Trojans’ issue is cohesion, not ability


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Preparation can only go so far. Teams can only condition, practice and rest up so much before hitting a wall, and any additional time to focus on an upcoming opponent has marginal benefit. At that point, out of all the things that are worked on in practice, only one factor remains in deciding the outcome […]

Ducks still have their staying ability to prove


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USC’s dynasty is over, but that’s old news. Recent news, though, is Oregon and whether or not the Ducks will follow the Trojans’ nearly decade-long dynasty with one of their own. Tomorrow’s game will go a long way toward determining whether or not that actually happens. Why? Yes, Oregon has been good for a while […]

Victory lies with Trojans’ offense


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In sports circles everywhere, it’s widely known that defense wins championships. The problem for USC is that there is no championship to be won, and the defense has played that way for a large part of this season. Sure, the Trojans’ defense is coming off its most dominating performance yet, strangling a Cal team that […]

Commitment defines Fontan’s trek to USC


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On the night of April 9, 2007, thousands of fans crammed into the aging bleachers of the Fellowship House gymnasium for what was billed to be the greatest one-act play in the history of the Albert C. Donofrio Basketball Classic. The tournament, which aims to showcase the brightest hardwood talents in the Philadelphia-South New Jersey […]

Pieces are in place for a USC victory


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Plenty of hand-holding harmony occurred in the soon-to-be Pac-12 over the weekend, with the divisional split and revenue-sharing agreement set to take effect next season. California has been split in two, but the rivalries have been maintained. Your annual Weekender plans are safe. It was also decided that revenue from television contracts is going to […]

Bye week came at perfect moment


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This has been a rough year for USC football. Sure, the Trojans are 5-2 and just decimated a Cal team that, until two weeks ago, looked like decent competition in the Pac-10. But don’t be fooled. The temporary happiness that USC is currently experiencing only masks the lingering damage that it withstood to get to […]

A desperate plea to our visiting President


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Dear President Obama, I know you’re a busy man. Leading our nation is no small task. With midterm elections, two wars and a struggling economy on your plate, you could be forgiven for not grabbing a copy of the Daily Trojan today. But here’s guessing you’re the type of guy who picks up a newspaper […]

California budget woes hurt athletics


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Everyone knows it. The state of California is a mess. Voters can’t decide if they want to legalize same-sex marriage, pot or both; the only news I hear about Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown comes from slanderous negative advertisements; and it has rained for the last week. I forget what the sun looks like. Oh […]

Computer-led BCS will always miss the mark


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The BCS rankings were released Sunday, and you know what that means: The controversy has begun. It may be a blessing for college football, it may be a curse, who knows? Whatever your take is, the Bowl Controversy Series rankings surely make for the kind of midseason drama that is not possible in any other […]

Rout of Cal shows USC is not irrelevant


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Prior to Saturday’s game, the month of October had not been kind to the Trojans’ status in the collegiate football world. Between two heartbreaking field goals, a plethora of missed opportunities and all of the lost hype, the Trojans found themselves tied for seventh place in the Pac-10 and sitting on the national media’s back […]