Trojans make a splash in Eugene


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The most meaningless phrase you heard over the last week was that USC’s matchup at Oregon was its bowl game. It’s not because it’s a faulty premise — far from it. It’s because it’s been uttered before. When USC traveled to South Bend, Ind., to face Notre Dame in mid-October, that was its bowl game. […]

The time is now for Trojans to shine


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More than an hour after USC’s triple-overtime defeat against Stanford on Oct. 29, senior defensive tackle Christian Tupou lingered around an empty Trojans’ locker room. As he put on his street clothes and finally headed out into the Los Angeles night, USC’s venerable defensive leader did something few are prone to do following a heartbreaking […]

Trojans could get last laugh in Oregon


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Elite college football programs show unwavering class and respect in defeat and victory. For Oregon, most of its players are doing their part. In fact, all but one of Oregon’s players appear to carry themselves with an elegance appropriate for a team that has a shot to play in consecutive BCS national championship games. But […]

USC and Oregon a clash of cultures


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When USC and Oregon meet on the football field Saturday night in Eugene, Ore., there will be more on the line than the Ducks’ recently reinvigorated BCS title hopes. The future of the Pac-12 conference is at stake. The Trojans and Ducks have combined to win the last nine conference titles and Oregon is in […]

Gap between Barkley, Luck not too steep


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Washington coach Steve Sarkisian started a little bit of gamesmanship and a whole lot of confusion last week when he said he’d take USC junior quarterback Matt Barkley over Stanford quarterback and Heisman-favorite Andrew Luck if he were picking in the NFL draft. After this weekend, it seems Sarkisian might be on to something after […]

Fans boast insatiable appetite


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Understand this: Kickoff between USC and Washington was scheduled for 12:45 p.m. It was in Los Angeles. Weather reports indicated rain was on the horizon. None of those circumstances exactly forecasted a strong turnout from the Trojan faithful, as later indicated by the announced attendance of 64,576 — the lowest number for a homecoming game […]

Core of freshmen bring back memories


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Defense — it’s been a trademark of USC football. Sure, we always hear about Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and Mike Williams, the high-powered offenses during those years when former USC coach Pete Carroll was around. Those Trojans’ teams boasted some of the most electrifying players in the nation. Though the Trojans sported one of the […]

Remarks could add fuel to fire for USC


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With No. 18 USC just two days away from hosting Washington at the Coliseum, Huskies coaches haven’t had many qualms about being the least bit frank when speaking with the media. First, coach Steve Sarkisian told reporters during Monday’s press conference he would rather have junior quarterback Matt Barkley on his NFL team than Stanford […]

Kiffin, Sarkisian have left their own marks


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Disciple: a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another; a follower. For Pete Carroll, passing on the keys to his winning ways wasn’t going very well in fall 2008. Carroll’s most prominent pupil, Lane Kiffin, had just been fired by late Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis following a 5-15 […]

Tough schedule to benefit Trojans


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In typical Trojan fashion, the USC men’s basketball team begins its season Friday against CSU Northridge with little to no fanfare. You can thank the Trojans’ No. 18 football team for most of the distraction, as its 7-2 record and recent play have captured the attention of many more people than those residing between Adams […]