TrojanWire - Cal

Trojans Headed For One Last Trip to the Desert

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:18:21 -0800

4 days ago: Southern California guard Mike Gerrity is fouled by Oregon State guard Josh Tarver in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

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28 games into the USC basketball season, the latest reports emerging from Galen Center unsurprisingly suggest that the current Trojans' bunch may be undergoing some sort of burnout effect. With a shortened roster and a general lack of depth, this concept shouldn't come as a big shock to most 'SC fans. From the Los Angeles Times:

USC is said to be running on fumes. The truth is, the Trojans would be lucky to have any fumes left.

With a shallow bench and a roster that includes several players racking up minutes after not playing much last season, it's evident the team is worn to the bone.

Coach Kevin O'Neill said that "tired shouldn't be an excuse," but he also admits that obstacles his players faced this year are a major factor in their current fatigue.

"The adversity and the constant having to overcome adversity takes a toll on guys who haven't had to play major minutes before," O'Neill said.

Senior guard Mike Gerrity had been going with the company line: that every player is tired at this point in the season. But he changed his tune Tuesday and said USC's recent losses against Oregon and Oregon State came from something else.

"We lost focus in both these past couple games," Gerrity said. "We had leads at halftime and we lost sight of what was getting us those leads."

In some ways, fatigue is a reasonable excuse for this team's recent troubles, but in the end, I'm not ready to go ahead and buy it. For one, the Trojans struggles have been on the offensive end - they shoot just 30.2% from beyond the arc and rank among the worst teams in all of Division 1 in terms of points per game. Most scouts will tell you that defense takes far more energy to play than offense so the idea that the team's offensive performance is lagging due to exhaustion is a little tough for me to understand at this point.

Furthermore, the Trojans' effort hasn't entirely been consistent. Why does the fatigue only kick in for games against the conference's bottom feeders - Oregon, Oregon State, and Washington State. It looked like the effort was certainly there against Washington in Seattle and Cal at Galen Center. Something doesn't match up exactly.

Surprisingly, O'Neill acknowledged the the team may be wearing down this week and that if may be negatively impacting the team's recent performance. From Scott Wolf's blog:

"Basically we are a little fried as a team," said O'Neill. "I don't know how we will react over these last two games being that we really have nothing to play for like the Pac-10 Tournament of anything like that.''

Yet, even with the season winding down, USC has one final road trip left to Arizona on the horizon, where they will aim to finish the year on a positive note. It's going to be tough for these to get motivated to play in these games, considering that Cal has already won the Pac-10 regular season title and there is no Pac-10 tournament for 'SC. Yet, with three important seniors in Mike Gerrity, Marcus Johnson, and Dwight Lewis, on the roster, it would be nice to see them play well over the final stretch run.

Additionally, the trip to the Valley of the Sun, will also mark Kevin O'Neill's return to Arizona, where he once coach for the Wildcats for one season back in 2008. Of course, O'Neill has been downplaying its significance:

"To me it's just another game against a quality team. I have great respect for Arizona and their tradition. I loved my time in Tucson, but it's just another game. It's unfortunately our last game of the year, but it's just another outing.''

Nonetheless, this season is just about all wrapped up, and as a result, most of the Trojan faithful is already taking a quick glance at the future. And as it looks now, that future appears to be pretty bright.

That is because, the Trojans recently got its first verbal commitment from the class of 2012 - 6'2" combo guard Larry Lewis of Arcadia High School in Phoenix, Arizona according to WeAreSC.com:

Lewis verbally committed to the Trojans on Tuesday night, after sitting down with his mother and AAU coach, Jeff De Laveaga. The 6-2 guard had unofficially visited the Trojans several weeks ago and felt that experience, coupled with strong pushes from USC assistant coach Bob Cantu and head coach Kevin O'Neill, was enough to make him a Trojan.

"Larry wanted to get it done," De Laveaga said of the recruiting process, adding that Lewis chose USC for the location, the education and the chance to play as a freshman. "He had a great time on his unofficial visit. He said it was a great campus, with great facilities and he loved the staff."

Though Lewis currently stands at 6-2, he's projected to hit 6-4 by the time he's done growing, which may take several more years considering his age. Lewis will graduate at 17 and won't turn 18 until he's enrolled at USC.

With Jio Fontant becoming eligible to play next December, along with the arrivals of Bryce Jones in 2010 and Gelaun Wheelwright in 2011, Kevin O'Neill looks to have a formidable backcourt for years to come.

