The pre-game coin toss is the game within the game -- or, to be more precise, the game before the game -- as the first move in a 60-minute chess match is made.
Here's the weekly scene: Jeff Byers, Damian Williams, Taylor Mays and Josh Pinkard, USC's four captains, make their way to midfield to meet the opponent's captains and the head referee. The visiting team calls heads or tails, the official flips the coin and the winner of the toss then elects to make a decision at that point (which effectively equates to receiving the opening kick) or defer until the second half (which essentially means kicking off to start the game).
So far this season, the Trojans are 7-4 on coin flips, but only 3-3 when they're on the road and make the call on the toss. USC had been undefeated in home coin tosses until UCLA won Saturday's pre-game toss and elected to defer. On all seven coin-toss wins, the Trojans have kicked off to start the game, while on all four coin-toss losses, the opposing teams have chosen to defer, meaning USC received the opening kickoff. In games this season, the Trojans are 6-1 when winning the pre-game coin toss and 2-2 when losing it (see chart at right).Williams has been the de facto spokesman during coin tosses "because he's the most articulate and smartest," Byers said with a hint of sarcasm. Williams said he always calls tails out of habit.
One hiccup came in the Washington game, when Williams gave up his calling duties to Mays, who was injured and making his homecoming for that matchup. The Trojans lost the toss and eventually the game.
"Maybe I shouldn't have let Taylor call that one," Williams said with a smile.
The Trojan captains are instructed by Coach Carroll that when they win the toss, they always want to defer, meaning they'll kick off to start the game and receive to begin the third quarter. When they lose the coin toss, they then get to pick which direction they'll go to start the game, and Carroll tells them which way to defend based on what kickers say is best during pre-game warm-ups.
Carroll likes to win the toss, defer and kick off to start the game so his defense can hopefully get a stop and give the offense the ball near midfield -- "or at least that's the idea," he said -- while also giving his team possession to start the second half.
Damian Williams, Josh Pinkard, Jeff Byers and Taylor Mays, USC's four captains, meet at midfield for the coin toss prior to the Notre Dame game.Â
