After defeating CAL and Stanford last week, the Trojans (14-9, 6-5) play FUCLA (11-12, 6-5) on Sunday looking for a home sweep of all the California schools. The game will air live on FSN at 7 pm.
On January 16th the Trojans defeated the Bruins 67-46. This was the Bruins worst loss ever at Pauley Pavilion. If you want tickets for the game on Sunday, click here.
Tuesday morning, time to shift our focus to the Wildcats of Arizona and their Stoops. But before we do, we'd be remiss if we didn't give one last musical tribute to Saturday night, compliments of our friends The Ramones. Here's to you, Mr. Neuheisel:
It is always great to beat FUCLA. It is even better when you run the score up on them in the last minute of the game. Have a great week and happy Song Girl Monday!
The defense looked like the defense Trojan fans are accustomed to. Interceptions, fumble recoveries, sacks, blocked passes, tackles for loss of yards was a common sight. Awesome performance!
The offense still sputtered, but it was enough to win the game and that's all that matters. Matt Barkley's 48 yard touchdown pass to Damian Williams late in the 4th quarter capped off a great win over the crosstown rivals. Rick Neuheisel's arrogance and refusal to accept a merciful loss offered by Pete Carroll and USC completely backfired on him. You want to play some football, Ricky? You got it!
The UCLA Bruins were a touchdown away from tying the score for most of the game, and they could have taken pride knowing they hung in there until the final minutes of the 4th quarter. Now the Bruins have nothing to take pride in, thanks to Rick Neuheisel poking a stick at the wasp nest that is Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans. Even the Toilet Bowl is no guarantee for these little cubbies. At least USC is going bowling and their dominance over the finest Westwood has to offer continues.
And basketball, once a source of refuge for the bRuins after a crappy football season, is now a sore subject. UCLA hoops is a laughing stock and to consider them the best team in Southern California is a tasteless joke. Whatever you do, please do not mention Cal State Fullerton or Long Beach State when talking about UCLA basketball.
But come on, it's UCLA! Things are not all bad, right? After all they are the first to 100 NCAA Championships. Even though most normal college sports fans care about the successes of football and basketball and to a lesser extent in baseball, let them take pride knowing their women's cross country team or their men's synchronized diving team just won another NCAA title. It's enough to make you not care.
This weeks highlights of former Trojans features Clay Matthew, Mark Sanchez, Carson Palmer, Rey Rey, Steve Smith, Matt Cassel and Brian Cushing. Fight on and FUCLA!
(Video Courtesy of Eric Espinoza and the USC video operations department)
High praise goes out to the USC student body for defacing that baby bear. Because condoning vandalism of FUCLA property during USC-UCLA rivalry week is a hallmark of TrojanWire. Fight on.
Enter the TrojanWire time machine as we roll back to 1973 and visit this piece of classic sportswriting by Jim Murray.
USC stars are named "Gaius" and "Orville" and "Ambrose," "Morley," "Marshall" and "Aramis." And that's only their FIRST names. Their last names read like a rollcall of King Arthur's court. UCLA stars are named "Kenny Washington"...
One campus' coeds run to the Sweethearts of Sigma Chi, the other's run to Bella Azbug or, at least Gloria Steinem. They wear fewer bras at UCLA. On the other hand, they don't need them as much.
Crowds come by the hundreds to see the Bruins play. They come by the sellout to see USC.
The UCLA team took the field wearing their names on their backs. With USC, you're lucky they wear numbers. They don't like people they haven't been properly introduced to knowing their names.
In the locker room afterward, the victors didn't exult much. The USC's treated it as just another day at the office.
FUCLA is a HUGE GAME. If the Trojans don't play like it on Saturday, we are hopping back in our time machine, where we feel cozy and dignified. FUCLA.
Jim Murray: Propriety Prevails [LA Times]
In honor of the USC vs. UCLA game (FUCLA), the Los Angeles Times put together a NFL roster of Trojans and Bruins. USC has 38 players on active rosters and UCLA has 15. The Trojans led the way with 18 starters. Nine on offense, eight on defense and a kicker.
The Trojan’s most dynamo player (in my humble opinion), Damian Williams, is no longer wearing a protective boot on his injured ankle. Williams will not practice tonight or tomorrow but he will try to run on Monday to test his ankle. Hopefully he will be back in time for FUCLA. We will update you as soon as we learn more.
Since it is such a slow news day in the land of Troy, how bout a little song girl love.
Defense wins championships. It's a cliché that you have heard over and over. The reason you hear it so much is because it is true. The 4th quarter 86 yard drive by the Trojans was amazing, but the defense won the game last Saturday.
After an average first quarter (USC gave up 148 yards and allowed five first downs), the Trojans’ defense dominated the rest of the game. For the final three quarters Ohio State was held to 117 yards (3.3 yards per play) and five first downs. Four different times the Buckeyes went three-and-out.
The Buckeyes killed USC in the kicking game and field position battle. Four of Ohio States drives started in USC territory. On those four drives the Trojans forced two punts and only allowed 6 points. For a supposedly “young” defense, the Trojans showed maturity and stayed cool under pressure.
I have been very impressed with how disciplined the defense plays. A performance like that gives your D an identity. It gives them confidence that on goal line stands or 3rd and short they can stop anyone. This is a going to be a fun group to watch this year.
I love Nike. Growing up if you were a fan of Bo Jackson or Michael Jordan (or any other superstar) Nike was and still is the shit. Reebok is lame and for Dan and Dave fans. L.A. Gear sucked and was for Karl Malone fans (Remember the Catapult? If you wore those, you were mocked on the playground). For some reason Nike decided to make USC gear in putrid FUCLA Bruins colors. Click here to join the facebook group that dares to ask the question…Why Nike? Why?
It is burning my eyes.
One more photo of Bruin/Trojan gear and more titillating thoughts of the day after the jump....
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