Trojans Shock Huskies 67-64

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:13:55 -0800

(Photo by Icon Sports Media)

USC (16-9, 8-5 Pac-10) upset the Huskies (17-9, 7-7) at home last night 67-64. This was only the second time Washington had lost at home this season. Dwight Lewis led all scorers with 22 points, 16 in the first half. The Trojans are now only a half game back of Cal for first place in the Pac-10.

No one expected anything from the Trojans this season after losing Taj Gibson, DeMar DeRozan and Daniel Hackett to professional basketball. This year has been a pleasant surprise and a majority of the praise must go to coach Kevin O’Neill. It is very disappointing this team won’t get an opportunity to play in the post season, but with O’Neill running the program the future looks bright.

USC next game is at Washington State on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Southern Cal 67, Washington 64 [espn]

What to watch in the Pac-10 this spring

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:28:59 -0800

Taking a look at what to watch for as teams head into spring practices, officially ringing the bell on preparations for the 2010 season.

Arizona
Spring practice starts: March 5
Spring game: April 10

What to watch:

The new coordinators: The Wildcats lost two outstanding coordinators -- Sonny Dykes on offense and Mark Stoops on defense -- and decided to replace them with four guys. Tim Kish, promoted from linebackers coach, and Greg Brown, hired away from Colorado, will run the defense, while Bill Bedenbaugh and Seth Littrell, both promoted from within, will run the offense, with an assist from new quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo. These guys will need to develop a coaching rhythm this spring that will ensure things go smoothly in the fall.

The JC linebackers: The Wildcats must replace three starting linebackers, and JC transfers Derek Earls and Paul Vassallo weren't brought in to watch. If they step into starting spots, then guys like sophomore Jake Fischer, redshirt freshman Trevor Erno and redshirt freshman Cordarius Golston can fight over the third spot and add depth.

Foles 2.0: Quarterback Nick Foles was dynamic when he was on last year, but the shutout loss in the Holiday Bowl served as a reminder that he's not there yet. He's going to be surrounded by a lot of weapons at the skill positions, so he should be able to take another step forward this spring, even with the loss of Dykes.

Arizona State
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: April 24

What to watch:

The QB battle: It's a wide-open battle between Michigan transfer Steven Threet and Brock Osweiler, though the new guy -- Threet -- is perhaps the most intriguing. Samson Szakacsy was supposed to join the battle, but his elbow problem is acting up again, coach Dennis Erickson said Thursday. The competition will be overseen by new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, who's been handed an offense that has sputtered the past two seasons.

O-line issues (take 3): The Sun Devils' offensive line has struggled three years running, and it won't matter who starts at QB if the unit continues to get pushed around. First off, is health. Will Matt Hustad, Zach Schlink, Garth Gerhart, Mike Marcisz and Adam Tello be ready to battle the entire spring? If so, there should be good competition here, particularly with a couple of JC transfers looking to break through.

The secondary: The Sun Devils were very good against the pass last year, but three starters in the secondary need to be replaced. Both starting corners are gone -- though if Omar Bolden successfully returns from a knee injury he should step in on one side -- as well as strong safety Ryan McFoy. The good news is a number of guys saw action here last fall, so the rebuilt unit won't be completely green.

California
Spring practice starts: March 6
Spring game: N/A

What to watch:

Embattled Riley: When things go well, the quarterback often gets too much credit. When things go badly... well, you know. Senior Kevin Riley has started 22 games and has played well at times. But there's a reason he's in a quarterback competition for a third consecutive season. Will he be able to hold off a rising Beau Sweeney this spring?

Rebuilding the D: The Bears had questions on defense even before coordinator Bob Gregory unexpectedly bolted for Boise State. Five starters need to be replaced, including mainstays like end Tyson Alualu and cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson, both first-team All-Pac-10 performers. And with Gregory gone, a new -- likely more aggressive scheme -- now must be incorporated.

RB depth: Shane Vereen is the obvious starter after the departure of Jahvid Best, but Cal has, during the Tedford years, always used two backs. So who's the No. 2? Sophomore Covaughn DeBoskie was third on the team with 211 yards rushing last year, while promising freshman Dasarte Yarnway redshirted. One or the other will look to create separation.

