Coliseum
(Photo of Jurrell Casey by Icon Sports Media)
USC has announced their spring practice schedule. Spring practice begins March 30th and the Trojans will practice every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for five weeks.
Times may change, but tentatively it looks like weekday practices will start at 4 pm and Saturday practices and will be at 11 am.
The Trojan Huddle will be played on Saturday May 1st at the Coliseum.
Spring Practice schedule [uscripsit]
(0)
A noted taskmaster, Davis would often punish clumsy receivers by having them stare for hours on end at the quarterback’s enormous crotchbulge. Dear Mister Al Davis, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I second-guessed your decision to fire Lane Kiffin in 2008. “Give the guy a chance. There have been signs of possible incremental improvement in the short term,” I bleated....
more »
(0)
More photos » Damian Dovarganes - AP Browse more photos » As we move forward I will probably do more in looking back on Pete Carroll's tenure at USC, but for now I just have some general thoughts as it all sinks in... So, we turn the page on the Pete Carroll era at USC... If you didn't see...
more »
(0)
For the first time since 2001, the Trojans are not playing its last regular season game for the right to go to a BCS bowl. A Trojan win over Arizona in the Coliseum on Saturday puts them in the Holiday Bowl, most likely against Nebraska. A loss and they fall from a tie for 2nd in the Pac-10 standings to 6th and most likely a Poinsettia Bowl Bid which would represent a significant fall from the top of college football world.
4 keys to a Trojan victory:
Trojans must tackle well and get hands up against quick hitting offense: Arizona has the most dynamic offense in the Pac-10. It is a combination of offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes pure aerial Texas Tech style offense (former Texas Tech offensive coordinator) combined with Head Coach Mike Stoops smash mouth style of football.
The Wildcats loves to dink and dunk in a passing game that features tons of screens, bubble screens, swing passes and quick reads while also balancing the attack with a power run game behind a veteran offensive line. Arizona has 5 Wide Receiver with more than 30 catches and has adjusted to a 4 wide receiver set very well after losing All-American Tight End Ron Gronkowski to a back injury before the season.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Nick Foles, who took over starting duties in the Wildcats' fourth game has been outstanding throwing for 17 scores and just seven interceptions, while completing more than two-thirds of his passes in the Wildcats' short-game passing attack. Arizona's quick-hitting style has kept the sack totals down - the Cats have allowed just 11 sacks in 2009.
keys to victory continued after the jump...
(2)
More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP Browse more photos » With tomorrow's final regular season game at home against Arizona there a re number of story lines that we need to keep an eye on... Who Staying and Who is going? Stanley Havili is going to stay... Several USC juniors will consider making themselves available for the...
more »
(0)
(Photo of Jeff Byers by Icon Sports Media)
Here is a list of Trojans that will be playing their last home game at the Coliseum on Saturday.
OL Charles Brown
LB Luthur Brown
OL Jeff Byers (pictured above)
WR Preston Cavignac
K Jordan Congdon
LB Dan Deckas
DB Rob Erickson
LB Nick Garratt
FB Adam Goodman
WR Garrett Green
S Will Harris
DB Justin Hart
OL Nick Howell
TB Stafon Johnson
S Taylor Mays
TE Anthony McCoy
OL Garrett Nolan
P Billy O'Malley
OL Alex Parsons
DB Josh Pinkard
DL Averell Spicer
CB Kevin Thomas
The Senior Salute will take place eight minutes before kickoff. These 22 players will be honored for all their hard work and dedication to the USC football program. Thank you and fight on!
(1)
Since 2001, with the exception of one loss, USC has owned the battle of Los Angeles over UCLA in every phase of the game. The total score since 2001 is USC 285 and UCLA 113. The Bruins have not come close to giving the Trojans much of a game in the Coliseum since that time with UCLA’s one shocking victory and the other close battle in 2004 happening at the Rose Bowl.
Despite this record of dominance over the past eight years, it seems like a distant memory to the faithful fans of both teams. While the Trojans have been struggling the last four weeks, the most they have in the Pete Carroll era, UCLA is coming into the Coliseum on a 3 game winning streak with hopes of capturing a bowl bid and sending a message to recruits that UCLA can beat the once vaunted Trojans on their home turf and be the new sheriff in town.
UCLA Head Coach Rick Neuheisel’s passion bucket is full to go with two top 15 recruiting classes and he has his team believing that great things are on the horizon for Bruin football.
The Trojans are coming off a much needed bye week after surrendering the most points ever to an opponent in losing 55-21 to Stanford.
The bye week could not have come at a better time for the reeling Trojans. It helped some of USC’s most important weapons (WR Damian Williams and TE Anthony McCoy, DE Everson Griffen) heal from injuries that have kept them from playing or not playing near full strength and it gave the coaches’ time to work on correcting schematic faults plaguing the young team.
Though the game does not feature a battle for the Pac-10 title or a spot in the Bowl Championship Series, it is one of the most intriguing USC-UCLA games this decade.
The momentum which usually finds itself on the side of the Trojans this decade is clearly in favor of the Bruins.
Will the Trojans step up with an inspired performance to keep a firm hold on the rivalry or will the Bruins be the next in line to beat up the Trojans physically and put an exclamation point on the fall of Troy in 2009?
