As a junior in 2002, he made All- CIF Division IX first team and All-League while posting 60 tackles and 4 sacks...His cousin is Oregon sophomore defensive lineman Haloti Ngata.
NICK VANDERBOOM--A one-time walk-on tight end, he earned a scholarship in the fall of 2004...Appeared in 8 games (all but California, Arizona State, Washington, Washington State and Michigan) as a redshirt freshman tight end and special teams player in 2003, but did not catch a pass or make a tackle...Was switched to tight end from quarterback in 2003 spring drills...Redshirted as a freshman quarterback in 2002, his first year at USC...Prepped at The Breck School in Minneapolis (Minn.)...Current Trojan Dominique Byrd also prepped at The Breck School.
ACADEMICS
Two of USC's most recent graduation rates for football were the highest in USC history. The 2001 official NCAA graduation rate for Trojan football players was 82%, an all-time high (topping the previous USC high of 80% in 2000). That rate compared to 73% for the general USC student body...and it was about 30 percentage points higher than the national football average for Division I schools. Among the top scholars on the 2004 Trojan squad are: S-CB Ryan Ting (3.93 GPA), FB Brandon Hancock (3.86, communication major), S Brandon Ting (3.7 GPA), QB Brandon Hance (3.47, music industry), WR John Zilka (3.46), TE Nick Vanderboom (3.4, business), OG Travis Draper (3.35), QB Billy Hart (3.30, business), QB Matt Cassel (3.28, communication), TB Andre Woodert (3.15, kinesiology), FB Mike Brittingham (2.93), WR Wil Smith (2.85, public management and planning), FB Jody Adewale (2.77, psychology), FB David Kirtman (2.76, business), S Greg Farr (2.76, international relations) and QB Matt Leinart (2.75, sociology). Hancock was a 2003 CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII first team and Pac-10 All-Academic first team selection. In its history, USC football has produced 22 Academic All- American first teamers (tops in the Pac-10 and sixth 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.
USC IS THE PLACE TO BE
Based on several national accolades it has received in recent years, USC can stake its claim as one of the nation's premier schools. USC was named the "College of the Year" by the 2000 edition of the Time/Princeton Review College Guide because of the remarkable bonds it has forged with the local community. The editors said USC has one of the most ambitious social-outreach programs of any university in the nation and cited the school's model of service learning (applying academic theory to real-life situations through public service). They also pointed out that USC's undergraduate applications have nearly doubled over the last few years and it is enrolling the most academically accomplished freshman classes in its history. Troy also was selected as one of America's nine "hottest schools" by the 2001 edition of the Newsweek/Kaplan College Guide because it lives up to its reputation as a top-notch institution of higher education. Students quoted in the guide said that what attracted them to the university was Los Angeles' ethnic diversity, the offer of scholarships, the small classroom sizes and USC's standing in academe. Also in 2001, the Association of American Colleges and Universities picked USC as one of 16 "Leadership Institutions" for providing stimulating educational experiences both inside and outside of the classroom. USC was cited for emphasizing a campus culture featuring new learning techniques, curriculum and organizational structure and for demonstrating a strong commitment to liberal arts education relevant to the contemporary world. The organization said USC not only linked liberal arts and pre-professional study, but offered students the opportunity to learn by doing through off-campus work in community projects and internships. Also, USC was lauded for stressing critical thinking, effective communication and contributing to a diverse society.
USC'S 125TH CELEBRATION
The USC 125th Anniversary Project (1880-2005) showcases USC's leadership in redefining the research university of the 21st century while celebrating and honoring its proud heritage as one of the oldest continuing academic and cultural institutions in the region. USC has been reinventing itself since 1880. Thanks to the dedication, talent, and resources of the Trojan Family, USC will be inventing the future for generations to come. Between now and spring 2006, USC will host a variety of university- wide as well as school-based academic programs, including conferences and guest lectures focused on the first part of USC's 125th anniversary theme -- "inventing the future." At the same time, the university will explore the second part of the theme -- "honoring the past" -- through history projects, celebrations, campus tours, and publications reflecting our rich heritage. Finally, USC's 125th anniversary year -- 2005-2006 -- will culminate in spring 2006 with a university-hosted international academic conference aimed at defining the research university of the 21st century.
ON TV
USC is one of America's most televised teams. The Trojans have appeared on live national, regional or local telecasts 330 times, including 196 of the past 198 games (the past 37 games have been televised). In fact, USC had an amazing streak of 111 consecutive games on some form of live television from 1988 to 1997 (snapped against Oregon State) and another streak of 48 in a row from 1997 to 2001 (broken against California).
SCOUTING ARIZONA
After notching a victory over Northern Arizona in new head coach Mike Stoops' debut, Arizona dropped its next 7 games before winning at Washington last week, 23-13 (snapping a 7-game Pac-10 losing skid). Junior RB Mike Bell (166 tcb, 737 yds, 4.4 avg, 5 TD in 2004, plus 15 rec, 70 yds, 4.7 avg) headlines the offense. Redshirt freshman QB Richard Kovalcheck (48-of-105, 45.7%, 635 yds, 2 TD, 4 int in 2004) took over the signalcalling duties 3 games ago from sophomore QB Kris Heavner (83-of-142, 58.5%, 827 yds, 4 TD, 4 int in 2004). Leading receivers are soph Syndric Steptoe (21 rec, 351 yds, 16.7 avg, 3 TD in 2004, plus 14 KOR, 334 yds, 23.9 avg KOR), senior WR Ricky Williams (20 rec, 243 yds, 12.1 avg in 2004) and senior TE Steve Fleming (16 rec, 227 yds, 14.2 avg in 2004). Top Wildcats defenders include FS Darrell Brooks (62 tac, 4.5 for loss, 1 sack, 1 int, 8 dfl, 1 FF in 2004) and SS Lamon Means (58 tac, 5 for loss, 1 sack, 5 dfl, 2 FR, 1 FF in 2004), both juniors.
GAME PROMOTIONS
It's Homecoming--themed "Homecoming 2004 Under The Stars"--with festivities on campus beginning at 3 p.m...USC's 2004 Athens Olympians will be saluted at halftime...Fans are asked to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the California Highway Patrol CHP for Kids program (toys can be dropped off outside the peristyle end of the Coliseum prior to the game)...Junior Billy Hart, a quarterback on the USC football team and infielder on the baseball team who has a 3.30 GPA as a business major, will be honored during the Verizon Academic Salute...The USC women's basketball team, guided by new head coach Mark Trakh, will be recognized during the Team Trojan Spotlight.
INJURY UPDATE
OUT: OG Travis Draper (thumb), WR Steve Smith (leg), TE Nick Vanderboom (knee), TE Kurt Katnik (concussion), FB Brandon Hancock (knee), QB John David Booty (elbow). QUESTIONABLE: CB Kevin Arbet (knee), OG John Drake (ankle), DT Travis Tofi (knee), S Scott Ware (foot), C Ross Burruel (hip). PROBABLE: WR Greig Carlson (knee), CB Ronald Nunn (knee).
