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My College Football Picks, 2012 Week 13

This weekend, there are a bunch of games that were played Thursday and Friday. What's left includes a lot of lines that seem like crap shoots, so I'm only placing real money on five. Here are the spreads this week in all the games involving the BCS 25. My choices are shown in bold. My five *bets I like are marked by an asterisk. See if your picks can beat mine.

Saturday, Nov 24:
Connecticut @ #20 Louisville -10½
#19 Michigan @ #4 Ohio St. -4
#18 Rutgers @ Pittsburgh -1
GA Tech @ #3 Georgia -14½
*#5 Oregon @ #15 Oregon St. +9½
Auburn @ #2 Alabama -33
*#21 Okla St. @ #13 Oklahoma -6½
#4 Florida @ #10 Florida St. -7
*#8 Stanford @ #17 UCLA +3
Missouri @ #9 Texas A&M -22
*#12 South Carolina @ #11 Clemson -3½
*#1 Notre Dame @ USC +5½

These have been played:

Thursday, Nov 22:
TCU 20 @ #16 Texas 13 (I would have missed this)

Friday, Nov 23:
Ohio 6 @ #23 Kent St. 28 (I would have missed this)
#14 Nebraska 13 @ Iowa 7 (I would have missed this)
#7 LSU 20 @ Arkansas 13 (I would have hit this)
#25 Washington 28 @ Washington St. 31 (I would have hit this)
Arizona St. 41 @ #24 Arizona 34 (I would have hit this)

This week, the ten teams I am rooting for, in order, are: USC, Stanford, Oregon, Washington St., Arizona St.,  U.Conn, Pitt, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Auburn.

[ASU and WSU already won!]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/odds

USC v Notre Dame for the 84th Time

It's USC v. Notre Dame, the 84th game in the greatest cross-sectional rivalry in college football. Here are the basic details:

Starting Time: Kickoff is officially scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PST. The actual kickoff time for the last 5 p.m. start between these teams was 5:12 p.m.

Broadcast: ABC-TV is in the house. ESPN College Game Day is also in town.

Records: USC is 7-4 (the same record USC had last time the Irish came around). USC's 5-4 conference record is 2nd-best in the Pac-12 South. Notre Dame is 11-0, best in the nation - only Ohio St. has an equal record.

Rankings: USC is unranked in any poll, but is not far back in the list of others receiving votes. Notre Dame is a consensus #1. This is the 8th time the Irish bring a #1 ranking into the game. (USC is 2-5 in the first seven, winning in 1938 and 1964). USC is 6-14 against undefeated Irish teams.

Odds: There was no line on this game initially, due to Matt Barkley's injury status, but USC has emerged as a 5½ point underdog. This is, by the way, the lowest point spread a #1 team has ever had against an unranked opponent.

Streaks: USC has won nine of the last ten against the Irish, but the teams have split the last two games. The road team has won three straight. The last Notre Dame win came in 2010.

Weather: It will be fairly warm, coming off a high of 77°, it should be clear and 69° at kickoff, dropping to about 62° near the end of the game. Partially cloudy or foggy conditions are not expected until after the game is over.

Webcams: USC has Tommy Trojan on a webcam. Notre Dame has the golden dome on a webcam, too. Actually, Notre Dame is full of webcams, including the Clark Memorial Fountain, South Quad, North Quad and DeBartolo Quad.

History: The series began in 1926, when Knute Rockne took his team to the West Coast, reportedly because his wife wanted a warm-weather holiday. Though they had just one national title between them then, USC and Notre Dame were becoming national football powerhouses, and in the first seven seasons of the rivalry, the winner of the game ended up as national champions five times! At first, the games alternated between Chicago's Soldier Field and Los Angeles's Memorial Coliseum. Since 1931, Notre Dame has hosted the games in odd-numbered years at Notre Dame Stadium. Last year, USC won at Notre Dame 34-27. In the last game in L.A., USC won 38-3. The largest margin of victory in the rivalry was 51 points, by Notre Dame in a 1966 shutout. USC's largest margin of victory is 38, in 2007 at South Bend. USC and Notre Dame are two of just four FBS teams never to have played a lower division opponent since the current divisional alignments were established. (UCLA and Washington are the others.)

The Prize: The winner of the game keeps the Shillelagh, a club made of Irish wood, for a year. This Shillelagh adds an emerald-studded shamrock for each Notre Dame win, and a ruby-studded Trojan head for each USC win, right next to the engraved score of each game. The original Shillelagh was filled up after the 1989 game and is on display at Notre Dame. This year's game is a battle for the current, second, Shillelagh, which is on display at USC's Heritage Hall.

Head-to-Head Record: No team has beaten USC more times than Notre Dame. No team has beaten Notre Dame more times than USC. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 43-35-5. The series is streaky. USC has won the last 9 of the last 10 games. The Irish won the 3 before that. USC won the 3 before that. Notre Dame won 12 of the 13 before that. Since the 1960s, the series has been almost even. At the Coliseum, USC leads 21-18-4, and in my lifetime, USC leads 24-18-3.

National Titles: USC has won 11 national championships in football: 1928-31-32-39-62-67-72-74-78-2003-2004. Several, including the 2003 title, were split titles. In five other seasons -- 1929, 1933, 1976, 1979 and 2002 -- the Trojans were chosen as the number one team by at least selector, but not one with sufficient prestige to call themselves national champions. Notre Dame also claims 11 national titles, but all 11 were consensus titles.

Heisman Trophies: USC was tied with Notre Dame and Ohio State with seven, but with Reggie Bush forfeiting his, the Trojans are back to six and counting. Aside from Bush, USC's last winner was Matt Leinart in 2004. The Irish last won with Tim Brown in 1987.

Injuries: As was the case in 2010, USC is expected to start a backup QB due to the injury to Matt Barkley.

Bowls: Notre Dame is playing for a BCS championship game slot. The Trojans are probably headed to the Sun Bowl, but could be selected by the Alamo Bowl or Holiday Bowl with a big win over the #1 Irish, depending upon what Stanford, Oregon State and UCLA do this weekend. Bowls with Pac-12 affiliations can take 5-4 USC ahead of any Pac-12 team with a 6-3 record or worse.

Tickets: This game is sold out.

Seniors: This will be the final home game for most of USC's 20 seniors. Three of them could be back next year, due to injuries extending their eligibility or potential eligibility. Seven of them are regular starters. Several juniors, most notably, WR Robert Woods and CB Nickell Robey, might leave for the NFL, making this their final home game as well.

No. Name Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Cl.(Ath/Ac) Exp. Hometown(HighSchool/JC/College)
7    Barkley, Matt    QB    6-2    230    SR    3V    Newport Beach, CA (Mater Dei HS)
7    McDonald, T.J.    S    6-3    205    SR    3V    Fresno, CA (Edison HS)
17    Saee, Emon    QB    6-1    200    RS SR    SQ    Calabasas (Calabasas)
18    Manoogian, John    QB    6-0    220    RS SR    SQ    Los Angeles (Windward)
19    McAllister, Drew S    6-1    205    RS SR    4V    Danville, CA (Monte Vista HS)
22    McNeal, Curtis    TB    5-7    190    RS SR    2V    Los Angeles, CA (Venice HS)
24    Matranga, Eric    WR    5-10    180    SR    TR    Carmichael (Glendale JC)
29    Starling, Jawanza S    6-1    200    SR    3V    Tallahassee, FL (Lincoln HS)
30    Baucham, Brian    CB    5-11    170    RS SR    2V    Torrance, CA (West Torrance HS)
34    Burnett, Tony    LB    6-1    205    RS SR    2V    Watts (Los Angeles SW JC)
35    Negrete, Kyle    P    6-0    225    RS SR    1V    Fresno, CA (San Diego)
40    Mojica, Robert    TB    5-9    180    SR    TR    Dana Point (SMU)
42    Kennard, Devon    DE    6-3    260    SR    2V    Phoenix, AZ (Desert Vista HS)
44    Larsen, Chandler FB-TE    6-0    225    RS SR    --    Oak Park, Calif. (Oak Park HS)
45    Scott, Doug    LB    6-2    200    RS SR    SQ    San Diego, Calif. (Cathedral Catholic/WMU/El Camino JC)
50    Markowitz, Abe    C    6-1    305    RS SR    SQ    Hawaii Kai, HI (Punahou HS)
52    Kelley, Dallas    LB    5-11    225    SR    SQ    Norco, CA (Chaffey JC)
74    Galten, Jeremy    OT-OG    6-5    290    SR    1V    San Mateo, CA (San Mateo JC)
78    Holmes, Khaled    C    6-4    305    RS SR    3V    Santa Ana, CA (Mater Dei HS)
92    Kusnir, Zack    DT    6-5    265    SR    SQ    La Jolla, Ca. (San Diego State)
96    Horton, Wes    DE    6-5    255    RS SR    3V    Chatsworth, CA (Notre Dame HS)

Game Promotions: USC’s football seniors will be saluted prior to the game while running through the Heritage Tunnel, comprised of former Trojans. USC head coach Lane Kiffin is hosting the Kiff’s Kids toy drive to benefit children from the local community (fans are encouraged to bring a toy or unwrapped gift to collection boxes set up around the Coliseum)…Steve Johnson, the 2013 NCAA men’s tennis single champion who played on 4 consecutive NCAA championship USC teams, will be saluted on the field…USC professor Jae Jung will be recognized for receiving the 2012 HO-Am Prize in Medicine, Korea’s equivalent of the Noble prize.

Coaches: USC's Lane Kiffin and Notre Dame's Brian Kelly meet for the third time, splitting their first two games.

Catholics v. Protestants: Notre Dame was founded as a Roman Catholic university. USC was founded as a Methodist university. When Notre Dame first came to Southern California, the Trojans were a Methodist campus. In fact, the Trojans were once known as the USC Wesleyans or the USC Methodists. Despite a reference on wikipedia, rumors that USC athletes were once referred to as the "Fighting Methodists" are unsubstantiated. Personally, I think God has more important things to care about than who wins a football game, but to my fellow Catholics who seem to think that it is unholy for a Catholic to root against Notre Dame, let me remind you that Notre Dame's famous Touchdown Jesus should properly be referred to by His full name:

TOUCHDOWN JESUSCHRIST

Memorable Anniversaries - Here are some games folks will be remembering this year.

• 15 years (1997 - USC 20 Notre Dame 17): USC won in South Bend for the first time in more than a decade, after Notre Dame missed three field goals. The Trojans, who entered the game with a 3-3 record, needed a Mark Cusano interception in the fourth quarter to ice the win. Cusano, who had batted down a 4th down pass in overtime the prior season to end a 13 year winless streak against the Irish, forever sealed his reputation among Trojan fans as an Irish-killer.
• 20 years (1982 - USC 17 Notre Dame 13): USC won on a controversial call, as Trojan running back Michael Harper scored the winning touchdown on a play in which he appeared to fumble the ball before breaking the plane of the goal line. The resulting bad karma brought 13 years of bad luck to the Trojans, who lost the next 11 games against the Irish, and managed only a tie in the two games afte that. USC finished 8-3, were ineligible to appear in a bowl game due to an NCAA probation. After the season, USC coach John Robinson left for the NFL.
• 35 years (1977 - Notre Dame 49 USC 19): The Green Jersey Game. Before the game, "Dump Devine" stickers were being sold outside Notre Dame Stadium. During pregame warmups, the Irish players wore traditional navy blue jerseys, then retired to the locker room where they found Devine had left green jerseys in their lockers. They changed and returned to the field with the team captains inside a Trojan Horse dragged by the Notre Dame cheerleaders. The crowd energy never waned as the Irish won big and continued to wear the green jerseys until their win over Texas in the Cotton Bowl that sealed Devine's first and only national championship.
• 40 years (1972 - USC 45 Notre Dame 23): USC was 10-0 and ranked #1. The Irish were 8-1 headed to the Orange Bowl. Trojan tailback Anthony Davis scored six touchdowns, including two kickoff returns. It was the most points USC had ever scored against Notre Dame, setting a team record that would last just two seasons.
• 45 years (1967 - USC 24 Notre Dame 7): Coming off a 51-0 loss the year before, No. 1 ranked USC came in as a big underdog to fifth-ranked Notre Dame, the defending national champions. Trailing 7-0 at halftime, the Trojans came back in the second half thanks to O.J. Simpson's three touchdowns on 160 yards rushing. It was USC's first win in South Bend since 1939. The Trojans went on to win the 1967 national championship.

Blogs and Info Sites For the Trojans:

USC Football Official

USC Rips It - USC's official blog

USC at the OC Register - the best independent USC blog

Scott Wolf's Inside USC - LA Daily News Trojanblog

ESPN's USC Boards

TributeToTroy - Trojan football news and information

TrojanWire - news

USCFootball - Rivals USC Football site (news, forums, recruiting info)

FightOn - More Trojan football links

TrojanFB - video, photos, more

The Living Room Times - a USC grad who went to Notre Dame for law school

Conquest Chronicles

Blogs and Info Sites For Notre Dame:

Notre Dame Official

USAToday Notre Dame Pages

ESPN's Notre Dame Boards

Irish Sports Report

South Bend Tribune info

The Irish discussion boards

The House Rock Built

Her Loyal Sons

Rakes of Mallow

Irish Insights

Irish Round Table

Video Highlights of the Last 4 Games Between USC and Notre Dame

2008: USC 38 Notre Dame 3

 

2009: USC 34 Notre Dame 27

 

2010: Notre Dame 20 USC 16

 

2011: USC 31 Notre Dame 17

 

Finally, although it's no longer as relevant or fair, here's a funny fake Real Men of Genius commercial. We salute you, Mr. Delusional Irrational Notre Dame Football Fan.