Oregon
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: May 1

What to watch:

The D-line: The Ducks lost perennially underrated end Will Tukuafu, tackle Blake Ferras and backup Simi Toeaina up front. Considering the plan is to run an eight-deep rotation, there will be plenty of opportunities for players like ends Terrell Turner and Taylor Hart and tackles Anthony Anderson, Zac Clark, Wade Keliikipi as well as 6-foot-7 JC transfer Isaac Remington to work their way into the rotation.

The passing game: The Ducks' passing game was inconsistent last year, though by season's end receiver Jeff Maehl was playing at a high level. Refining that part of the offense with quarterback Jeremiah Masoli would make the spread-option even more dangerous. The receiving corps is looking for playmakers, which means youngsters, such as redshirt freshman Diante Jackson, might break through.

Who steps in for Ed Dickson? Oregon only loses one starter on offense, but tight end Ed Dickson is a big one. David Paulson was a capable backup last year, and mercurial Malachi Lewis may be ready to step up. Expect JC transfer Brandon Williams to work his way into the mix.

Oregon State
Spring practice starts: March 29
Spring game: May 1

What to watch:

Katz steps in: Sean Canfield is off to the NFL, so the Beavers' biggest question this spring is crowning a new starting quarterback. Most observers feel the job is Ryan Katz's to lose, and the sophomore looks good throwing the rock around. Still, being a quarterback is about more than a good arm. If he falters, Virginia transfer Peter Lalich might offer an alternative.

Better defensive pressure: The Beavers run a high-pressure defensive scheme, so when the stat sheet says they only recorded 17 sacks in 2009, which ranked ninth in the conference and was 22 fewer than in 2008, you know something is wrong. The entire defensive line is back, so the hope is a year of seasoning, particularly for ends Gabe Miller, Matt LaGrone and Kevin Frahm will mean better production this fall.

The O-line grows up: The Beavers' offensive line returns four starters from a unit that got better as the year went on. Still, it yielded 29 sacks and the run game struggled at times -- Jacquizz Rodgers often had to make yards on his own. Talented left tackle Michael Philipp, who did a solid job as a true freshman starter, should be much improved. A second year playing together with underrated senior center Alex Linnenkohl also should help.

Stanford
Spring practice starts: March 1
Spring game: April 17

What to watch:

Replacing Toby: How do you replace Toby Gerhart and his 1,871 yards and 28 touchdowns? You do not. But the hope is sophomores Tyler Gaffney and Stepfan Taylor and senior Jeremy Stewart will provide a solid answer that keeps the Cardinal's power-running game churning. It helps to have four starters back from a good offensive line.

Rebuilding the D: If you toss in linebacker Clinton Snyder and end Erik Lorig, Stanford must replace six defensive starters from a unit that ranked near the bottom of the conference in 2009. The secondary is a particular concern after giving up 23 touchdown passes and a 63 percent completion rate. The hope is good recruiting from coach Jim Harbaugh will provide better athleticism in the back-half. Another issue: There was huge coaching turnover, particularly on defense during the offseason, so new coordinator Vic Fangio & Co. will be implementing new schemes and learning about what sort of talent they have to work with.

Luck steps up: This was Gerhart's team in 2009. Now it's Luck's. He might be the most talented QB in the conference. Heck, he might become a Heisman Trophy candidate before he's done. But life won't be as easy without defenses crowding the line of scrimmage because they are fretting about Gerhart. Luck will need to step up his game -- and leadership -- to meet the challenge.

UCLA
Spring practice starts: April 1
Spring game: April 24

What to watch:

Prince becomes king? The fact that offensive coordinator Norm Chow has been such an advocate for sophomore quarterback Kevin Prince should tell you something: He's got the ability. Prince flashed some skills during an injury-plagued 2009 season, and it's important to remember he was a redshirt freshman playing with an questionable supporting cast, particularly the O-line. Prince needs to improve his decision-making, and the passing game needs to develop a big-play capability that stretches defenses.

Front seven rebuilding: UCLA not only must replace six starters on defense, it must replace six guys everyone in the Pac-10 has heard of. And five of the lost starters come from the front seven, and the guys who were listed as backups on the 2009 depth chart won't necessarily inspire confidence. In other words, the Bruins will try to take a step forward in the conference with what figures to be an extremely green defense, particularly up front.

The running game? Know what would help Prince and a young defense? A better running game. The Bruins were significantly better in 2009 than in 2008, but that merely means one of the worst rushing attacks in the nation moved up to ninth in the conference. There's a logjam of options at running back -- with a couple of dynamic runners in the incoming recruiting class -- and the offensive line welcomes back a wealth of experience. It would mean a lot if the Bruins could boost their rushing total to around 150 yards per game (from 114.6 in 2009).

