Ken Norton Jr.
Sloppy win, but it's a win nonetheless.
The offense got off to a strong start, but they were inconsistent and fumbled more than they should have, but on the bright side, coaches opened up the playbook and allowed Matt Barkley to complete some deep passes. However this offense, and the receiving game in particular, needs to play better. Trojan fans eagerly await the return of the fastest receiver, Ronald Johnson, who suffered a shoulder injury in the scrimmage game in August.
This defense is impressive. They almost held the Cougars to a shutout if it were not for Aaron Corp's fumble late in the game. Defensive back Marshall Jones and defensive tackle Hebron Fangupo each suffered season ending injuries in this game. Injuries are part of the game, and this is why it never hurts to have depth like USC does. Pete Carroll and coaching staff "stockpile" talent, and given the current waves of injuries, this is when the depth is tested.
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Bill Plaschke sticks a big finger in the Bruin wounds this morning, ripping UCLA for not hiring Ken Norton, Jr:
His name is Ken Norton Jr., and not even an all-day whipping on Saturday would hurt some Bruin fans as much as the sight of him standing on the Rose Bowl sideline wearing cardinal and gold.
Adding further insult to injury, Plaschke heaps praise on the Trojans for having the presence of mind to hire the former All-Pro linebacker who starred for the Bruins before going on to NFL success with the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.
Then just to make sure he's crushed every Bruin heart in the Southland, he launches into this incredibly unflattering comparison of the two programs:
Even with former player and current Coach Karl Dorrell promising change, the Bruins are slow to embrace the bright parts of their football legacy, while the Trojans squeeze every ounce out of theirs.
Bruin success is often fleeting and forgotten, as if it were a mistake, while Trojan success is expected and enriched.
Can you imagine USC � where one bumps into former players in every corner of campus � allowing someone like Norton to walk to the other side of town?
We've never had any love lost for Bill Plaschke here at TrojanWire; but that's never stopped us from reveling in some Bruin-ripping, has it?
Enemy Lines [L.A. Times]
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