 

Troy Week 2012 - Photos and Video From USC-UCLA Lore

The USC-UCLA rivarly has produced a decent history of college pranking. A helicopter drop of manure on Tommy Trojan is widely considered once of the best pranks ever (though well short of Caltech's all-time great Rose Bowl prank), although reportedly most of the manure got sucked up by the helicopter blades. Every year, the most foreseeable prank is a paint-the-mascot attack. USC tries to thwart the Bruins by wrapping Tommy Trojan with duct tape and having the Trojan Knights stand guard around the clock. The Bruins, meanwhile, put the Bruin Bear Security Force to work, standing guard 24 hours a day, protecting the hibernating Bruin Bear (which is a redundancy, is it not?) until Wednesday. Why stop on Wednesday morning? USC pranksters don't care. They just like the opportunity. Vulnerability means a fresh coat or two of paint. As shown below:

Heh. USC, meanwhile, even puts Tirebiter under lock and key.

Now, courtesy of YouTube, some USC-UCLA video for your enjoyment.

A general preview of the rivalry.

 

Last year's 50-0 game:

 

Some highlights from 2010.

 

The end of the 2009 game - timeouts, a TD bomb and a fight.

 

Highlights of the 2008 game, a 28-7 USC win at the Rose Bowl.

Part three of a three part set of highlights from their 2007 game at the Coilseum, a 24-7 win for USC:

UCLA's last win was in 2006:

 

 

USC's postgame celebration if they win:

UCLA's postgame celebration if they win:

USC has the Song Girls:

UCLA has this guy:

Ain't this just like a Bruin:

Fight On!

Troy Week 2012 - More USC-UCLA Game Notes

More stuff about Saturday's USC/UCLA game:

Signature Victories: USC's top 10 wins over the Bruins (#1 led to a national championship). UCLA's top 10 wins over the Trojans (#1 left USC having to "settle" for the Rose Bowl that year).

Webcams: USC has Tommy Trojan on a webcam. UCLA has Royce Hall on a webcam. Joe Bruin is not on a webcam.

Weather: The current forecast is for partly cloudy skies, with light 5-10 mph winds, a 30% chance of passing showers and an afternoon high of 70°. The game starts at 12:05 p.m. PST.

Connections: Two USC players—S T.J. McDonald and S Marshall Jones—have brothers who play for UCLA (S Tevin McDonald and TB Malcolm Jones) . USC offensive coordinator/running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu was a graduate assistant coach at UCLA in 1992 and 1993, working with the secondary and special teams. USC DE Wes Horton is the son of former UCLA offensive tackle Myke Horton, who lettered there 2 years (1973-74). USC C Abe Markowitz’s father, Barry, lettered as a linebacker at UCLA in 1974 while his great grandfather, Richard Love, played basketball and tennis at UCLA in the 1920s and his cousin Frank Manumaleuga played football at UCLA in 1974.

Blogs and Info Sites For the Trojans:

USC Football Official

USC Freedomblogging - the OC Register's USC blog

TributeToTroy - Trojan football news and information

TrojanWire - news

USCFootball - Rivals USC Football site (news, forums, recruiting info)

WeAreSC - Insiders USC Football site (news, forums, recruiting info)

FightOn - More Trojan football links

Conquest Chronicles - a great fan site

Scott Wolf's Inside USC - LA Daily News Trojanblog

ESPN's USC Boards

Awesome stuff.

Blogs and Info Sites for the Bruins.

Bruinville

The Bruin Show

www.beatsc.com

Bruin Blitz

Bruin Gold

Bruin Report Online

Bruins Nation

Inside UCLA

Trojan-Haters Club

UCLA Bruins Fans

UCLA Bruins Official Site

Stuff.

Troy Week 2012 - Why The Game's So Great

There are many other great rivalries in college football: Michigan & Ohio State, Auburn & Alabama, Florida & Florida St., Harvard & Yale, Army & Navy, Stanford & Cal, and so on and so on and so on. But there are no two strong rivals in college football who share the same city. USC-UCLA is unique in that regard. What makes it so great? Here's what I tell people every year:

The Thrill of Victory: The prize for this game is the Victory Bell. The winner keeps the Victory Bell for a year and paints it their team's colors. Since 1942, the Victory Bell has awarded to the winner of this game. The bell originally rang atop a Southern Pacific locomotive. It was donated to the UCLA student body in 1939 and it was used to proclaim each UCLA touchdown for two seasons. In 1941, six USC fraternity men heisted the truck that was taking the bell back to Westwood, and it was hidden away for more than a year. A series of retaliatory pranks ended with a badly needed truce, in which the student body presidents signed an agreement to make the bell a trophy given to the annual winner of the football game. It now traditionally comes out only for the first three quarters of this game. This year, the Victory Bell is painted cardinal and gold. It has only changed from cardinal and gold to baby blue and gold once in the last two decades.

The Agony of Defeat: Despite the loss to the Ohio State University, Michigan fans can still wear Wolverine gear around Ann Arbor and face little ridicule from Buckeye fans. But the loser of the USC-UCLA game can't wear their colors around town without somebody popping off. Wins in basketball season don't ease the pain. A College World Series title doesn't absolve you. Volleyball? Water polo? Tennis? Track? Fuggedaboudit. The winner of this game can have their fans openly dig their team for the next year. The loser and its fans are losers for the rest of the year, at home and abroad. For eight long years, we were up to our necks in Bruin crap. For seven years, Bruin fans have had to put up with the same from the Trojans. Some Bruins fans are still basking in the glow of their 13-9 upset in 2006, but the Trojans have a new five-year winning streak working. The sting is worse because UCLA and USC fans and players share the same city, the same neighborhoods, the same high school alma maters, even the same households. On this year's teams, the starting safeties - USC's T.J. McDonald and UCLA's Tevin McDonald - are brothers.

The Glory of Pac-10 Pac-12 Titles and Bowl Berths: For most of the last 25 seasons, this game has had an impact on the Pac-10 championship, a BCS bowl bid or a national championship. In 1998, UCLA was atop the BCS standings and finishing off just the 4th perfect 8-0 conference record in Pac-10 history. (They lost to Miami the next week in a hurricane postponed game that was supposed to have been played in September.) In 2002, USC went to the Rose Bowl and won, 52-21, to set the stage for their Orange Bowl-sealing win over Notre Dame the following week. In 2003, the Trojans beat UCLA, 47-22, to clinch the Pac-10 title and set up their move to the top of the polls the following week. In 2004, a 29-24 win at the Rose Bowl sent the Trojans back to the Orange Bowl for the BCS title game. In 2005, a 66-19 victory clinched USC's 30th Rose Bowl appearance. In 2006, UCLA dropped the Trojans from the BCS championship game to the Rose Bowl. In 2007 and 2008, Trojan wins secured their place in the Rose Bowl. This year, the game decides whether USC or UCLA plays in the Pac-12 championship game with a shot at the Rose Bowl.

The Most Interesting Fan in the World

Down 14 Points in Less Than 3 Minutes?

Only one thing you can do.

Everyone Can Agree on Some Things

Beat The Utes!

Troy Week 2011 - Game Day! Your USC-UCLA Rooting Guide

It's time for the "City Championship", the "Bell Bowl", the "Crosstown Showdown" and the 79th game of the famous crosstown rivalry. We're heading to the Coliseum early. The tailgating begins at 9:00 a.m. Kickoff on FSN Sports starting at 7:00 p.m. The game will also be heard on ESPN Radio and locally on AM 710 KSPN, AM 570 (KLAC) and the Bruin Radio Network broadcasts for the Bruins. Parking might be sixty to eighty bucks near the stadium. We'll park early.

Game Promotions: USC’s 23 senior football players will be saluted prior to the game as they run onto the field through the Heritage Tunnel (comprised of former Trojans)…USC head coach Lane Kiffin is hosting the Kiff’s Kids toy drive to benefit children from the local community (fans are encouraged to bring a toy or unwrapped gift to collection boxes set up around the Coliseum)…Former USC Olympians Inger Miller (track, 1996 and 2000), James Gilkes (track, 1976) and Jack Beckner (gymnastics, 1952, 1956 and 1960) will be saluted on the field as part of USC’s “Cardinal and Gold Medal Heritage” yearlong celebration…2012 USC Athletic Hall of Fame inductees Tony Boselli (football), Clarence Davis (football) and Bob Hughes (water polo, swimming) will be honored on the field…USC’s team physicians will be honored on the field as well

Senior Day: USC’s 23 seniors (including some redshirt juniors who do not plan on returning in 2012) playing in their final home game in the Coliseum are: LB Augusto Alonso, CB Taylor Ashton, WR Robbie Boyer, WR Brandon Carswell, DE Eric Childs, OG Martin Coleman, FB-LB Ross Cumming, WR Nic Curry, FB-TE Rhett Ellison, LB Chris Galippo, DT Tyler Grady, DT DaJohn Harris, LB Shane Horton, CB Sean Jackson, S Marshall Jones, DT Zack Kusnir, CB Allen Noble, SNP Chris Pousson, CB Boomer Roepke, S Cody Romness, DT Christian Tupou, TB Marc Tyler and OT Peter Yobo. As is tradition, they will be introduced individually prior to kickoff by running onto the field through the Heritage Tunnel (comprised of former Trojan players). Also potentially playing their last game as Trojans: draft-eligible underclassmen such as QB Matt Barkley, OT Matt Kalil, DE Nick Perry and S T.J. McDonald.

Things to Do Before The Game: Would you like to see USC's Heisman Trophies? Then check out Heritage Hall before the game. Then you can stop by to see Tommy Trojan, before kicking the flagpoles across from the Rose Garden. FanFest will be set up between the Figueroa and the peristyle entrance

Up-To-The-Minute Weather: You can check the latest forecast here.

Up-To-The-Minute Odds: The line opened at 14½ then moved to 16½, where it now sits. The over/under is 57½.

USC's Injury Update: POSSIBLE: LB Dion Bailey (ankle), S Drew McAllister (ankle), LB Lamar Dawson (ankle).
QUESTIONABLE: CB Torin Harris (shoulder).
OUT: CB Anthony Brown (ankle), TE Christian Thomas (hip), LB Marquis Simmons (neck), C Abe Markowitz (foot), CB Brian Baucham (ineligible), DT Armond Armstead (medical), TE Junior Pomee (foot), DE-FB Charles Burks (knee), OG Giovanni Di Poalo (shoulder), S Patrick Hall (knee), WR Cody Gifford (ankle), OG-C John Katnik (shoulder).

Fight Songs - UCLA:

"Sons of Westwood" (played after a good play)

We are Sons of Westwood
And we hail to Blue and Gold
True to thee our hearts will be
Our love will not grow old,
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
Bruins roam the hills of Westwood
By the blue Pacific shores
And if we chance to see
A man from USC
Every Bruin starts to roar.
U...C...L...A...
UCLA, fight, fight, fight!

"Mighty Bruins" (played after a score)

We are the mighty Bruins
The best team in the west!
We're fighting on to victory
To conquer all the rest.
We are the mighty Bruins,
Triumphant ever more,
And you can hear
From far and near
The mighty Bruins roar!

Fight Songs - USC:

"FIGHT ON!" (after first downs and touchdowns)

Fight On for ol’ SC
Our men Fight On to victory.
Our Alma Mater dear,
looks up to you
Fight On and win
For ol’ SC
Fight On to victory
Fight On!

During World War II, an American task force attacked an island held by the Japanese and blasted "Fight On" from the deck of one of the transports to improve moral.

"ALL HAIL"

All hail to Alma Mater,
To thy glory we sing;
All hail to Southern California,
Loud let thy praises ring;
Where Western sky meets Western sea
Our college stands in majesty.
Sing our love to Alma Mater,
Hail, all hail to thee.

TRIBUTE TO TROY: this stanza of pounding drums and blaring horns is played when the band takes the field and again after every defensive stop.

CONQUEST: This battle cry, from Alfred Newman's score to the 1947 film "Captain from Castile," has been played after every USC score and victory since the Trojans adopted it in 1950.

FANFARE: This introduction to Tribute To Troy is played when the band takes the field.

OTHERS: 'All Right Now' is played after USC gets a turnover.  The 'William Tell Overture' is played at the start of the fourth quarter for the lighting of the Olympic Torch.  "The Emperor's Theme" from Star Wars is played when USC is flagged for a major penalty.

TUSK: If you don't go to USC, and never have, you might think that the lyrics to Fleetwood Mac's hit song "Tusk" go like this:

Why don't you ask him if he's going to stay?
Why don't you ask him if he's going away?
Why don't you tell me what's going on?
Why don't you tell me who's on the phone?
Why don't you ask him what's going on?
Why don't you ask him who's the latest on his throne?
Don't say that you love me!
Just tell me that you want me!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk!

Not so. The lyrics are actually as follows:

Why don't you ask him if he's going to stay?
Why don't you ask him if he's going away?
Why don't you tell me what's going on?
Why don't you tell me who's on the phone?
Why don't you ask him what's going on?
Why don't you ask him who's the latest on his throne?
Don't say that you love me!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Just tell me that you want me!
Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Just say that you love me!
Tusk! Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Tusk!

It looks odd on paper, but it sounds great in a stadium. Basically, you mumble or skip all the parts that are not U-C-L-A sucks! Those parts, you scream at the top of your lungs.

Bowl Scenarios: If the Bruins lose, they will be 6-6, and facing a possible "Rose Bowl or Bust" scenario, where a win next Friday in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game will send them to the Rose Bowl, but a loss would leave them at 6-7, and ineligible for any bowl bid unless they get a waiver from the NCAA, or there are not enough bowl eligible 6-6 teams to fill the 70 bowl spots. There are currently 69 teams with 6 wins or more, including UCLA. Two of those teams - USC and Miami, will not play in a bowl game this year. In addition, two pairs of 5-6 teams meet next week, with the winners getting to 6 wins.