USC
Spring practice starts: April 31
Spring game: TBA

What to watch:

Welcome, Lane Kiffin: The Pete Carroll era is over. Enter Lane Kiffin & Co. In terms of scheme, things will be fairly consistent, seeing that Kiffin was formerly Carroll's offensive coordinator and Monte Kiffin was Carroll's defensive mentor. But there will be a period of adjustment. The guess is the hyper-intense Ed Orgeron might provide a bit of a shock to the D-linemen.

Barkley Year 2: Barkley won't have the president of his fan club -- Carroll -- around anymore. He's a true talent. Everyone knows that, even without Carroll's daily sonnets about his ability. But the numbers show he threw 14 interceptions in 12 games vs. 15 TD passes last year, so he's obviously not arrived. Kiffin runs the offense, so you can expect these two to work closely together. Barkley will have plenty of help on offense, but the talent won't be as good as it was in 2009, with six starters needing to be replaced, including his top two targets (receiver Damian Williams and tight end Anthony McCoy).

Secondary questions: All four starters from the defensive backfield are gone, including center fielder Taylor Mays. It helps that cornerback Shareece Wright, an academic casualty in 2009, will be back. He was a projected starter last fall. There's plenty of talent on hand, but last year's team proved that the Trojans don't always just plug-and-play.

Washington
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: April 30

What to watch:

Unleashing Locker: The return of quarterback Jake Locker was the best news any Pac-10 team received this offseason. Locker's passing improved dramatically in just one year under coach Steve Sarkisian, so it's not unreasonable to expect him to be even better in 2010, particularly with nine starters back on offense and just about every skill player on the depth chart.

Replacing Te'o-Nesheim: Daniel Te'o-Nesheim was a four-year starter who blossomed into an All-Pac-10 performer despite almost no supporting cast. He led the Huskies with 11 sacks in 2009, which was 8.5 more than any other player. Also, opposite end Darrion Jones is gone, and the cast at the position is extremely young. Who's the next pass-rushing threat?

The Butler did it: Linebacker Donald Butler blossomed last year, earning second-team All-Pac-10 honors and leading the Huskies in tackles and tackles for loss (15.5). Toss in E.J. Savannah's failure to earn a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA, and the Huskies have some questions at linebacker. Mason Foster is a sure thing at one outside position, and Cort Dennison likely will fill a second gap, but there's an opportunity for a young player to fill void No. 3.

Washington State
Spring practice starts: March 25
Spring game: April 24

What to watch:

Tuel time: Coach Paul Wulff decided that freshman Jeff Tuel was the Cougars' quarterback of the future last year, so he opted to start him instead of going with a redshirt season. Tuel showed promise in six games, completing 59 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and five picks. Most of his supporting cast is back on offense, so the expectation is the Cougars' offense could take a significant step forward this fall.

O-line intrigue: Some of the Cougars starting on the offensive line last fall didn't look like Pac-10 players. Injuries and youth made the line a glaring area of weakness, even with veteran Kenny Alfred at center. Alfred is gone, but the expectations are that last year's youth will be saltier after taking their knocks. Plus, a couple of juco additions should be in the mix for starting jobs.

Growing up: There is hope in that 19 starters are back from a team that played a lot of underclassmen in 2009. That youth should mature in 2010. And solid recruiting classes the past two seasons should offer an infusion of young promise.

Q & A with Greg Koch Part II

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:55:52 -0800

RESUMING FROM PART I

(Photo by StudioSchulz.com)

TW: Arrogant Bastard is a bold name for a bold beer. It seems like that would be the fun part, deciding how aggressive to be, how far to push it…

Koch: It is fun, but what we try to do is name the beers so they appropriately and effectively communicate the beers themselves. Arrogant Bastard is a great example, but sometimes it’s best to be simple and straightforward. Stone IPA lets people know that, “Yep it’s an IPA. And yep, it was brewed at Stone.”

Lewis, USC sweep season series from UCLA

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:43:47 -0800

Dwight Lewis scored 23 points and Southern Cal swept the season series from UCLA with a 68-64 victory Sunday night.

