Playing it safe gives Trojans a chance


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One of the moments from last Thursday’s showdown between USC and California — one which will only continue to reinforce outdated notions — remains a fourth-down play in the opening minutes. Facing a fourth-and-goal from its eight-yard line on its first drive of the game, USC lined up in a rather unusual formation and quickly […]

TV spot puts all eyes on the Trojans


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With thousands of USC fans making the dedicated pilgrimage to San Francisco today to watch the Trojans take on the California Golden Bears, everyone’s hoping the team doesn’t put up a stinker. In fact, this one’s a must-win for USC to salvage some pride, exert dominance and satisfy hordes of fans who accompany the team […]

National TV provides recruiting opportunity


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As much as the weekday trip to California has thrown off the Bay Area travel plans of USC students and alumni, it’s not all bad news for the Trojan football program. Thursday night’s game will be televised nationally, meaning a lot of eyes will be on USC coach Lane Kiffin’s crew. It’s not like USC […]

Second half of season looms large for Trojans


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It’s amazing what having something to play for can do to a team. In any sport, having the stakes raised can awaken a fire inside even the biggest underdogs, occasionally producing magical — and often unbelievable — results. Take the 2011 Virginia Commonwealth Rams, who, as No. 11 seed, stormed their way to the men’s […]

Silence shouldn’t be option for Nikias


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I have always felt it is hard to determine the value of a college football program. Unlike, say, for a professional baseball team, Forbes doesn’t annually list the monetary value of Florida, Texas or USC. There isn’t an established market price. There isn’t an exact figure that can be attached. There are a few things, however, […]

What to watch for without USC football


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No USC football this weekend. I might cry. The connection between junior quarterback Matt Barkley and sophomore wide receiver Robert Woods is, in a word, beautiful. But I won’t be able to see these Trojans try to break another offensive record Saturday. What about the high praise showering freshman wide receiver Marqise Lee? I won’t […]

Special teams vital in Trojans’ success


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In my 10 years or so of playing Madden and NCAA Football video games, I had never blocked a kick or even seen one blocked. Sunday evening, that changed, when I denied a 31-yard field-goal try. So shocked and excited was I by this event, it occurred to me just how much I had taken […]

Heisman odds still not in Woods’ favor


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Five games into the college football season, the nation’s best players are building their cases for the sport’s biggest award. The race for the Heisman Trophy, given annually to the most outstanding player in college football, is watched almost as closely as the battle for the national title. Preseason Heisman favorites like Stanford quarterback Andrew […]

USC defense struggling despite early optimism


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It was impossible not to be optimistic about USC’s defense coming into this season. After all, the belief was that improvement was guaranteed — not because of a boost in experience, talent or coaching, but rather, because the 2011 defense couldn’t possibly be worse than the 2010 defense. Last season, USC gave up an average […]

PR battle hopeless challenge for Kiffin


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When it comes to a battle of perception, USC coach Lane Kiffin is probably going to lose. And he’s probably going to lose about 11 out of 10 times. It comes with the territory of being Lane Kiffin, in large part. Most USC fans have never exactly instilled a ton of faith in the Trojans’ […]