Insert your own punchline.

 

 

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Finally, here's your official Coliseum Game Day Guide. You can also download the USC Game Day app, available for iPhone or Android phones.

Coliseum Fan Guide:

Directions:  From the North - Take the 110 Freeway south, exit Exposition Blvd., turn left on Flower St., follow the directional signs to Coliseum and parking.  From the South - Take the 110 Freeway north, exit Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., turn left on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., follow directional signs to Coliseum and parking.  From the East - Take the 10 Freeway west, exit Los Angeles St., turn left on Broadway St. or Hill St., follow directional signs to Coliseum and parking. From the West - Take the 10 Freeway east, exit Hoover St. and turn right, turn left on Jefferson St., turn right on Figueroa St., continue past campus and follow directional signs to Coliseum and parking.

Parking - General parking is extremely limited around the Coliseum on Game Days. There are many different lots to choose from that are not directly located on Coliseum property, but are within a comfortable walking distance. Lots in close proximity of the Coliseum include: USC Campus Parking: USC owned parking structures PSA, PSB, PSD, PSX - $20, PS1, PS2 - $25, USC Parking Center (with shuttle to Coliseum) - $20. Coliseum Parking: All Coliseum parking lots will open at approximately 9:30 a.m. The only General Public parking lot available is on the South Lawn of the Natural History Museum. To access the South Lawn, enter on Menlo Ave. and Exposition Blvd. All other lots are reserved for USC Athletic Department Donors. Rate information can be checked here. For updates and additional Coliseum parking information please call Classic Parking at (213) 749-5654 or follow @USCParking on Twitter.

Heritage Hall - Home to the USC Athletic Department, Heritage Hall houses six of the seven Heisman trophies (Mike Garrett's is on loan to the College Football Hall of Fame), the 2004 Football National Championship trophy, all retired football jerseys, the Lexus Gauntlet, as well as numerous awards and trophies representing all USC student athletes from past years.

Tailgating - Tailgating is permitted on Game Days, both on campus or in the parking lots. There are some rules that you must abide by, including: you may not occupy adjacent parking spaces for your tailgate.

Trojan Walk - Two hours prior to kickoff, the team arrives at the east end of Christmas Tree Lane and walks into the Coliseum through the Peristyle. Yellow ropes will be set up to guide the team into the Coliseum. Please do not cross the ropes once they are in place and please obey any request from USC staff or security while attending the Trojan Walk.

Merchandise - Official USC merchandise can be found in various areas on campus and on the Coliseum grounds during Game Day. There are merchandise stands set up on campus along Trousdale Parkway, one outside Coliseum Gate 1 on the southeast end of the stadium, and one on the west end of the Trojan Fan Fest. Also, there are merchandise stands inside the Coliseum gates, throughout the concourse.

Bookstore - The USC Bookstore is located in the center of campus just south of Tommy Trojan. On the second floor, you can find officially licensed USC products, Team Trojan merchandise, and Nike game jerseys.

Trojan Fan Fest - The Trojan Fan Fest opens 4 hours prior to kickoff of every home game. There are inflatable games for the kids and free giveaways for fans.

Ticket Policy - A USC Football ticket holder is restricted to seating in the location that appears on the tickets and agrees to abide by stadium and University policies, as well as City, State, and Federal laws. USC reserves the right to revoke tickets by refund of purchase.

Will-Call Booths - The general will-call booth is located outside Gate 4. Will-call opens 3 hours prior to kick-off and will remain open until the end of the 1st quarter. At the end of the 1st quarter, general will-call tickets will be moved to Gate 33 at the player will-call area. Picture identification is required for ticket pick-up.

Coliseum Entry Gates - You may enter the Coliseum through Gates 1, 4, 11, 16, 19, 23, and 28A up to 2 hours prior to kickoff. Gate 28 is for student entrance only with a valid student ID and the purchase of a Spirit Activity Card.

Coliseum Stadium Policies - Per the request of the Los Angeles Police Department, no re-entry privileges will be given to any ticket holder. The Coliseum and USC Game Management has the authority to prohibit any items deemed a security risk. Patrons will be required to discard or return such items to their vehicles or residence. Non-reusable sealed water bottles will be allowed into the stadium.

Customer Service - The Coliseum Office is located on the east end of the stadium, just south of the Olympic torch, directly below the stadium temperature gauge. The office can be reached at (213) 747-7111.

Game Management Office - Located in the east end of the stadium, just north of the Olympic torch, directly below the Stadium Clock, in the North Office.

First Aid - The Coliseum hospital is located on the Concourse level (Row 68), across from tunnel 6. Roaming First Aid teams are located at the Tunnels on the north, south, west, and east sides of the stadium. Please contact the nearest usher or security officer if medical attention is needed.

Lost and Found - Located in the Coliseum office. Found items may be given to any usher in your section who will turn them into the office. For more information please call (213) 747-1111, weekdays 8:30am - 4:30pm.

Restrooms - Located immediately inside the Coliseum gates at Tunnels 19-20 and 26-27 (on the north side), adjacent to Tunnels 2-3 and 9-10 (on the south side), and Tunnels 13-14 (on the west side). Restrooms are also located throughout the Concourse level (Row 68). Outside the Coliseum gates, a permanent restroom is located at Gate 4. Portable restrooms can be found around the Trojan Fan Fest and in various locations throughout Exposition Park.

Drinking Fountains - Located at various locations adjacent to the restrooms.

Telephones - Located inside Gate 6 next to the ATM.

ATMs - Located on the Yard level at Gates 6, 14, and 23.

Escalators - Available for those needing assistance up stairs for upper level seating. Escalators are adjacent to sections 4, 11, and 19 and will exit at Row 68. Please do not crowd the escalators or jump while using them as it may cause mechanical failure.

Elevator - Located at Tunnel 6. Elevator use is for handicap access only.

Concessions - Concession stands providing many choices of delicious Game Day foods and refreshing Coca-Cola products are located on Yard level outside of Tunnels 4, 6, 16, and 23. Additional concessions are located on the Concourse level outside every other tunnel.

Students - Student seating is first-come, first-serve and is accessed with a valid student I.D. and the purchase of a Spirit Activity Card. Student I.D.s are scanned electronically and can only be used once per game.

Troy Week 2011 Friday - USC-UCLA Talking Points and Memories

Here is a list of facts you might see on your TV tomorrow during the big crosstown game:

• This is their 81st game. USC leads the series 45-28-7.
• USC won the first two games, in 1929 and 1930, by lopsided scores of 76-0 and 52-0.
• The teams did not play again for the next five seasons. Since 1936, the teams have met at least once each year.
• When a ranked USC team has played an unranked UCLA squad, the Trojans are 13-6-2.
• USC is 25-12-5 overall against unranked UCLA teams
• At the Coliseum, USC holds a 38-20-7 edge, with wins in the last 6 Coliseum games.
• USC has won 11 of the last 12 meetings.
• A win would give USC is 25th ten-win season, and its 8th in 10 years.
• USC is 6-2 in conference and in first place in the Pac-12 South.
• UCLA is 5-3 in conference and would take tie USC for first place in the Pac-12 South with a win
• Due to USC's postseason badm UCLA has clinched a spot in the Pac-12 Championship game
• UCLA will travel to Stanford or Oregon for that conference title game
• Until 1982, the Bruins shared the Coliseum with USC.
• Both teams are permitted to wear their home jerseys
• UCLA is opting for an alternate jersey
• UCLA is 5-8-1 in the Coliseum since leaving in 1982 for the Rose Bowl.
• The Coliseum has hosted this game 65 times. USC and UCLA used to share a home stadium, so each team would play in their home jerseys
• No team has beaten UCLA more times than USC.
• No team has beaten USC more times than ... Notre Dame.
• UCLA's first mascot was a dog named "Rags".
• USC's first mascot was a dog named George Tirebiter.
• Tirebiter's sculpture on the USC campus is covered with a dog house this week to thwart would-be vandals.
• Both Tommy Trojan and the Bruin Bear have been covered all week, too.
• This is the third-latest start time for the Bruins and Trojans
• Only 1945’s 8:30 p.m. kickoff and last year's 7:30 kickoff were later
• This is only the seventh night game in the series
• USC leads the Bruins 5-2 in night games
• This is the second time in the past 30 years that the teams have met on Thanksgiving weekend
• Last game: USC 28 @ UCLA 14
• Last game at the Coliseum: USC 28 UCLA 7 (2009)
• Last UCLA win in the Coliseum: 1997 (31-24)
• The winner of the annual USC-UCLA football game gets year-long possession of the Victory Bell
• Ten Crosstown Gauntlet points will be awarded to the winner
• USC has defeated both UCLA and Notre Dame in the same season 18 times
• USC, UCLA and Notre Dame are the only teams in the divisional era who haven't played an FCS school.
• This is UCLA's 13th season since its last Rose Bowl bid - the Bruins' longest drought ever
• The Bruins won all four of their Pac-12 conference home games this season
• UCLA's 5-1 home record is tied for best in the Pac-12
• USC is also 5-1 at home this season
• UCLA's win over then 20th ranked Arizona State was its first over a ranked conference opponent
  since 2007
• UCLA has won 21 straight games in which it has rushed for at least 250 yards
• UCLA is 4-5 against top ten teams since 2006.
• UCLA is 1-2 against top ten USC teams
• UCLA's last road win against a top ten team: Sept. 25, 2010 at #7 Texas.
• USC has 40 players who saw their first action in 2011.
• First time Trojans this season included 9 true freshmen and 14 redshirt freshmen.
• USC has started 4 of those true freshmen and 7 of those redshirt freshmen
• UCLA has played just one first year player in 2011 - TE Raymond Nelson
• Despite 6 wins, UCLA is not yet bowl-eligible.
• If it is 6-7 after the conference championship, UCLa would need a waiver to play in a bowl.
• USC is 66-41-11 (.606) in all season finales
• Last time USC's season ended before November 26: 2000
• The earliest USC's season has ever ended: November 13 (1909)
• Matt Barkley is 273-of-404 for 67.6%. The USC record is 68.6% (Rob Johnson, 1993)
• Barkley's 33-7 TD to INT ratio is among the best in the country
• Barkley's 273 completions in 2011 is fourth on the USC season list
• Barkley needs: 45 yards of total offense to pass Rodney Peete for 3rd on USC's career list
• 103 yards of total offense to pass Mark Sanchez for 7th on USC's single season list
• 218 yards of total offense to pass J.D. Booty for 6th on USC's single season list
• 243 yards of total offense to pass Matt Leinart for 5th on USC's single season list
• 11 completions to pass Matt Leinart for third on USC's single season list
• 36 completions to pass Rob Johnson for second on USC's single season list
• Robert Woods needs one catch to reach 100 on the season
• The USC and Pac-12 record is 102, held by Keyshaun Johnson
• Woods is 5th in the country in receptions with 9 per game 
• Woods needs 5 catches to pass Johnson for 7th on USC's career list
• He needs 13 to pass Mike Williams for 6th place on USC's career list
• USC's offensive line leads the Pac-12 in sacks allowed (7)
• USC is 16th in the nation in rushing defense
• Kevin Prince’s 390 rushing yards are the most by a Bruin QB since Jeff Dankworth in 1976 (815)
• Nelson Rosario is UCLA’s 10th 2,000-yard receiver (2,091 career yards)
• Derrick Coleman’s 11 rushing TDs is the most by a Bruin since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2005)
• Coleman is deaf

Now, when those facts come onto your TV screen tomorrow, you can now lean over and say "I knew that."

And here are some memorable anniversaries of previous years' games:

Memorable Anniversaries - 5 years (2006, UCLA 13 USC 9): Five years ago, UCLA knocked USC out of the BCS Championship with a 13-9 victory over the Trojans at the Rose Bowl. UCLA fans still use 13-9 as a rallying cry. I've seen it on billboards, license plates and screen names. It's the only win UCLA has had in the series since 1998 and it is the Bruins' favorite moment in the rivalry.

Memorable Anniversaries - 10 years (2001, USC 27, UCLA 0): Ten years ago, the Trojans won the first shutout in the series since 1954, defeating the 20th ranked Bruins 27-0 at the Coliseum to become bowl eligible for the first time in three years. Trojan fans remember this as the game in which Antuan Simmons intercepted a pass between his legs and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown.

Memorable Anniversaries - 15 years (1996, UCLA 48, USC 41 2OT): Fifteen years ago, in the only overtime contest ever between the Bruins and Trojans, UCLA made the most remarkable comeback in the history of the series. For the first time in 13 years, neither team was ranked. UCLA trailed by 17 points with seven minutes to play. With three minutes left, UCLA trimmed the lead to 7, but failed to recover the onside kick. USC tried to run out the clock, but Lavale Woods fumbled and UCLA went on to score and send the game into overtime when USC's last second field goal attempt was blocked. UCLA outscored USC 10-3 in overtime to win.

Memorable Anniversaries - 25 years (1986, UCLA 45 USC 25): Twenty-five years ago, with a 24 point lead and just seconds to play in the first half, UCLA used a trick play -- faking the QB taking a knee to end the half -- to score on a touchdown pass from Matt Stevens to Karl Dorrell. The Bruins held on for a 20 point victory. Trojan fans hated Dorrell for years, until he became UCLA's head coach and led the Bruins to just one win over USC. Then USC fans loved him.

Memorable Anniversaries - 30 years (1981, USC 22 UCLA 21): Thirty years ago, USC won 22-21 when George Atica blocked Norm Johnson's 46-yard field goal attempt with four seconds to play. The field goal would have sent UCLA to the Rose Bowl. With the win, USC earned a trip to the Fiesta Bowl, the Bruins went to the Bluebonnet Bowl, where they lost to Michigan, and Washington ended up in the Rose Bowl, where they shut out the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be another memorable one.