USC basketball: UCLA is ‘not just another game’

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:23:32 -0800

USC coach Kevin O’Neill said that about the Trojans-Bruins rivalry, which reignites Sunday. (Yet another reason to respect KO!) For more on the upcoming USC-UCLA clash, click here. More from the USC blog: USC football: Spring schedule coming soon USC football: Projecting where the newcomers fit in — quarterbacks, running backs, fullbacks USC basketball: Can Cal be caught? Pac-12 [...]

USC basketball: UCLA is ‘not just another game’ is a post from: USC

USC basketball: Can Cal be caught?

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:44:31 -0800

USC has to win the Pac-10 regular-season championship to derive any satisfaction from this sanctions-sullied season. But can the Trojans catch and pass 7-4 Cal? Or break free from the cluster of five teams — yes, five — tied for second in the conference at 6-5? Each team’s remaining schedule will play a critical role, and USC’s [...]

USC basketball: Can Cal be caught? is a post from: USC

USC Defeats Cal With A 25-0 Run

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:27:53 -0800

(Photo by Icon Sports Media)

You read that correctly, the Trojans were down 30-27 at halftime and went on a 25-0 run to take a 42-30 lead in the second half. Cal (14-8, 6-4) was held scoreless in the second half for 10:46. USC (13-9, 5-5 Pac-10) went on to win the game 66-63.

Dwight Lewis scored 13 points and set a school record for most games played as a Trojan (125). Mike Gerrity had 12 points and hit two clutch 3-pointers in the final minutes of the game.

The Trojans next opponent is at home vs. Stanford on Saturday at 4:30pm PT.

Southern Cal 66, California 63 [espn]

The newest Trojan: TE Randall Telfer

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:23:58 -0800

USC has received and approved the signed letter of intent for Randall Telfer. Here's his bio:

Randall Telfer
Tight end
Rancho Cucamonga (Rancho Cucamonga HS) • 6-4, 230

The facts on Randall Telfer...

Starred at tight end as a senior in 2009, with his honors including Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, Prep Star Dream Team, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West Best of the Rest, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Max Preps All-State Division I first team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State second team, All-CIF Central Division first team, Riverside Press-Enterprise All-Riverside and All-Baseline League first team
Had 45 receptions for 905 yards (20.1 avg.) with 8 TDs in 2009
As a junior in 2008, made Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass second team, All-CIF Central Division first team, Riverside Press-Enterprise All-Riverside honorable mention, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin All-Inland Valley first team, San Bernardino Sun All-San Bernardino first team and All-Baseline League first team
Had 44 receptions for 678 yards (14.7 avg.) with 5 TDs in 2008 as Rancho Cucamonga won the CIF Central Division title

The newest Trojan: OL Giovanni Di Poalo

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:23:54 -0800

USC has received and approved the signed letter of intent for Giovanni Di Poalo. Here's his bio:

Giovanni Di Poalo
Offensive lineman
Ventura (St. Bonaventure HS) • 6-6, 295

The facts on Giovanni Di Poalo...

Starred as offensive lineman as a senior in 2009, winning honors such as Prep Star All-American, USA Football Junior National Team, Prep Star Dream Team, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team, Max Preps All-State Division III first team, All-CIF Northern Division first team, Ventura County Star All-Ventura County first team and Los Angeles Times All-Star first team
Was a 3-year (2007-09) starter at St. Bonaventure, which won the 2007 and 2008 California state Division III titles
As a junior in 2008, made Ventura County Star All-Ventura County second team and All-League
As a sophomore in 2007, made Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomore first team and All-League

The newest Trojan: QB Jesse Scroggins

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:23:52 -0800

USC has received and approved the signed letter of intent for Jesse Scroggins. Here's his bio:

Jesse Scroggins
Quarterback
Lakewood (Lakewood HS) • 6-3, 205

The facts on Jesse Scroggins...

Starred at quarterback as a senior in 2009, earning honors such as Under Armour All-American, Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, Prep Star Dream Team, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West first team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Cal-Hi Sports All-State second team, All-CIF Pac-5 Division first team and All-Moore League MVP
Completed 163-of-258 passes (63.2%) for 2,395 yards and 35 TDs with just 5 interceptions in 2009 (also ran for 3 TDs)
As a junior in 2008, completed 176-of-314 passes (56.1%) for 2,462 yards with 23 TDs and 10 interceptions
As a sophomore in 2007, completed 101-of-166 passes (60.8%) for 1,517 yards with 17 TDs and 3 interceptions

The newest Trojan: WR Robert Woods

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:23:44 -0800

USC has received and approved the signed letter of intent for Robert Woods. Here's his bio:

Robert Woods
Wide receiver
Carson (Serra HS) • 6-1, 185

The facts on Robert Woods...

