Respect is due for upcoming foe


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What I am about to ask might come across as an act of heresy, or worse, the request of someone who fits perfectly in the mold of Benedict Arnold’s second coming. But before you choose to question my party ties or check to see what school colors I bleed, please hear me out. When Washington’s […]

Havili leading Trojans with experience


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If you were listening really hard, you might have been able to hear a collective groan ring throughout Los Angeles on Saturday as Washington State scored the first touchdown of the game against USC. It was as if Trojan fans knew exactly what they were in for over the next three hours — inconsistent USC […]

Trust in freshmen working for volleyball


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The moment came sometime in the second set of an early season non-conference match against Cal State Fullerton. After a slow start that saw his team lose the opening set, USC women’s volleyball coach Mick Haley decided to put his trust in his freshmen. Three straight set victories later, Haley’s faith has been rewarded. “No […]

Special teams paying dividends for Trojans


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Special teams. Just by the name, the unit separates itself from all other units in a team. Yet, despite what your second-grade teacher might say, simply because something appears special doesn’t mean it’s all that special. Special teams is the area on many teams where second- and third-string players get their chance to see some […]

The art of capturing USC at its finest


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When tailback Reggie Bush hurdled over UCLA cornerback Marcus Cassel in December 2005, he was there. When wide receiver Mike Williams reminded us of his greatness with a one-handed catch for the ages against Oregon State in 2003, he was there. And when DeMar DeRozan and Daniel Hackett helped to lead a legendary USC basketball […]

Trojans still hungry to figure out their identity


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You’d never know it, but USC is three games into its football season. So that explains the guys in white and cardinal playing on ESPN Saturday against Minnesota. And those same guys jubilantly singing “Fight On” afterward — I guess those must have been Trojans. Still, three games into the season, I can’t help but […]

Bradford once again proving his worth


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It was a classic sports metaphor unfolding right before my eyes: Senior tailback Allen Bradford, sitting at third on the USC depth chart, gets his number called from the sideline during the Trojans’ game in Minnesota Saturday. Until recently, this wasn’t a rare occurrence for Bradford, who helped lead USC with 668 yards and eight […]

Energy level must stay elevated in Minnesota


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Sometimes, fans assume that sports are like algebra. If Team A beats Team B by 21, and if Team B beats Team C by 14, then it follows that Team A should beat Team C by 35. Right? No — at least, not according to Lane Kiffin and the Trojans. Kiffin dismissed any thought of […]

New coach, same story: lots of penalties


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Discipline. That would be one of the first words that comes to mind when thinking of the difference between former USC coach Pete Carroll and his successor Lane Kiffin. From his first practice in the spring, Kiffin made sure players touched every line during sprints, paid full attention during practice and adhered strictly to the […]