Troy Week 2011 Thursday - More USC-UCLA Game Notes

More stuff about Saturday's USC/UCLA game:

Signature Victories: USC's top 10 wins over the Bruins (#1 led to a national championship). UCLA's top 10 wins over the Trojans (#1 left USC having to "settle" for the Rose Bowl that year).

Weekly Releases: USC's. UCLA's.

Team Stats: Here are the Trojans' team stats for 2011. Here are UCLA's.

Webcams: USC has Tommy Trojan on a webcam. UCLA has Royce Hall on a webcam. Joe Bruin is not on a webcam.

Recruiting: This is one of USC's biggest recruiting weekends of the year. In addition to many recruits making unofficial vists, OLB Noor Davis (Leesburg, FL) makes his official visit this weekend. The teams are competing for a number of top-notch recruits, and this game can matter a lot.

Weather: Los Angeles has been enjoying unseasonably wet weather lately, but the current weather forecast for Saturday is a clear, with light 5-10 mph winds, and an afternoon high of 79° leading to an overnight now of 49°. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. PST.

Connections: Bruin head football coach Rick Neuheisel earned his law school degree at USC in 1990. Former UCLA All-America linebacker Ken Norton (1984-87) is on USC’s football coaching staff. Wendell Tyler, fifth on UCLA’s career rushing list, is the father of USC tailback Marc Tyler. Two USC players—S T.J. McDonald and S Marshall Jones—have brothers who play for UCLA (S Tevin McDonald and TB Malcolm Jones)…USC offensive coordinator/running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu was a graduate assistant coach at UCLA in 1992 and 1993, working with the secondary and special teams…USC S Shane Horton and DE Wes Horton are the sons of former UCLA offensive tackle Myke Horton, who lettered there 2 years (1973-74)…USC C Abe Markowitz’s father, Barry, lettered as a linebacker at UCLA in 1974 while his great grandfather, Richard Love, played basketball and tennis at UCLA in the 1920s and his cousin Frank Manumaleuga played football at UCLA in 1974…UCLA C Kai Maiava is the brother of former USC LB Kaluka Maiava (2005- 08)…UCLA CB Brandon Sermons is the brother of ex-USC TB-FB Rodney Sermons (1994-97)…

Blogs and Info Sites For the Trojans:

USC Football Official

USC Freedomblogging - the OC Register's USC blog

TributeToTroy - Trojan football news and information

TrojanWire - news

USCFootball - Rivals USC Football site (news, forums, recruiting info)

WeAreSC - Insiders USC Football site (news, forums, recruiting info)

FightOn - More Trojan football links

Conquest Chronicles - a great fan site

Scott Wolf's Inside USC - LA Daily News Trojanblog

ESPN's USC Boards

Awesome stuff.

Blogs and Info Sites for the Bruins.

Bruinville

The Bruin Show

www.beatsc.com

Bruin Blitz

Bruin Gold

Bruin Report Online

Bruins Nation

Inside UCLA

Trojan-Haters Club

UCLA Bruins Fans

UCLA Bruins Official Site

Stuff.

Troy Week 2011 Wednesday - Photos and Video From USC-UCLA Lore

The USC-UCLA rivarly has produced a decent history of college pranking. A helicopter drop of manure on Tommy Trojan is widely considered once of the best pranks ever (though well short of Caltech's all-time great Rose Bowl prank), although reportedly most of the manure got sucked  up by the helicopter blades. Every year, the most foreseeable prank is a paint-the-mascot attack. USC tries to thwart the Bruins by wrapping Tommy Trojan with duct tape and having the Trojan Knights stand guard around the clock. The Bruins, meanwhile, put the Bruin Bear Security Force to work, standing guard 24 hours a day, protecting the hibernating Bruin Bear (which is a redundancy, is it not?) until Wednesday. Why stop on Wednesday morning? USC pranksters don't care. They just like the opportunity. Vulnerability means a fresh coat or two of paint. As shown below:

Heh. USC, meanwhile, even puts Tirebiter under lock and key.

Now, courtesy of YouTube, some USC-UCLA video for your enjoyment.

A general preview of the rivalry.

 

Some highlights from last year's game.

 

The end of the 2009 game - timeouts, a TD bomb and a fight.

 

Highlights of the 2008 game, a 28-7 USC win at the Rose Bowl.

Part three of a three part set of highlights from their 2007 game at the Coilseum, a 24-7 win for USC:

UCLA's last win was in 2006:

 

USC's postgame celebration if they win:

UCLA's postgame celebration if they win:

USC has the Song Girls:

UCLA has this guy:

Ain't this just like a Bruin:

Fight On!

Troy Week 2011 Tuesday - Why The Game's So Great

There are many other great rivalries in college football: Michigan & Ohio State, Auburn & Alabama, Florida & Florida State, Harvard & Yale, Army & Navy, Stanford & Cal, and so on and so on and so on. But there are no two strong rivals in college football who share the same city. USC-UCLA is unique in that regard. What makes it so great? Here's what I tell people every year:

The Thrill of Victory: The prize for this game is the Victory Bell. The winner keeps the Victory Bell for a year and paints it their team's colors. Since 1942, the Victory Bell has awarded to the winner of this game. The bell originally rang atop a Southern Pacific locomotive. It was donated to the UCLA student body in 1939 and it was used to proclaim each UCLA touchdown for two seasons. In 1941, six USC fraternity men heisted the truck that was taking the bell back to Westwood, and it was hidden away for more than a year. A series of retaliatory pranks ended with a badly needed truce, in which the student body presidents signed an agreement to make the bell a trophy given to the annual winner of the football game. It now traditionally comes out only for the first three quarters of this game. This year, the Victory Bell is painted cardinal and gold. 

The Agony of Defeat: Despite the loss to the Ohio State University, Michigan fans can still wear Wolverine gear around Ann Arbor and face little ridicule from Buckeye fans. But the loser of the USC-UCLA game can't wear their colors around town without somebody popping off. Win in basketball season don't ease the pain. A College World Series title doesn't absolve you. Volleyball? Water polo? Tennis? Track? Fuggedaboudit. The winner of this game can have their fans openly dig their team for the next year. The loser and its fans are losers for the rest of the year, at home and abroad. For eight long years, we were up to our necks in Bruin crap. For seven years, Bruin fans have had to put up with the same from the Trojans. Bruins fans are still basking in the glow of their 13-9 upset in 2006, but the Trojans have a new four-year winning streak working. The sting is worse because UCLA and USC fans and players share the same city, the same neighborhoods, the same high school alma maters, even the same households. On this year's teams, the starting safeties - USC's T.J. McDonald and UCLA's Tevin McDonald - are brothers. So are USC safety Marshall   Jones and UCLA tailback Malcolm Jones. USC tailback Marc Tyler is the son of former UCLA tailback Wendell Tyler. Several players on both teams have brothers who played for the other team. In fact, UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel has degrees from both UCLA and USC.

The Glory of Pac-10 Pac-12 Titles and Bowl Berths: For most of the last 25 seasons, this game has had an impact on the Pac-10 championship, a BCS bowl bid or a national championship. In 1998, UCLA was atop the BCS standings and finishing off just the 4th perfect 8-0 conference record in Pac-10 history. (They lost to Miami the next week in a hurricane postponed game that was supposed to have been played in September.) In 2002, USC went to the Rose Bowl and won, 52-21, to set the stage for their Orange Bowl-sealing win over Notre Dame the following week. In 2003, the Trojans beat UCLA, 47-22, to clinch the Pac-10 title and set up their move to the top of the polls the following week. In 2004, a 29-24 win at the Rose Bowl sent the Trojans back to the Orange Bowl for the BCS title game. In 2005, a 66-19 victory clinched USC's 30th Rose Bowl appearance. In 2006, UCLA dropped the Trojans from the BCS championship game to the Rose Bowl. In 2007 and 2008, Trojan wins secured their place in the Rose Bowl. This year, the game could decide whether UCLA plays in the inaugural Pac-12 championship game with a shot at the Rose Bowl.

Trojan and Bruins Fans, Tailgate Responsibly

I received this email from USC today, regarding security at Saturday night's game.

Dear Trojan Fans:   We all know how important the USC vs. UCLA game is to our fans, alumni and players each year.  As the Athletic Directors of these storied programs, this day has been circled on our calendars since the end of last season.  This is a special rivalry that we both look forward to as a capstone to each conference season, and the 81st meeting of our teams this Saturday is shaping up to be a great game.   Just as this game brings elevated attention to the 60 minutes of exciting on-field competition, the hours of pregame festivities and fun also deserve extra attention from our staff and fans alike. We want the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to be a safe and friendly environment for you and your family to enjoy a great day of college football.   This year we have increased the emphasis and visibility of game day security, particularly given the 7pm kickoff time. Security staff will be bolstered by over 25% for this game, and there is an integrated effort between both universities and a host of local law enforcement organizations to make the entire game experience around the Coliseum safe and secure.   Working together, our staffs are coordinating efforts with USC Department of Public Safety, University of California Police Department, LAPD, Exposition Park Police, FBI Special Events, Homeland Security, CA Alcohol-Beverage Control, and others to minimize any safety concerns on game day. You will notice increased staffing presence and bike patrols to go along with a host of enhancements behind the scenes. The Coliseum’s standard tailgating policies – only one parking space per car and no amplified sound – will be strictly enforced.   A big part of making this day safe and enjoyable for everyone is the conduct of both fan bases. We ask you to please respect the rivalry, respect each other, and bring the same level of sportsmanship to the game that we expect of our players. Should you have any questions or see anything of concern on Saturday, please notify the closest staff member, call our Fan Behavior Hotline at 213-765-8525, or send a text to 274637 with TC4T and your issue or question details.   Thank you for your continued support of this great rivalry and for doing your part to make this year’s game a safe and enjoyable day for all in attendance.   Fight On!		What: USC vs UCLA Football Where: LA Coliseum When: Nov. 26, 2011 Limited tickets available
Pat Haden USC Charles Griffin Cale Director of Athletics' Chair	Dan Guerrero UCLA Director of Athletics

It's a good letter, and not just because they managed to get Dan Guerrero's name at the bottom of a letter that concludes with "Fight on". The Trojans want to avoid this sort of trouble, which often occurs when a crosstown game doesn't start until well into the evening, giving thousands of young men time to drink, kill time, and then turn their alcohol-fueled aggression on each other.

 

If you're going to the game on Saturday, and you plan to drink, pace yourself. Show that you can handle your liquor. Tailgate with class.

Troy Week 2011 Monday - Records, Rankings, Odds, Streaks, Upsets and Heroes in USC-UCLA Lore

Once again, it's UCLA week aka "Troy Week". It's time for our annual cross-town rivalry game against the Bruins. The City Bowl. The Bell Bowl. As often happens, a shot at the Rose Bowl is at stake. USC is in first place in the Pac-12 South Division, but is bowl ineligible, leaving UCLA in the running for a spot in the conference championship game. UCLA goes to the game if they beat the Trojans, or if Arizona State loses and Utah wins on Saturday.

Here are a few details about the game.

Starting Time: The game Saturday at the Coliseum will be broadcast live nationally at 7:00 p.m. PST on FSN (Craig Bolerjack, Joel Klatt, Petros Papadakis). It's the last game of the night involving a ranked team.

Records: USC is 9-2. UCLA is 6-5. USC's 6-2 conference record is currently best in the Pac-12 South. UCLA sits in 2nd place in the division at 5-3, a game ahead of Arizona State and Utah.

Rankings: USC is ranked 10th in the AP Poll, but is ineligible for the Harris Interactive Poll or the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll or the BCS rankings. UCLA is not ranked.

Odds: USC opened as an 14½ point favorite

Coliseum Streak: USC has won four straight in the series after having its 7 game winning streak snapped in 2006. The last six games at the Coliseum were won by USC:
• 1999: USC 17, UCLA 7
• 2001: USC 27, UCLA 0
• 2003: USC 47, UCLA 22
• 2005: USC 66, UCLA 19
• 2007: USC 24, UCLA 7
• 2009: USC 28, UCLA 7

Historic Upsets: In the past 25 years, there have been several huge surprises:
• 1989: UCLA, 3-7 and unranked, ties 8th ranked and Rose Bowl bound USC 10-10.
• 1992: UCLA, 5-5 and unranked, defeats No.15 USC 38-37.
• 1994: UCLA, 4-6 and unranked, defeats No.13 USC 31-19.
• 1995: UCLA, 6-4 and unranked, defeats No.11 Rose Bowl bound USC, 24-20.
• 2001: USC, 5-5 and unranked, defeats No. 20 UCLA 27-0.
• 2006: UCLA, 6-5 and unranked, defeats No. 2 Rose Bowl bound USC 13-9.

Unlikely Heroes: The series is known for having superstars carry the day with big games, but it is also known for lesser known players having big games, e.g.,
• 1992: Senior walk-on John Barnes, the fifth-string QB for UCLA, leads the unranked Bruins (see above) to a 38-37 win on a 90-yard TD pass to J.J. Stokes with 2:04 left. Barnes threw for 384 yards.
• 1993: UCLA avoids the come-from-ahead loss when safety Marvin Goodwin intercepts a pass in the end zone on a 3rd-and-goal play in the final seconds of the game.
• 2000: USC's third-string placekicker, David Bell, who had missed all three field goal attempts that season, lines up for a a 36-yard field goal with nine seconds to go. It barely clears the crossbar.

You never know what's going to happen.

USC Passion

According to Matt Barkley, the Trojans watched this clip Before the Oregon game.

 

 

It gets the competitive juices flowing.