Starred at wideout and defensive back as a senior in 2009, winning accolades such as USA Today All-USA first team, Parade All-American, EA Sports All-American first team, Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, Max Preps All-American first team, Max Preps All-American Medium Schools first team, Super Prep Elite 50, Prep Star Dream Team, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West first team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team, Max Preps All-State Division III first team, All-CIF Northwest Division Defensive MVP, Los Angeles Times All-Star Back of the Year, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay Player of the Year and All-Del Rey League MVP
Had 66 receptions for 1,112 yards (16.8 avg.) with 15 TDs on offense and had 96 tackles and 8 interceptions on defense in 2009
Serra went 15-0 in 2009 and won the CIF Northwest Division title and the California state Division III championship (he had 226 all-purpose yards in the state final game)
As a junior in 2008, made Cal-Hi Sports All-State, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Medium School first team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass first team, All-CIF Northwest Division Co-Defensive MVP, Rivals.com All-Southern Section first team, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay Player of the Year and All-Del Rey League MVP
Had 81 receptions for 1,378 yards (17.0 avg.) with 19 TDs on offense in 2008
Had 87 tackles and 7 interceptions (2 returned for TDs) on defense and returned 5 kickoffs and 2 punts for touchdowns in 2008
Serra was a CIF Northwest Division finalist in 2008
As a sophomore in 2007, made Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomore first team, All-CIF Northwest Division first team, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay first team and All-Del Rey League Defensive MVP
Had 45 receptions for 801 yards (17.8 avg.) with 12 TDs along with 273 rushing yards on offense and had 81 tackles and 9 interceptions on defense in 2007
Was also on Serra's track team, where he finished third in the 2009 California state 400 meters and anchored the 2009 state champion 400-meter relay team as he earned 2009 South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay Track Athlete of the Year
Has bests of 21.3 in the 200 and 47.15 in the 400
Current Trojan DaJohn Harris also prepped at Serra

Pac-10 games of the decade

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:55:36 -0800

Lots of extraordinary games to choose from, as well as many ways to ascribe greatness: the size of the stage, the competitiveness of the game and the overall strangeness.

And we made the executive decision not to make this a list of USC upset losses -- other than the biggest one of those.

10. Oregon 56, Arizona State 55 (2 OT), 2000: Many of you are drawing a blank, but the ones who saw this one are jumping out of their chairs and going, "Oh man. That one was nuts." Both teams scored 21 points in the fourth quarter. The teams combined for 1,228 yards, 663 of those for the Sun Devils. Ducks quarterback Joey Harrington threw six -- SIX! -- touchdown passes, including three in the fourth quarter, the last of which tied the score with 27 seconds left after the Sun Devils gave away a critical fumble. Arizona State freshman QB Jeff Krohn threw five TD passes, by the way. ASU lost the game when coach Bruce Snyder decided to fake the extra point and go for the two-point conversion in the second overtime. It failed, leaving fans in Tempe stunned.

9. Washington State 30, USC 27 (OT), 2002: Any of you Cougars fans able to muster the memory of kicker Drew Dunning's slide on his knees at Martin Stadium? Dunning sent the game into overtime with a 35-yard field goal and then made the game-winner from the same distance in a victory that was critical to the Cougars' run to the Rose Bowl. The game featured a brilliant quarterback duel between Carson Palmer and Jason Gesser -- Gesser passed for 315 yards, Palmer for 381 -- and a dominant performance from Cougars defensive tackle Rien Long, who went on to win the Outland Trophy. Between this game and the 2006 Rose Bowl, USC lost just once.

8. Oregon 44, Arizona 41 (2 OT), 2009: If Arizona had won this game, we now know the Wildcats would have played in their first Rose Bowl. The Wildcats led 24-14 early in the fourth quarter, but then the game went crazy. With red-clad Arizona fans encircling the field, Ducks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli tied the game in regulation with six seconds left with a touchdown pass to Ed Dickson. Masoli then won it in the second overtime with a 1-yard run. Masoli ran for three TDs and passed for three more.