*3 keys to the game after the jump*
(0)
Jim Harbaugh wasn't the only one taking shots at USC on Saturday. Stanford's band got in its licks during a halftime performance at the L.A. Coliseum, calling out USC graduate and "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis.The announcer says, "After all, it takes a special kind of man to be wanted for sexual harassment, drug trafficking, tax evasion, prostitution,...
more »
(0)
The headline of the last Skinny was “It All Comes Down to the Running Game” and boy did it ever. Toby Gerhart and Stanford ran for 325 yards while thoroughly outplaying USC in every phase of the game in a 55-21 blowout of the Trojans. It was the most points ever given up by USC in the Coliseum and after 28 straight victories in November under Pete Carroll; the Trojan program is clearly out of sync.
Before we get into some of the issues that are plaguing the Trojans, USC fans must tip their cap to Jim Harbaugh and the Stanford program. Harbaugh inherited a program that was 1-11 in 2006 and in his third year he has Stanford in a position to possibly go to the Rose Bowl. In the last two weeks, Stanford scored 106 points in victories over Top 10 teams and physically beat up the opponent. Harbaugh did exactly what Pete Carroll did when he came to USC. He loaded his staff up with experienced and hungry coaches and has given his players every opportunity to excel.
After seven years of “always competing” and finishing stronger than anybody, the Trojan program is in peril. USC only has 3 losses and you don’t want to overreact but the way the Trojans have lost and the fact the Trojans could easily have 5 or 6 losses at this point is very concerning with the amount of talent they have.
The issues can be addressed and the ship can be turned in the right direction but if you truly want to Win Forever you have to continually evolve, innovate and not let ego get in the way.
Discussion points for the water cooler and IM chats:
1- No Hunger- With seven consecutive AP top 4 finishes and ending the season with a bowl win 6 of those 7 years, the Trojan program and its fans seem to be living on its accomplishments of the past. The program seems to have forgotten how bitter losing can taste and do not play with the attitude “WE MUST WIN THIS GAME”.
An example of that was clear when after suffering one of the worst losses in USC history, some players were seen after the game smiling, laughing and carrying on like it was no big deal. Like some of the "new” LA fans that have joined the bandwagon the past 5 years, I wonder if some of the supposed “5” star recruits just wanted to be along for the ride and not put the necessary work in to become a high caliber player. When you’re the top dog with everyone gunning for you, especially with a young team, you have to outwork everyone else.
(lack of depth/experience, coaching attrition, Pete's focus after the jump)
(6)
Don't miss this slideshow of fantastic images, many of which are from the locker room and tunnel, from Saturday's 55-21 loss at the Coliseum, brought to you by USCRipsIt staff photographer Jon SooHoo:Photos by Jon SooHoo, USCRipsIt staff photographer...
more »
(0)
Stanford comes into the Coliseum as a hot team with Rose Bowl aspirations. The Cardinal’s defeat of the 8th ranked Oregon Ducks 51-42 put the nation on notice that Stanford football can compete at the highest level and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh is one of the best young coaches in the game.
It was just two years ago that Harbaugh inherited a football program that was one of the worst in the country and used the biggest upset in college football history against USC (Stanford was a 42.5 point underdog) that year as a stepping stone to building a top 25 team.
The heart and soul of Stanford is Toby Gerhart, a 6’1, 235 pound physical powerhouse running back who is one of the best in the nation. He is one of the few backs in the country that can and will carry the ball over 30 times a game and beat defenders up. His mentality has crossed over to his teammates who thrive off playing a physical brand of football.
Another key to Stanford’s success is they play intelligently and usually will not beat themselves. The development of Redshirt Freshman Andrew Luck has been tremendous and gives Stanford the balance on offense that makes them dangerous anywhere on the field. In the past 3 games, Luck was 50-83 for 910 yards and 5 TD’s against only 1 interceptions and that included games against two top 25 teams (Oregon and Arizona) and against one of the best defenses in the conferences Arizona State.
The banged up Trojans will have to play far better than they have the past 6 quarters to leave the Coliseum with a victory. It is going to be tough as the offense will need to come to life without #1 wideout/punt returner Damian Williams (high ankle sprain) and Wide Receiver Ronald Johnson and Tight End Anthony McCoy not operating at 100%.
The Stanford defense is vulnerable to a balanced attack and the Trojans offense is not only going to have to generate at least 24 points of offense but also grind away at the game clock to rest the defense which will be involved in a very physical battle.
4 Keys to the Game:
Hold Gerhart to under 4 yards a carry: It is going to be difficult to completely shut down a back as physical as Toby Gerhart. The Trojans have to look to contain him and not allow him to frequently gain over 5 yards a carry. The Defensive Line will have to play very physical and win the line of scrimmage battle.
The shift of Defensive Lineman Devon Kennard to Linebacker could be a huge factor. Kennard looked great in practice this week and has the size and strength to handle a guy like Gerhart. He gives the undersized linebacking core a physical presence that is sorely needed in a game like this. USC coaches are very enthusiastic about Kennard's physical and mental attributes. He can be a “55” type linebacker. However, a lot is being asked of a freshman who has not played the position before.
More keys and injury updates after the jump
(0)
Wide receiver Williams, who suffered an ankle sprain against Arizona State, officially is ruled out of Saturday's game at the Coliseum. Wide receiver Damian Williams is out. Tight end Anthony McCoy is in....
more »
(0)
Previous Headlines