Pac-12 South Division Title Scenarios

Going into the last week of the season in Pac-12 play, the Pac-12 South standings are:

1. USC 6-2
2. UCLA 5-3
3. Arizona State 4-4
4. Utah 4-4
5. Arizona 2-7
6. Colorado 1-7

If UCLA beats USC, they will finish tied at 6-3 and UCLA will win the division tiebreaker on head-to-head results. If USC beats UCLA it will finish 7-2 and will take first place in the division, but USC is not eligible to play for the conference title, so the championship game participant will be the second-place finisher.

The season's head-to-head results among the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place team went like this: UCLA>ASU>Utah>UCLA. So UCLA wins a tiebreaker against Arizona State, but not Utah. Utah wins a tiebreaker against UCLA, but not Arizona State. Arizona State wins a tiebreaker against Utah, but not UCLA. Therefore:

• UCLA goes if it wins at USC (winning outright), or if Colorado wins at Utah (winning outright or in a tiebreaker against Arizona State).
• Utah goes if it beats Colorado and USC beats UCLA, but Arizona State loses at home to Cal (because it would finish a game ahead of ASU, and would win the head-to-head tiebreaker against UCLA).
• Arizona State goes if it beats Cal, and USC beats UCLA and Utah beats Colorado (because ASU has the advantage in a three-way tie by virtue of UCLA being eliminated on divisional records, then ASU winning the head-to-head tiebreaker ober Utah). Barring an upset, this is the likely scenario.

How does that 3-way tie get settled? I've copied and pasted the tiebreaker rules below, but here's how it would apply this season if UCLA, Arizona State and Utah all finish with 5-4 conference records.

• First, you would go to head-to-head records. Each team is 1-1 against the other two teams, so the tie is not yet broken.
• Next you go to record in games played in the division. ASU finished 3-2 against the Pac-12 south. Utah would be 3-2 against the south with a win over Colorado. UCLA would fall to 2-3 against the south with a loss to USC. So UCLA is eliminated.
• With UCLA eliminated, ASU and Utah would be decided by head-to-head play. ASU beat Utah, so ASU heads to Eugene (if the Ducks beat Oregon St.), or Palo Alto (if the Beavers beat Oregon.

The loser of the Pac-12 championship game is assured of nothing. It doesn't get the #2 bowl spot (now the Alamo Bowl), and in fact, it could finish ineligible for a bowl. If UCLA were to lose on Saturday, and Utah were to lose to Colorado, even if ASU wins, the Bruins and Sun Devils would finish second at 5-4, with Utah third at 4-5, and UCLA would take its 6-6 record to the championship game by virtue of its win over Arizona State and USC's post-season ban. If UCLA then lost to Oregon (or Stanford) in the conference title game, it would be 6-7, and not eligible for an at-large bid to any bowl.

Curiously, last week, the Pac-12 put out a release saying Arizona State needed 2 wins and a UCLA loss, or a win and 2 UCLA losses. That's actually not true. As I mentioned above, Arizona State goes to the Pac-12 championship game if it finishes in a three-way tie with UCLA and Utah. Here are the Pac-12 tiebreakers for two teams, and for three or more teams:

Divisional Champion Tie-breaker

Two Teams:

Head-to-head competition between the two tied teams. If no game is played between the two tied teams or that game ends in a tie, the following tie-breaking procedures would be applied:

1. Record in games played within the division.

2. Record against the next highest placed team in the division (based on record in all Conference games, both divisional and cross-divisional) proceeding through the division.

3. Record in common Conference games.

4. Highest BCS Ranking following the last weekend of regular-season games.

5. Total number of wins in a 12-game season. The following conditions will apply to the calculation of the total number of wins:

• Only one win against a team from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision or lower division will be counted annually.
• Any games that are exempted from counting against the annual maximum number of football contests per NCAA rules (current Bylaw 17.9.5.2) shall not be included.

6. Coin toss.

Three or More Teams:

The following procedures will only be used to eliminate all but two teams, at which point the two-team tie-breaking procedure will be applied.

1. Head-to-head (best record in games among the tied teams).

2. Record in games played within the division.

3. Record against the next highest placed team in the division (based on record in all Conference games, both divisional and cross-divisional), proceeding through the division.

4. Record in common Conference games.

5. Highest BCS Ranking following the last weekend of regular-season games.

USC @ Notre Dame 2011: Visiting South Bend

The last Notre Dame game I missed was 8 years ago. I wanted to go to this year's game, but I have kids who can't miss school, and with such a late start in South Bend, it just wasn't going to work out. To stay in Chicago, I'd be looking at a drive back to the city that would last until about 2 a.m., leaving everyone exhausted. To stay in South Bend, we would need to take a very inconvenient set of flights, or fly into Chicago on Friday night and drive into town very, very late or else fly in on Saturday and risk a flight delay that could cause us to miss the game completely. So I'm going to watch it at home on TV. If you're going, here's the situation:

Weather: Today, the weather forecast for Saturday in South Bend is mostly clear with a high of 62° and an overnight low of 42°. There's rain expected today and on Sunday.

Webcams: USC has Tommy Trojan on a webcam. Notre Dame has the golden dome on a webcam, too. Actually, Notre Dame is full of webcams, including the Clark Memorial Fountain, the South Quad, and others.

Tickets: Ducats are more expensive this year. The cheapest seat on Stubhub is $319, and it's a bad seat. The cheapest lower level pair between the goal lines - $1,000.

USC Activities in Chicago and South Bend: The 2011 USC vs. Notre Dame Weekender is headquartered at The Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, 301 East North Water Street, Chicago, IL 60611, (877) 242-2558. The Weekender festivities include a Pep Rally on Friday night and a tailgater on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. on campus.

What to Do On Campus: I've now been to South Bend three times. I read a couple of lists of stuff to do at a Notre Dame home game, and, being a Trojan, I won't want to do them all, but here is a slightly modified list of 25 things visiting fans can do for fun at a Notre Dame game.

1. Go inside the administration building and check out the mural on the inside of the golden dome.
2. Light a candle and say a prayer at the Grotto for Notre Dame to get shut out. It worked last time.
3. Go to Mass in the Sacred Heart Basilica; or at least stop in and reiterate your prayer for a shutout.
4. Buy some stuff at the campus bookstore for your Irish friends and relatives back home.
5. Don a "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" button but expect nothing because you're wearin' the Cardinal & Gold.
6. Watch the team come out after the pregame Mass in the Basilica.
7. Follow the ND band at least part of the way to Notre Dame Stadium.
8. Greet USC coaches and players as their bus rolls in.
9. Take a photo with Touchdown Jesus. For bonus points, use forced perspective and post what you got,.
10. Jump up and give Fair-Catch Corby a high five.
11. Visit the Sports Heritage Hall at the Joyce Center.
12. Sit with Moose Krause outside the Joyce Center.
13. Flash a Victory sign at "No. 1 Moses".
14. Visit Rockne's grave in Highland Cemetery on Portage Avenue. Thank him for a great series.
15. Spend at least an hour at the College Football Hall of Fame. See Knute Rockne's statue. Next time USC comes to South Bend, the Hall will be in Atlanta.
16. Splash your hands in the Stonehenge Fountain (Clarke Memorial).
17. Pose for a photograph with somebody dressed like a leprechaun.
18. Purchase a bootleg t-shirt that has the date of the game printed on it.
19. Greet the statues of Leahy, Parseghian and Holtz outside the stadium.
20. Walk up to the anti-Catholic protesters and ask "You need a ticket? How much you got?"
21. Buy a game program and immediately wrap it in plastic in case it rains or someone dumps their cup on it.
22. Before going to your own seat, walk all the way to the top and take a picture of the stadium.
23. Smuggle in some hard liquor, but not whiskey. Let them Irish drink the whiskey.
24. Snag about 20 souvenir soda cups after the game. They'll clean up just fine.
25. Snap a photo of the final score on the scoreboard, win, lose or draw.

Where to Go, What to Do: If you are here from out of town, here's a little help, from Notre Dame Stadium's website (if you know of one more up-to-date than 2006, let me know):

TICKETS -- Safeguard your tickets, keep them in a secure location - and treat them like cash! Everyone needs a ticket for admission, regardless of age.

TICKET RESALE -- Adhere to the Athletic Ticket Resale Policy. The ticket office actively monitors secondary market sales and enforces this policy. So far this year more than 600 tickets have been revoked and privileges of the owners have been suspended. In fact, 400 of those tickets were caught prior to being sent to the customer. Those tickets were resold to alumni who lost in the lottery. A Ticket Office Resale Violator Tipline is available via email: [email protected]. Please send any suspected violators or information to this address.

TICKET FRAUD -- With high demand for this year's tickets, scams and ticket fraud are on the rise. Be very cautious when buying tickets from any entity other than the University. For more information, refer to the July Ticket Office Fraud and Scam Alert.

PRIDE -- Protect the Notre Dame home-field advantage! Wear Notre Dame colors and do not provide tickets to visiting team fans!

CAMPUS PARKING -- In the last few years there have been significant changes in the campus and surrounding roadway infrastructure due to campus improvements. Arrive early to be assured of a spot so you can gain entrance to the Stadium by kickoff. Many roadways that you may have been accustomed to utilizing are no longer available: Parking Map.

GAMEDAY PARKING - All gameday drive-up parking is located in the White Field (north of campus) which is accessed from Juniper Road via Cleveland road. Do not approach from the south. Do not approach from internal campus.

BUS PARKING -- Bus parking has also been relocated from directly south of Joyce Center to Old Edison Road due to road changes. ALL busses should approach from the south.

JUNIPER ROAD -- Juniper Road between Douglas Road and Angela Blvd./Edison Road is closed permanently to traffic.

RESERVED PARKING -- If you have a reserved parking pass please be sure to follow the directions on the reverse of the pass and follow the directions of parking attendants. Limited reserved parking is still on sale. Please contact the Ticket Office for more information by calling 574-631-7356 Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EDT. Restrictions apply. You must have purchased tickets directly through the Notre Dame Ticket Office to be eligible to purchase parking. Please call for details. Lots and availability are subject to change.

Please review the links below for more information on football parking, directions and additional information:

Football Parking Information

Directions to Notre Dame

Other:

TIME ZONE -- As of April 2, 2006, the state of Indiana began observing daylight savings. As such, Notre Dame is in the Eastern Time Zone (EDT through last weekend in October, then EST) and will be aligned with the east coast year-round.

SMOKING -- In accordance with a new St. Joseph County ordinance, there will be no smoking in any part of Notre Dame Stadium. Passouts will not be permitted.

POLICIES -- For more information on gameday and stadium policies: click here.

ALCOHOL -- As a reminder, alcohol is prohibited in Notre Dame Stadium.

TAILGATING -- There is no tailgating permitted in parking lots during the football games.

There you have it, your Game Day Guide. Enjoy the festivities.

USC @ Notre Dame: The 411 on This Year's Game

It's USC v. Notre Dame week, the 83rd game in the greatest cross-sectional rivalry in college football. Last time USC came to South Bend, I was there and USC was still in the hunt for a national title. This time, I'm watching from home because the late start time and my kid's school schedules make it all but impossible to make the weekender, and neither team is ranked in the top 25 - both teams were among the top three "others getting votes" last week. Last time USC came to South Bend, Pat Haden was on the Irish broadcast team. This time, he comes to the press box as USC's athletic director. Here is the basic who, what, when, where of the game

Starting Time: Kickoff is officially scheduled for 7:40 p.m. EDT (4:40 p.m. PDT)

Broadcast: NBC will be broadcasting the game nationally at 7:30 p.m. with Tom Hammond, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan. 

Records: USC is 5-1 (3-1, tied for first in the Pac-12 South). Notre Dame is 4-2.

Rankings: Neither team is ranked. Among others receiving votes, Notre Dame is 2nd and USC 3rd in the AP Poll. Notre Dame is also second among the others receiving votes in the coaches poll, for which USC is ineligible.

Odds: Notre Dame is a 9½ point favorite.

Streaks: USC has won two straight since a loss at Arizona State. The Irish have won four straight since losing their first two. In the series, USC had won eight straight until Notre Dame beat the Trojans last season in the Coliseum.

Schedules: The Trojans have the nation's 59th most difficult schedule so far this season. Notre Dame has had the 26th toughest. Notre Dame has beaten Michigan State and lost to Michigan. USC lost to Arizona State

Coaches: USC's Lane Kiffin is 13-6 at USC, but has lost his only game against Notre Dame. Notre Dame's Brian Kelly is 12-7 at Notre Dame, and is 1-0 against USC.

The History: No other intersectional rivalry is as old, as intense or as meaningful as this one. This year marks 86 seasons of tradition between the two schools, broken only by a few seasons during World War II. In almost one-fourth of those years, the winner of this game has won the national championship. The series began in 1926, when Knute Rockne took his team to the West Coast, reportedly because his wife wanted a warm-weather holiday. Though they had just one national title between them then, USC and Notre Dame were becoming national football powerhouses, and in the first seven seasons of the rivalry, the winner of the game ended up as national champions five times! Notre Dame hosts the games in odd-numbered years, since 1931, those have all been played at Notre Dame Stadium. USC hosts games in even-numbered years, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Prize: The winner of the game keeps the Shillelagh, a club made of Irish wood, for a year. This Shillelagh adds an emerald-studded shamrock for each Notre Dame win, and a ruby-studded Trojan head for each USC win, right next to the engraved score of each game. For tie games, a combined Trojan head/shamrock medallion was used. The original Shillelagh was filled up after the 1989 game and is on display at Notre Dame. This year's game is a battle for the current, second, Shillelagh.