7. Stanford 24, USC 23, 2007: Greatest upset in Pac-10 history? Maybe. Stanford was a 41-point underdog playing its backup quarterback at No. 2 USC, which had won 35 in a row at home. But Trojans quarterback John David Booty, who foolishly played -- and was allowed to play -- with an injured throwing hand, threw four interceptions, while Stanford's Tavita Pritchard led a clutch, game-winning drive, throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Mark Bradford on fourth-and-goal with 49 seconds remaining.

6. Oregon 37, Oregon State 33, 2009: It was the Civil War for the Roses, with the Ducks earning a berth in the Rose Bowl after slipping a game crew of Beavers. While the return of Ducks running back LeGarrette Blount was significant -- he scored a critical touchdown -- the game belonged to redshirt freshman running back LaMichael James, who scored three touchdowns and rushed for 166 yards, and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who ran over Beavers safety Lance Mitchell to convert a fourth-and-3 play from the Beavers' 33 with 3:41 left as Oregon ran out the final six minutes with its final drive.

5. California 31, Oregon 24, 2007: Sixth-ranked California, featuring a stellar performance from receiver DeSean Jackson, outlasted No. 11 Oregon in a game between two teams that each would at one point rise to No. 2 during the season, though both ultimately crumbled. The game turned on a strange play as the Ducks were on the cusp of tying the score. With 22 seconds to go, Dennis Dixon found Cameron Colvin near the goal line, but Colvin fumbled trying to reach the ball into the end zone when he was hit by Marcus Ezeff. The loose ball went through the end zone and was ruled a touchback and possession for Cal.

4. Washington 33, Oregon State 30, 2000: It was the greatest game no one saw because of the late, West Coast kickoff at Husky Stadium. And at the time its magnitude wasn't clear. The critical play of the back-and-forth affair happened when Washington defensive tackle Larry Tripplett caught Ken Simonton for a three-yard loss on second-and-1 from the Huskies 26-yard line with 42 seconds left. The Beavers panicked and mistakenly spiked the ball -- they had a time out left -- and then Ryan Cesca missed a 46-yard field goal to tie. It was the Beavers only loss of the season; they crushed Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. They would have played Oklahoma for the national title if they had prevailed. And the win helped the Huskies win the Rose Bowl tiebreaker.

3. USC 23, California 17, 2004: No. 7 California had a first-and-goal on top-ranked USC's 9-yard line with under two minutes left. At that point, Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers had completed 29 of 31 for 267 yards and a touchdown. But the Bears couldn't punch it in, with USC registering a sack and forcing three incompletions. It was the closest call of the season for the best team of the USC dynasty.

2. USC 34, Notre Dame 31, 2005: The infamous "Bush Push" game. No. 9 Notre Dame was about to knock off top-ranked rival USC and make Irish coach Charlie Weis a national sensation, but Matt Leinart led a drive for the ages in the waning moments as the Trojans prevailed, scoring the winning points when Leinart got a little extra help from Bush on his second effort on a quarterback sneak.

1. Texas 41, USC 38, 2006 Rose Bowl: Perhaps the great game in college football history, particularly considering that the stakes were a national title for two unbeaten teams and the field was packed with talent and future high draft choices. Vince Young almost single-handedly willed his team to the victory -- he ran for 200 yards and passed for 267 more -- and denied the Trojans a third consecutive national title. USC walked away with a laundry list of "what ifs," but the ultimate result was a 34-game winning streak coming to an end.

Pac-10 teams of the decade

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:55:11 -0800

Yes, there are lots of USC teams in our list of the "best Pac-10 teams of the decade."

Not sure how you get around that. From 2002 to 2008, the Trojans finished ranked in the nation's top four. During that span, no other conference team topped the Trojans in the national rankings.

One team not listed, however, merits special mention: Oregon in 2007.

That team was 8-1, ranked No. 2 in the BCS standings and appeared to be headed for a showdown with LSU for the national championship. Then quarterback Dennis Dixon blew out his knee at Arizona -- he'd actually hurt it the week before vs. Arizona State -- and the Ducks subsequently lost to the Wildcats, the first of three consecutive losses before a blowout victory over South Florida in the Sun Bowl.

More than a few people -- not just Ducks fans -- believe that team would have won the national title if Dixon had remained healthy.

Of course, if wishes were fishes then cows would fly.

10. USC, 2007: A toss-up between this squad and the Trojans 2006 team. The '07 team finished ranked third in the AP and second in the coaches poll, while '06 finished fourth in both. '07 lost to 41-point underdog Stanford and at Oregon, see above about the Ducks. '06 lost at Oregon State and at UCLA, a 13-9 defeat that cost it a spot in the national title game. That last detail iced it for '07.

