In search of storylines during a USC bye week


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Today is a tough day for columnists. It’s the Thursday before an open Saturday and after a statement Saturday. In laymen’s terms: USC doesn’t play this Saturday. And last Saturday, the Trojans silenced all the critics. Can the defense handle the Heisman front-runner Jahvid Best? Yes. He’s now on the Heisman backburner. Can the offense […]

Trojans again playing as if there’s no doubt


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USC’s dancing and chest-thumping on the sideline may be nothing new for the fans or players, yet each hop and step seemed more emphatic than the moves the Trojans made in their sluggish first four games of the year.

Athletes are ruled by their superstitions


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Bo DeHuff knew he was in trouble. But nobody else did. Redshirt sophomore DeHuff came to the second hole on the second day of a junior golf tournament as the leader. He held the overnight lead, and he was hitting the ball well. It was his senior year of high school, and he was headed […]

Johnson’s role won’t be easily filled


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We all know by now that Stafon Johnson is most likely done for the rest of the season. He was involved in a tragic accident that no one could have predicted or prevented. But what we don’t know is how the USC offense will respond to the incident. More specifically, how will this impact the […]

Stafon Johnson: A true Trojan


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Stafon Johnson was the first USC football player I ever talked to. I approached him as he walked off Howard Jones Field after a Monday practice last season. He was visibly busy. There were 10 or 20 kids waiting for his autograph — I later learned this is quite normal — and plenty of things […]

Trojans need past to become present


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History is on USC’s side. Recent history, that is. If anyone has learned anything from the trend of losses to inferior, unranked opponents, it’s this: One loss does not end a season. Usually. Somehow, some way, a strange brew of events over the last three years seems to give one-loss USC a shot at getting […]

Carroll is responsible for the latest letdown


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The Trojans’ struggles against a scrappy, mid-level Pac-10 team have become so institutionalized at USC that the annual event is almost a cliché in itself. Instead of being surprised by Saturday’s outcome, most Trojan fans felt like they were headed in a direction they had been before.

Writing was on the wall for upset


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All signs pointed to it. A week after a huge emotional win, a week of practice swirling with uncertainty, all leading up to a road game against a team nobody thinks has a shot. Smelled like trouble. Looked like trouble.