Head-to-Head Record: No team has beaten USC more times than Notre Dame. No team has beaten Notre Dame more times than USC. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 43-34-5. The series is streaky. Before Notre Dame's win last season, USC had won 8 straight games. The Irish won the 3 before that. USC won the 3 before that. Notre Dame won 12 of the 13 before that. USC won 11 of 13 before that. In the past 10 games, USC holds a 8-2 lead. Since 1967, USC leads 23-18-3. At the Coliseum, USC leads 21-18-4, but in South Bend, where this year's game is played, Notre Dame holds a 25-13-1 advantage

Great Players: USC has had 156 All-Americans, 28 College Football Hall of Famers, 10 Pro Football Hall of Famers, 5 NFL #1 overall draft picks and 6 Heisman Trophy winners (plus the vacated one given to Reggie Bush) Notre Dame has 181 All-Americans, 41 College Football Hall of Famers, 10 Pro Football Hall of Famers, 5 NFL #1 overall draft picks and 7 Heisman Trophy winners, most recently, Tim Brown, 1987.

Bowls: USC has won 32 of the 48 bowls in which it played. Notre Dame has won 15 of the 30 it played. Both teams won their last bowl games. USC is not eligible for a bowl in 2011.

Catholics v. Protestants: Notre Dame was founded as a Roman Catholic university. USC was founded as a Methodist university. When Notre Dame first came to Southern California, the Trojans were a Methodist campus. In fact, the Trojans were once known as the USC Wesleyans or the USC Methodists. Despite a reference on wikipedia, rumors that USC athletes were once referred to as the "Fighting Methodists" are unsubstantiated.

And with a series this great, that has lasted this long, ever year there is an anniversary to remember. Consider these:

Memorable Anniversaries - 15 years (1996, USC 27, Notre Dame 20): Ten years ago, the unranked Trojans beat 10th-ranked Notre Dame 27-20 in the first and only overtime game in the series. The victory ended Notre Dame's unprecedented 13 year unbeaten streak. I was at that game with my brother. Nursing a two point lead, Notre Dame scored a late TD and lined up for an extra point that would have made it a nine-point, 2 possession lead. Jim Sanson's kick was wide left, and USC went on to score a game-tying touchdown and 2-point conversion to send the game into overtime. In the extra period, played on the peristyle end, right in front of my section three seats, Brad Otton connected with Rodney Sermon for a touchdown. For the Irish, Ron Powlus had his fourth-and-nine pass swatted down by Trojan linebacker Mark Cusano, and we all rushed the field. The win improved USC to 6-6, while the loss kept Notre Dame from a Bowl Coalition bid, making this Lou Holtz's final game for the Irish. announced that he was retiring before bringing the Fighting Irish to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for one final game.

Memorable Anniversaries - 25 years (1986, Notre Dame 38, USC 37) This was my first ever USC home game. It was also Lou Holtz's first trip to the Coliseum. We had nearly the worst seats in the house, up high, dead center of the goalposts. We were wearing shorts and t-shirts, because it was clear and warm when we left for the game. By halftime, USC was up 20-9, and the weather was cold and rainy. When USC took at 30-12 lead early in the third quarter, we left, cold and wet, but happy. As warmed up on our drive home, Steve Beuerlein (a Servite grad I had hated from my days at St. Paul) warmed up on the field. After three TD passes, Notre Dame cut the lead to 37-35, and John Carney kicked the game-winning 19-yard field goal with two seconds left.

Memorable Anniversaries - 40 years (1971, USC 28, Notre Dame 14): The brawl bowl. The game was interrupted twenty minutes by an on-field fight. After the fight, USC went on to upset the 6th ranked Irish Onceby USC his  USC 28, No. 6 Notre Dame 14 Notre Dame Stadium The game was interrupted for 20 minutes as everyone on the field got involved in an on-field fight. When the game resumed, the Trojans proceeded to upset the sixth-ranked Irish 28-14.

Memorable Anniversaries - 80 years (1931, USC 16, Notre Dame 14): USC won in South Bend for the first time ever. USC scored all 16 of its points in the fourth quarter, capped by Johnny Baker's 33-yard field goal with one minute left. The win ended defending national champion Notre Dame's 26-game unbeaten streak. Afterwards, USC coach Howard Jones took his team to the grave of Knute Rockne, who was killed the previous spring in a plane crash. USC went on to win the 1931 national championship.

Notre Dame has a USC Game Week page with lots of information. I'll have more tomorrow.

Some Shots from USC's win over Syracuse

The Pac-12 Question of the Day

The 80th Meeting of USC & UCLA

 

Once again, it's UCLA week aka "Troy Week". It's time for our annual cross-town rivalry game against the Bruins. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PST. It's the Bell Bowl, the City Championship, the Crosstown Showdown. This is USC's 50th game in the Rose Bowl, including road games against UCLA, January bowl games, and three regular season games in 1922. It's the 80th game of the famous crosstown rivalry. There are many other great rivalries in college football: Michigan & Ohio State, Auburn & Alabama, Florida & Florida State, Harvard & Yale, Army & Navy, Stanford & Cal, and so on and so on and so on. But there are no two strong rivals in college football who share the same city. USC-UCLA is unique in that regard. What makes it so great? 

The Thrill of Victory: The prize for this game is the Victory Bell. The winner keeps the Victory Bell for a year and paints it their team's colors. Since 1942, the Victory Bell has awarded to the winner of this game. The bell originally rang atop a Southern Pacific locomotive. It was donated to the UCLA student body in 1939 and it was used to proclaim each UCLA touchdown for two seasons. In 1941, six USC fraternity men heisted the truck that was taking the bell back to Westwood, and it was hidden away for more than a year. A series of retaliatory pranks ended with a badly needed truce, in which the student body presidents signed an agreement to make the bell a trophy given to the annual winner of the football game. It now traditionally comes out only for the first three quarters of this game. This year, the Victory Bell is painted cardinal and gold.

The Agony of Defeat: Despite their big loss to Auburn, Alabama fans can still wear Crimson Tide gear around Tuscaloosa and face little ridicule from Tiger fans. But the loser of the USC-UCLA game can't wear their colors around town without somebody popping off. Wins in basketball season don't ease the pain. A College World Series title doesn't absolve you. Volleyball? Water polo? Tennis? Track? Fuggedaboudit. The winner of this game can have their fans openly dig their team for the next year. The loser and its fans are losers for the rest of the year, at home and abroad. For eight long years, we were up to our necks in Bruin crap, for seven years, Bruin fans had to put up with the same from the Trojans. Bruins fans are still basking in the glow of their 13-9 upset in 2006, but the Trojans now have another three year winning streak working.

The Glory of Pac-10 Titles and Bowl Berths: Until last year, for the past 7 seasons, this game had an impact on the Pac-10 championship, a BCS bowl bid or a national championship. When UCLA last beat the Trojans in 1998, they were atop the BCS standings and finishing off just the 4th perfect 8-0 conference record in Pac-10 history. (They lost to Miami the next week in a hurricane postponed game that was supposed to have been played in September.) In 2002, USC went to the Rose Bowl and won, 52-21, to set the stage for their Orange Bowl-sealing win over Notre Dame the following week. In 2003, the Trojans beat UCLA, 47-22, to clinch the Pac-10 title and set up their move to the top of the polls the following week. In 2004, a 29-24 win at the Rose Bowl sent the Trojans back to the Orange Bowl for the BCS title game. In 2005, a 66-19 victory clinched USC's 30th Rose Bowl appearance. In 2006, UCLA dropped the Trojans from the BCS championship game to the Rose Bowl. In 2007 and 2008, Trojan wins secured their place in the Rose Bowl. This game has no BCS bowl implications, but most years, it does.

Talking Points: Here is a list of interesting details you might see on your TV tonight during the game:

• USC is 7-5 overall, 4-4 Pac-10, unranked
• UCLA is 4-7 overall, 2-6 Pac-10, unranked
• This is their 80th game, and the 81th anniversary of their first meeting in 1929
• USC leads the series 44-28-7.
• UCLA leads the series at the Rose Bowl 8-6
• USC is 31-18 overall in the Rose Bowl stadium
• USC was the home team (against Cal) in the very first football game played at the Rose Bowl
• USC won the first two games, in 1929 and 1930, by lopsided scores of 76-0 and 52-0
• The teams did not play again for the next five seasons
• Since 1936, the teams have met at least once each year
• From 1943-1945, the teams played twice each year.
• USC has won 10 of the last 11 meetings.
• USC opened as an 9 point favorite, but is now a 7 point favorite.
• USC is 65-41-11 (.603) in season finales
• From 1929-1981, every game in the series history was played at the Los Angeles Coliseum
• When USC and UCLA shared the Coliseum, each team would play in their home jerseys.
• This year, both teams will play in their home jerseys again for the 3rd straight time
• No team has beaten UCLA more times than USC.
• No team has beaten USC more times than ... Notre Dame.
• UCLA's first mascot was a dog named "Rags".
• USC's first mascot was a dog named George Tirebiter.
• Tirebiter's sculpture on the USC campus is covered with a dog house this week to thwart would-be vandals.
• Both Tommy Trojan and the Bruin Bear have been covered all week, too.
• The Trojans got to some UCLA fountains with red dye.
• This is the second-latest start time for the Bruins and Trojans
• Only 1945’s 8:30 p.m. kickoff was later
• This is only the seventh night game in the series
• USC leads those games 4-2
• Last game: USC 28 UCLA 7 (2009)
• Last game at the Rose Bowl: USC 28 UCLA 7 (2008)
• Last UCLA victory: 2006 (13-9 @ UCLA)
• Last time both teams were unranked: 2000 (USC won 38-35)
• USC leads 11-6-4 when both teams are unranked.
• Last time neither team had a chance at a bowl game going into this contest: 1980
• This is the 11th game, possibly last, USC/UCLA game to be played in December
• USC leads 6-2-2 in December games
• Starting in 2011, the Pac-12 championship game will be played the first Saturday in December
• This is the 5th time USC has played UCLA immediately after Notre Dame
• USC is 3-1 against the Bruins after playing Notre Dame
• The winner of the annual USC-UCLA football game gets year-long possession of the Victory Bell
• This is the first time since 2000 that the Trojans won't be playing in a bowl
• This will be UCLA's 12th straight season without a Rose Bowl bid - their longest drought ever
• This is USC's 10th night game of the season - their most ever
• UCLA kicker Kai Forbath needs three field goals to become the NCAA career recordholder.
• Lane Kiffin would be USC's second-winningest first year coach with 8 wins
• That would tie Larry Smith and Paul Hackett
• John Robinson and Howard Jones (11 wins) were USC's winningest first year coaches
• USC safety Marshall Jones is the brother of UCLA's Malcolm Jones
• USC safety T. J. McDonald is the brother of UCLA's Tevin McDonald
• Lane Kiffin is 0-1 against UCLA as a head coach (2009, Tennessee)
• Rick Neuheisel is 1-3 against USC as a head coach (the win was as Washington head coach)
• USC has 8 starters on offense and 8 starters on defense who are eligible to return in 2011

Series Streaks: The USC-UCLA series is known for being quite streaky.
• From 1929-1941, USC went 5-0-3.
• From 1943-1949, USC went 8-1-1.
• From 1950-1955, UCLA went 5-1.
• From 1960-1964, USC went 4-1.
• From 1967-1979, USC went 10-2-1.
• From 1980-1984, UCLA went 4-1.
• From 1986-1990, USC went 4-1-1.
• From 1991-1998, UCLA went 8-0.
• From 1999-2005, USC went 7-0
• Currently, USC is 3-0.

Unlikely Heroes: USC may or may not have starting quarterback Matt Barkley available. If he cannot go, Mitch Mustain gets just his second start for the Trojans. The series is known for having superstars carry the day with big games, but it is also known for lesser known players having big games, e.g.,
• 1992: Senior walk-on John Barnes, the fifth-string QB for UCLA, leads the unranked Bruins (see above) to a 38-37 win on a 90-yard TD pass to J.J. Stokes with 2:04 left. Barnes threw for 384 yards.
• 1993: UCLA avoids the come-from-ahead loss when safety Marvin Goodwin intercepts a pass in the end zone on a 3rd-and-goal play in the final seconds of the game.
• 2000: USC's third-string placekicker, David Bell, who had missed all three field goal attempts that season, lined up for a a 36-yard field goal with nine seconds to go. It barely cleared the crossbar.

Signature Victories: USC's top 10 wins over the Bruins. UCLA's top 10 wins over the Trojans.

Weekly Releases: USC's. UCLA's (link seems to be going to the UCLA/ASU notes for now)

Team Stats: Here are the Trojans' team stats for 2010. Here are UCLA's.

Webcams: USC has Tommy Trojan on a webcam. UCLA has Royce Hall on a webcam. Joe Bruin is not on a webcam.

Weather:The current weather forecast for Saturday is cloudy, with a slight chance of showers, light and variable winds, coming from a high of 64° to an overnight low of 47°.

Connections: Bruin offensive coordinator/ QB coach Norm Chow was on the USC staff (2001-04). Bruin head football coach Rick Neuheisel earned his law school degree at USC in 1990. Wendell Tyler, fifth on UCLA’s career rushing list, is the father of USC tailback Marc Tyler. USC LB Michael Morgan’s brother, Steve Morgan, was a defensive tackle at UCLA from 1999 to 2002. USC C Abe Markowitz’s father, Barry, lettered as a linebacker at UCLA in 1974.

Here are some memorable anniversaries of previous years' games:

Memorable Anniversaries - 5 years (2005, USC 66 UCLA 19): Reggie Bush ran for 260 yards and Matt Leinart threw for his 98th career TD as USC clinched a spot in the 2006 Rose Bowl and BCS championship game.

Memorable Anniversaries - 10 years (2000, USC 38 UCLA 35): Carson Palmer's best game to that point was capped by David Bell's game-winning field goal with 9 seconds to play. The kick barely cleared the crossbar. USC would not lose again to the Bruins until 2006.