9. USC, 2002: More than a few pundits watching Carson Palmer and company pound Iowa in the Orange Bowl opined that, by season's end, this might be the nation's best team in 2002. After a 3-2 start in Year Two of the Pete Carroll Era, the Trojans won eight in a row to finish 11-2 and ranked No. 4.

8. California, 2004: Sure, the Bears laid an egg vs. Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl -- quick Cal fans: how many receivers were missing due to injury? And what do you think of Mack Brown? -- but Aaron Rodgers and company put on quite a show. The only regular-season defeat came in a thriller at USC -- see below -- 23-17, when the Trojans held strong after the Bears had a first-and-goal from the 9-yard line with less than two minutes left.

7. Oregon State, 2000: If not for a crazy finish at Washington in a 33-30 defeat, the Beavers might have played Oklahoma for the national championship. They went on to blister Notre Dame 41-9 in the Fiesta Bowl and finished ranked fourth in the nation. Go back and look at the roster: Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, DeLawrence Grant, Dennis Weathersby, LeDarius Jackson, Ken Simonton, etc. This was hardly a scrappy, little team.

6. Washington, 2000: This crew of Huskies was hardly dominant but they just found a way to win week after week, led by quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo. The 11-1 season included a victory over Miami, which finished ranked No. 2, a loss at No. 7 Oregon, and a Rose Bowl win over Drew Brees and Purdue.

5. USC, 2008: This crew paired one of the best defenses in college football history with a quarterback who's playing in the AFC championship this weekend. Yes, it's fair to ask how the horsepucky this team didn't win the national championship. Oregon State fans care to explain?

4. Oregon, 2001: How strange was the Ducks 49-42 loss vs Stanford, their only defeat of the season? The normally staid AP said this in the game story, it was "a game that had everything but aliens landing on the Autzen Stadium turf." The Ducks led by 14 in the fourth quarter before a blocked punt and interception from Joey Harrington allowed the Cardinal to take the lead. While Oregon fans mostly remember getting BCSed out of the national title game by Nebraska, the Stanford game prevented them from playing Miami in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks blasted Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl and finished No. 2, still the program's best final ranking.

3. USC, 2003: A dominant team that lost only in triple-overtime at California. Only a BCS computer glitch forced the Trojans, ranked No. 1 in every poll, to share a portion of the national title with another squad.

2. USC, 2005: The offense was a thing of beauty -- 580 yards, 49 points per game -- but a young defense, which featured a true freshman and four sophomore starters, cost the Trojans in the thrilling BCS title loss to the University of Vince Young.

1. USC, 2004: Unbeaten, undisputed. Dominant. Best team of the decade in all of college football? Perhaps, though folks could make a strong argument for Miami in 2001. An extraordinary array of talent on both sides of the ball. And defense was the difference vs. 2005. It ranked sixth in the nation in total defense and third in scoring. The Trojans battered Oklahoma 55-19 for the national title.

Scroggins and Prater Pleased With Kiffin Hire

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:52:59 -0800

(Photo of Jesse Scroggins by Icon Sports Media)

Lakewood, quarterback Jesse Scroggins is on board. His father told USA Today’s Jim Halley:

"Tennessee and USC were in his final three when had to make a difficult decision back in August. I sort of have the almost-perfect marriage. The only thing that would have been more perfect would be if Pete Carroll was still coaching too. Because the offenses are so similar, those were in our final three, along with Florida. Lane wanted us so bad and Pete wanted us so bad. Both of them said Jesse was perfect for their offense. Lane's offense is similar, just a little bit more up-tempo and it's just perfect for Jesse. We love Lane Kiffin, we love Monte, we definitely love Ed Orgeron, but we get to stay home."

(Photo of Kyle Prater by Icon Sports Media)

Wide receiver Kyle Prater told ESPN:

“I'm 100 percent committed to USC and will be enrolling next week."

And now a govolsxtra.com is reporting that Ed Orgeron is contacting UT recruits that were set to enroll in classes today and encouraging them not to so that they can enroll at SC. Whether there is any truth to this, who knows. We will have to wait until signing day to see if we can actually rip any recruits from the Vols.

Sources say Orgeron telling UT enrollees not to go to class [govolsxtra]
Southern Cal recruits happy with hiring of Kiffin [usatoday]
Prater, Scroggins sticking with USC [espn]