Memorable Anniversaries - 20 years (1990, USC 45 UCLA 42): In the highest scoring game in the series history, USC and UCLA combined for 42 points and four lead changes in the fourth quarter, with three touchdowns in the final three minutes. Todd Marinovich's TD pass to Johnnie Morton with 16 seconds left was the winner.

Memorable Anniversaries - 25 years (1985, USC 17 UCLA 14): UCLA needed a win to secure a Rose Bowl berth, but USC won. UCLA still made it to the Rose Bowl (which they won against Iowa) when Arizona defeated Arizona State.

Memorable Anniversaries - 30 years (1980, UCLA 20 USC 17): With neither team eligible for a bowl, UCLA wins a game remembered best for the fact that it was the last UCLA home game at the Coliseum.

Memorable Anniversaries - 60 years (1950, UCLA 39 USC 0): UCLA's most lop-sided victory in the series, and the first of UCLA's three shutouts in the 1950s - their only shutouts in the series.

Memorable Anniversaries - 80 years (1930, USC 56 UCLA 0): The second game in the series and the second-most lopsided one. After this, the schools didn't play again until six years later.

Rivalry Joke of the Day:

A fellow walks into a bar, orders a drink, and asks the bartender if he'd like to hear a good UCLA joke. "Listen buddy," he growled. "See those 2 big guys on your left? They were both offensive linemen on the UCLA football team. And that huge fellow on your right used to be a defensive tackle for the Bruins. That guy in the corner was a two-year starter on UCLA's baseball team. And I lettered in 3 sports at UCLA. Now, are you absolutely positive you want to go ahead and tell your joke here?"

"Nah, guess not," the man replied. "I wouldn't want to have to explain it 5 times

USC Blogs:

USC Football Official

USC Freedomblogging - the OC Register's USC blog

TributeToTroy - Trojan football news and information

TrojanWire - news

USCFootball - Rivals USC Football site (news, forums, recruiting info)

WeAreSC - Insiders USC Football site (news, forums, recruiting info)

ValleyTrojan - usually has a bunch of photos

FightOn - More Trojan football links

The Living Room Times - by the Irish Trojan, a USC grad who went to Notre Dame for law school

Conquest Chronicles - a great fan site

Scott Wolf's Inside USC - LA Daily News Trojanblog

ESPN's USC Boards

Awesome stuff. There are UCLA blogs, too:

Bruinville

The Bruin Show

www.beatsc.com

Bruin Blitz

Bruin Gold

Bruin Report Online

Bruin Show

Bruin Zone

Bruins Nation

Bruinville

Gutty Little Bruins

Inside UCLA

The Arroyo Seco

Trojan-Haters Club

UCLA Bruins Fans

UCLA Bruins Official Site

What's Bruin

What's Bruin, Dawg?

2010 Team Stats:                   UCLA (4-7)        USC (7-5)

Scoring Offense (Points/Game)       20.7               31.2
Scoring Defense (Points/Game)      30.5               27.8 
Total Offense (Yards/Game)          312.9             427.9
Total Defense (Yards/Game)         415.2             403.8
Rushing Offense (Yards/Game)     179.9             183.0 
Rushing Defense (Yards/Game)    199.5             141.8 
Passing Offense (Yards/Game)     133.0             244.9 
Passing Defense (Yards/Game)    215.6             262.0
Turnovers (Take/Giveaways)          22/40             31/26
Sacks (For/Allowed)                     24/26             26/17
3rd Down Conv. (For/Against)      35/44%         44/45%
Time of Possession (Per Game)   30:20             31:54

Fight Songs - UCLA:

"Sons of Westwood" (played after a good play)

We are Sons of Westwood
And we hail to Blue and Gold
True to thee our hearts will be
Our love will not grow old,
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
Bruins roam the hills of Westwood
By the blue Pacific shores
And if we chance to see
A man from USC
Every Bruin starts to roar.
U...C...L...A...
UCLA, fight, fight, fight!

"Mighty Bruins" (played after a score)

We are the mighty Bruins
The best team in the west!
We're fighting on to victory
To conquer all the rest.
We are the mighty Bruins,
Triumphant ever more,
And you can hear
From far and near
The mighty Bruins roar!

Fight Songs - USC:

"FIGHT ON!" (after first downs and touchdowns)

Fight On for ol’ SC
Our men Fight On to victory.
Our Alma Mater dear,
looks up to you
Fight On and win
For ol’ SC
Fight On to victory
Fight On!

During World War II, an American task force attacked an island held by the Japanese and blasted "Fight On" from the deck of one of the transports to improve moral.

"ALL HAIL"

All hail to Alma Mater,
To thy glory we sing;
All hail to Southern California,
Loud let thy praises ring;
Where Western sky meets Western sea
Our college stands in majesty.
Sing our love to Alma Mater,
Hail, all hail to thee.

TRIBUTE TO TROY: this stanza of pounding drums and blaring horns is played when the band takes the field and again after every defensive stop.

CONQUEST: This battle cry, from Alfred Newman's score to the 1947 film "Captain from Castile," has been played after every USC score and victory since the Trojans adopted it in 1950.

FANFARE: This introduction to Tribute To Troy is played when the band takes the field.

OTHERS: 'All Right Now' is played after USC gets a turnover.  The 'William Tell Overture' is played at the start of the fourth quarter for the lighting of the Olympic Torch.  "The Emperor's Theme" from Star Wars is played when USC is flagged for a major penalty.

TUSK: If you don't go to USC, and never have, you might think that the lyrics to Fleetwood Mac's hit song "Tusk" go like this:

Why don't you ask him if he's going to stay?
Why don't you ask him if he's going away?
Why don't you tell me what's going on?
Why don't you tell me who's on the phone?
Why don't you ask him what's going on?
Why don't you ask him who's the latest on his throne?
Don't say that you love me!
Just tell me that you want me!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk!

Not so. The lyrics are actually as follows:

Why don't you ask him if he's going to stay?
Why don't you ask him if he's going away?
Why don't you tell me what's going on?
Why don't you tell me who's on the phone?
Why don't you ask him what's going on?
Why don't you ask him who's the latest on his throne?
Don't say that you love me!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Just tell me that you want me!
Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Just say that you love me!
Tusk! Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Tusk!

It looks odd on paper, but it sounds great in a stadium. Basically, you mumble or skip all the parts that are not U-C-L-A sucks! Those parts, you scream at the top of your lungs.

Where Are They Now: Remember Eric McNeal, who tipped and intercepted John David Booty's pass to kill the Trojans' last big drive inside the UCLA ten-yard line during the last UCLA victory? The L.A. Times caught up with him recently:

McNeal's big tip Eric McNeal got his chance and made it count to help UCLA beat USC last year; today he drives a forklift. A week before the big game and the kitchen floor is sparkling. "I do the mopping around here," Eric McNeal says. A week before the big game and the bathrooms are shining. "That's also my job," he says. A week before the big game, and Eric McNeal is sitting at the dining-room table of the modest Carson home he shares with his parents, figuring out his work schedule. Today, clean the house. Tuesday through Friday, report to a nearby warehouse to drive a forklift.

Insert your own punchline.

 

 

.

.

A Little Fresh Paint on Crosstown Rivalry

The USC-UCLA rivarly has produced a decent history of college pranking. A helicopter drop of manure on Tommy Trojan is widely considered once of the best pranks ever (though well short of Caltech's all-time great Rose Bowl prank), although reportedly most of the manure got sucked  up by the helicopter blades. Every year, the most foreseeable prank is a paint-the-mascot attack. USC tries to thwart the Bruins by wrapping Tommy Trojan with duct tape and having the Trojan Knights stand guard around the clock. The Bruins, meanwhile, put the Bruin Bear Security Force to work, standing guard 24 hours a day, but not all week, which last year, meant giving USC sympathizers an opportunity to share a fresh coat or two of paint, as shown below:

or, across campus, a dose of fresh food coloring in a fountain, as was done this year.

 

Heh. Now, courtesy of YouTube, some USC-UCLA video for your enjoyment.

UCLA is still smarting over this conclusion to the 2009 game

Here are highlights of 2008's 28-7 USC win at the Rose Bowl.

Here is a three part set of highlights from the 2007 game at the Coliseum, a 24-7 win for USC:

Part 2:

Part 3:

UCLA's last win was in 2006:

USC fans still savor the Reggie Bush moments from the 2004 and 2005 games:

USC's postgame celebration if they win:

UCLA's postgame celebration if they win:

USC has the Song Girls:

UCLA has this guy:

Ain't this just like a Bruin:

Fight On!

USC v Notre Dame for the 82nd Time

It's USC v. Notre Dame, the 82nd game in the greatest cross-sectional rivalry in college football. Here are the basic details. I normally do a whole week of long posts about Notre Dame Week, but this year, I was under the weather and finding less time to blog than ever, so I'm piling most of it into one giant post:

Starting Time: Kickoff is officially scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PST. The actual kickoff time will be 5:12 p.m.

Broadcast: ABC-TV is in the house, with Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Shelley Smith.

Records: USC is 7-4. USC's 4-4 conference record is fourth-best in the Pac-10, behind #1 Oregon, #7 Stanford and Oregon State. Notre Dame is 6-5. Among the three independents, Notre Dame's record is second to Navy.

Rankings: Both teams are unranked in any poll. This is just the ninth time both USC and Notre Dame enter the game unranked (USC is 2-6 in those games, winning in 1950 and 1997 and losing in 1940-60-83-85-99-2001). USC is 10-11-1 against unranked Irish teams (wins in 1950-56-62-81-82-97-2003-
04-07-08, the tie in 1994 and losses in 1940-51-59-60-63-83-84-85-86-99-2001).

Odds: There was no line on this game initially, but USC has emerged as a 4½ point favorite.

Streaks: USC has won eight straight against the Irish, their longest streak in the eight decades of this rivalry. The last Notre Dame win came in South Bend in 2001. USC has also won 19 straight non-conference games, which is one game shy of the school record.

Weather: The Trojans do not like inclement weather. Since 1959, the Trojans have insisted on playing the games in South Bend during October. The current forecast for tonight is rain showers early, then clear overnight with a low of 46°F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. If it rains, we'll tell the children that God is crying because Notre Dame sucks.

Webcams: USC has Tommy Trojan on a webcam. Notre Dame has the golden dome on a webcam, too. Actually, Notre Dame is full of webcams, including the Clark Memorial Fountain, South Quad, North Quad and DeBartolo Quad.

History: The series began in 1926, when Knute Rockne took his team to the West Coast, reportedly because his wife wanted a warm-weather holiday. USC and Notre Dame were already powerhouses. At first, the games alternated between Chicago's Soldier Field and Los Angeles's Memorial Coliseum. Since 1931, Notre Dame has hosted the games in odd-numbered years at Notre Dame Stadium. Last year, USC won at Notre Dame 34-27. In the last game in L.A., USC won 38-3. The largest margin of victory in the rivalry was 51 points, by Notre Dame in a 1966 shutout. USC's largest margin of victory is 38, in 2007 at South Bend. USC and Notre Dame are two of just four FBS teams never to have played a lower division opponent since the current divisional alignments were established. (UCLA and Washington are the others.)

The Prize: The winner of the game keeps the Shillelagh, a club made of Irish wood, for a year. This Shillelagh adds an emerald-studded shamrock for each Notre Dame win, and a ruby-studded Trojan head for each USC win, right next to the engraved score of each game. The original Shillelagh was filled up after the 1989 game and is on display at Notre Dame. This year's game is a battle for the current, second, Shillelagh, which is on display at USC's Heritage Hall.

Head-to-Head Record: No team has beaten USC more times than Notre Dame. No team has beaten Notre Dame more times than USC. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 42-34-5. The series is streaky. USC has won the last 8 games. The Irish won the 3 before that. USC won the 3 before that. Notre Dame won 12 of the 13 before that. Since the 1960s, the series has been almost even. At the Coliseum, USC leads 21-17-4, and in my lifetime, USC leads 23-17-3.

National Titles: USC has won 11 national championships in football: 1928-31-32-39-62-67-72-74-78-2003-2004. Several, including the 2003 title, were split titles. In five other seasons -- 1929, 1933, 1976, 1979 and 2002 -- the Trojans were chosen as the number one team by at least selector, but not one with sufficient prestige to call themselves national champions. Notre Dame also claims 11 national titles, but all 11 were consensus titles.

Heisman Trophies: USC was tied with Notre Dame and Ohio State with seven, but with Reggie Bush forfeiting his, the Trojans are back to six and counting. Aside from Bush, USC's last winner was Matt Leinart in 2004. The Irish last won with Tim Brown in 1987.

Injuries: Both teams have lose their starting quarterbacks to injury. USC is expected to start senior Mitch Mustain. Notre Dame will start freshman Tommy Rees.USC had four starters (QB Matt Barkley, TB Marc Tyler, OT Tyron Smith and LB Chris Galippo) go down with injuries in last week's loss to Oregon State. S Jawanza Starling, CB Torin Harris, CB T.J. Bryant, C Abe Markowitz are also questionable. S Drew McAllister (hip) and DT Christian Tupou (knee) are out.

Bowls: For the first time this century, Notre Dame is bowl eligible and USC is not. The Trojans would likely be headed to the Sun Bowl or Holiday Bowl but for their NCAA probation.

Tickets: This game is not sold out. Ticket resale prices are soft.

Team Stats: Here are the Trojans' team stats for 2010. Here are Notre Dame's.

Team Weekly Releases: USC, Notre Dame

Seniors: This will be the final home game for USC's 19 seniors, none of whom have ever lost to Notre Dame and most of whom have been starters for at least part of their USC careers. One other senior, DT Christian Tupuo, has missed the 2010 season with an injury and is expected to return next season. Two juniors, DT Jurrell Casey and OT Tyron Smith might be playing their last home games as well.

No. Name Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Birthday Cl.(Ath/Ac) Exp. Hometown(HighSchool/JC/College)
2 GABLE, C.J. TB 6-0 205 10/19/87 Sr.*/Sr. 4V Sylmar (Sylmar)
6 SMITH, Malcolm LB 6-1 225 7/5/89 Sr./Sr. 3V Northridge (Taft)
9 AUSBERRY, David WR-TE 6-4 235 9/25/87 Sr.*/Sr. 3V Lemoore (Lemoore)
10 HARFMAN, Jacob P-PK 5-10 195 7/26/89 Sr./Sr. 1V Chino (Ayala/Urbana/Mt. San Antonio JC)
10 HOUSTON, Joe PK 5-7 170 9/4/86 Sr.*/Sr. SQ Redondo Beach (Mira Costa/El Camino JC)
16 MUSTAIN, Mitch QB 6-2 200 2/27/88 Sr.*/Sr. 2V Springdale, AR (Springdale/Arkansas)
17 MORGAN, Michael LB 6-4 220 1/16/88 Sr.*/Sr. 3V Dallas, TX (Skyline)
21 BRADFORD, Allen TB 6-0 235 8/31/88 Sr.*/Sr. 4V San Bernardino (Colton)
24 WRIGHT, Shareece CB 5-11 185 4/8/87 Sr.*/Sr. 4V Colton (Colton)
31 HAVILI, Stanley FB 6-1 225 11/14/87 Sr.*/Sr. 4V Salt Lake City, UT (Cottonwood)
45 CRITTENDEN, Omari CB 6-0 190 4/11/88 Sr.*/Sr. SQ Modesto (Johansen/Modesto JC)
52 GRADY, Tyler DT 6-1 250 1/1/88 Sr.*/Sr. — Beverly Hills (Beverly Hills/Santa Monica JC)
61 O’DOWD, Kristofer C 6-5 300 5/14/88 Sr./Sr. 3V Tucson, AZ (Salpointe Catholic)
68 LEWIS, Butch OG 6-5 295 12/1/87 Sr.*/Sr. 3V Denver, CO (Regis Jesuit)
74 HEBERER, Zack OG 6-5 295 6/9/88 Sr.*/Sr. 3V San Pedro (San Pedro)
83 JOHNSON, Ronald WR 6-0 185 8/3/88 Sr./Sr. 3V Muskegon, MI (Muskegon)
84 CAMERON, Jordan TE 6-5 235 8/7/88 Sr.*/Sr. 2V Newbury Park (NewburyPark/BYU/Ventura JC)
90 SIMMONS, Derek DE-DT 6-4 300 2/16/88 Sr.*/Sr. 3V Suisun (Armijo)
99 SERRANO, Jeff DE-SNP 6-5 225 3/16/88 Sr.*/Sr. — Walnut (Walnut/Mt. San Antonio JC)

Game Promotions: USC’s football seniors will be saluted prior to the game while running through the Heritage Tunnel, comprised of former Trojans. The USC women’s tennis team will be introduced on the field during the game and senior Maria Sanchez will be saluted for her recent National Indoor championship…USC’s 2010 Order of the Torch, a group of premier students who exemplify the Trojan ideals, will be presented during a halftime ceremony.

Coaches: USC's Lane Kiffin and Notre Dame's Brian Kelly are coaching their first games in this rivalry as head coaches. This is the first time since 1941 (Sam Barry, Frank Leahy) that both teams come in with new head coaches.

Memorable Anniversaries: Here are some other games folks will be remembering this year.

• 60 years: 1950 - USC 9 Notre Dame 7. USC won its 300th game against the Irish, who finished 4-4-1.
• 40 years: 1970 - USC 38 Notre Dame 28. Notre Dame came to Los Angeles unbeaten and ranked #2 in the country. USC was 5-4-1 and unranked. In pouring rain, Joe Theismann threw for 526 yards but couldn't lead the Irish to victory.
• 25 years: 1985 - Notre Dame 37 USC 3. Gerry Faust switched to the green jerseys at halftime with the Irish up 24-0.
• 10 years: 2000 - Notre Dame 38 USC 21. Notre Dame earned its first BCS bowl bid with this win at the Coliseum. Irish head coach Bob Davie was rewarded with a contract extension, but was fired a season later.
• 5 years: 2005 - USC 34 Notre Dame 31. USC came in ranked #1 to face Charlie Weis's first Irish team in South Bend. It ended with the famous "Bush Push" touchdown by Matt Leinart, on a QB sneak with no timeouts and three seconds to play.

Blogs and Info Sites For the Trojans:

USC Football Official

USC Rips It - USC's official blog

USC at the OC Register - the best independent USC blog

Scott Wolf's Inside USC - LA Daily News Trojanblog

ESPN's USC Boards

TributeToTroy - Trojan football news and information

TrojanWire - news

USCFootball - Rivals USC Football site (news, forums, recruiting info)

FightOn - More Trojan football links

TrojanFB - video, photos, more

The Living Room Times - a USC grad who went to Notre Dame for law school

Conquest Chronicles

Blogs and Info Sites For Notre Dame:

Notre Dame Official

USAToday Notre Dame Pages

ESPN's Notre Dame Boards

Irish Sports Report

South Bend Tribune info

The Irish discussion boards

The House Rock Built

Her Loyal Sons

Rakes of Mallow

Irish Insights

Irish Round Table

Video Highlights of USC's Eight Straight Wins Over The Irish

I've been to seven of the eight, having missed only the 2003 game in South Bend. I can't find any clips from the 2004 game on YouTube. If you know of one, let me know.

2002: USC 44 Notre Dame 13

2003: USC 45 Notre Dame 14

2004: USC 41 Notre Dame 10 [no video available]

2005: USC 34, Notre Dame 31.

If you have just a minute or two and want to watch just the final drive of that game, here you go:

The Irish Trojan's view from the stands of the 2005 game.

2006: USC 44 Notre Dame 24 (sorry, but this was the best I could find)

2007: USC 38 Notre Dame 0

2008: USC 38 Notre Dame 3

2009: USC 34 Notre Dame 27

Finally, although it's no longer as relevant or fair, here's a funny fake Real Men of Genius commercial. We salute you, Mr. Delusional Irrational Notre Dame Football Fan.

Checking the Sports Guy's Weather Forecast

Today reminds me of the day I went to my first USC game. My buddy called me up in the morning and offered me his extra ticket to the 1984 USC game against Notre Dame. Having no plans for the day, I accepted and got up to dress. There was no internet then, I didn't subscribe to the newspaper, and I hadn't checked the weather forecast on the news the night before. So to check the weather, I simply looked out my window. Skies were clear and the air was warm and looked like it was getting warmer. I put on shorts and a t-shirt and headed out the door to my buddy's house.

By the time we got to the Coliseum, the skies were dark and a cold wind was blowing in from the west. Soon, we were got soaked andf shivering in the rain. My souvenir program got drenched, and made a poor umbrella. USC had six turnovers that day. Five of those were center snaps botched in the mud.

I hope tonight is better.

USC @ Washington State Game Notes 9-25-2010

As you watch USC playing at Washington State today, you might see some of these interesting bits and pieces of information on your screen:

• USC is 3-0 (0-0 Pac-10), ranked #20 in the AP (ineligible for Coaches' poll ranking)
• After each of its three victories, USC has dropped two spots in the following AP poll.
• Washington State is 1-2 (0-0 Pac-Ten), unranked
• USC is favored by 22 points (and dropping)
• Kickoff: 12 noon PDT at Martin Stadium, in Pullman, WA
• Weather will be sunny with a high of 81°
• Broadcast: Prime Ticket, Bill Macdonald, John Jackson, Lindsay Soto
• This is the teams' 70th meeting, dating to 1921
• USC has won 86% of the games, including the last seven
• USC leads 57-8-4
• In Washington (Pullman, Spokane and Seattle), USC is 17-3-2
• USC has only lost at Washington State three times
• From 1958-1997, USC won 25 out of 26.
• Last game: USC 27-6 at LA in 2009.
• Last game in Pullman: USC 69-0 in 2008
• Last WSU win: 2002, 30-27 (OT) at WSU.
• That game decided the Pac-10 - USC went to the Orange Bowl and WSU went to the Rose
• In conference openers, USC is 65-18-5 (.767)
• WSU is 15-16-1 in conference openers
• At home, WSU is 9-9-1 in conference openers
• WSU head coach Paul Wulff is 0-2 against the Trojans, and is looking for his 5th career win
• USC head coach Lane Kiffin is trying to become the first since Jess Hill (1951) to start 4-0
• USC has only 73 players on scholarship.
• Washington State's roster has 113 players, including walkons
• WSU's rushing offense is #105 in the nation
• Its scoring defense is #113 in the nation
• Since 2000, WSU is 9-30 against ranked opponents
• USC has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 99 of its last 100 games
• USC is 29-15-1 on turf
• USC has no players from Washington
• The Cougars have 42 players from California
• Today is the 23rd birthday for USC wideout David Ausberry
• USC plays Washington next week
• It will be the 8th time USC has played the Washington schools back-to-back
• USC QB Matt Barkley was USC's first ever true freshman QB to start an opener
• He is also the school's first-ever sophomore team captain
• USC QB Matt Barkley's 266 completions rank him 12th on USC’s career passing list
• Barkley has thrown a TD pass in 11 straight games
• Eight of USC PK Jacob Harfman’s 18 kickoffs have pinned foes within the 20, including 6 touchbacks
• All 5 of USC’s RBs average 4.6 yards per carry or more
• USC is converting 100.0% (8-of-8, with 7 TDs and 1 field goal) of its chances in the red zone.
• Passing is the only category in which WSU is in the nation's top 80 as a team
• Every game in the Pac-10 this week includes at least one ranked team
• Only Washington is not in action this week
• USC’s roster features 2 Gatorade National High School Football Players of the Year
• Both are QBs: Mitch Mustain (2005) and Matt Barkley (2007)
• USC has won 89 of its last 100 games
• The USC football program is on probation until June 9, 2014

USC's weekly football release.

Washington State's weekly football release.

Fight On!  Beat the Cougars!

USC @ Minnesota Game Notes 9-18-2010

As you watch USC playing at Minnesota today, you might see some of these interesting bits and pieces of information on your screen:

• USC is 2-0 (0-0 Pac-10), ranked #18 in the AP (ineligible for Coaches' poll ranking)
• Despite two victories, USC has dropped two spots each week in the AP Poll.
• There are still 43 teams in the nation that are 2-0
• Minnesota is 1-1 (0-0 Big Ten), unranked
• USC is favored by 12 points (and dropping)
• Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. CDT (12:30 PDT) at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
• Weather will be partly cloudy with a high of 60°
• Rain is in the forecast ... tomorrow
• Broadcast: ESPN, Dave Lamont, J.C. Pearson
• USC comes off a disappointing 17-14 home win over Virginia
• Minnesota comes off a 41-38 loss at home to FCS team South Dakota
• USC wears cardinal and gold, and will be in white road jerseys
• Minnesota wears a similar maroon and gold, and will be in home maroon jerseys
• The series dates back to 1953, but their last meeting was 30 years ago
• Last game: #5 USC 24 @ Minnesota 7 (1980)
• USC leads the series 4-1-1.
• Three of those were played in Minnesota.
• In Los Angeles, the Trojans are 2-0-1 against the Gophers
• In Minnesota, the Trojans lead 2-1
• This is the third different stadium in Minnesota to host a Gophers/Trojans game
• The first two were in Memorial Stadium. The third was at the Metrodome.
• Minnesota's lone win was in a blizzard in 1955.
• The tie was at the Coliseum
• The Trojans have been ranked in all six contests.
• USC has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 99 of its last 100 games
• The Trojans have won their last ten games against Big Ten teams
• USC also has a streak of 18 straight non-conference road games
• USC is 28-15-1 on turf
• Minnesota is 24-23-2 against the Pac-10
• USC is 68-27-2 against the Big Ten nation
• USC has no players from Minnesota
• All-time USC has had 5 lettermen from Minnesota
• USC's last two recruits from Minnesota (Walker Ashley and Seantrel Henderson) never played a down for the Trojans
• The Gophers have five players from California
• USC head coach Lane Kiffin grew up in Minnesota and attended Bloomington High School
• Minnesota travels to USC next year for the opener on September 3
• USC returns 5 starters on offense from 2009
• Minnesota returns 2 starters on defense
• USC QB Matt Barkley was USC's first ever true freshman QB to start an opener
• He is also the schools first-ever sophomore team captain
• Barkley has 7 TD passes this season, against no interceptions (but one fumble)
• All 5 of USC’s RBs average 4.9 yards per carry or more
• USC returns 6 starters on defense from 2009
• Minnesota returns 9 starters on offense
• Minnesota QB Adam Weber is a 4-year starter
• He is also Minnesota's only 3-year captain
• Only Houston quarterback Case Keenum has more career starts
• Only 12 players in the history of the FBS and Division I-A football have captained 3 years
• Minnesota RB Duane Bennett is sixth nationally in rushing (145.5)
• Minnesota leads the Big Ten in first downs (51)
• Minnesota leads the nation in time of possession
• USC leads the nation in penalty yards.
• Five first-year freshmen have played for USC in 2010
• Two of those started
• USC carries just 73 scholarship players
• USC is 7-7 in the rede zone this season (6 TD, 1 FG)
• USC’s roster features 2 Gatorade National High School Football Players of the Year
• Both are QBs: Mitch Mustain (2005) and Matt Barkley (2007)
• USC has won 89 of its last 100 games
• The USC football program is on probation until June 9, 2014
• Minnesota celebrates 50th anniversary of its 1960 national title with a team reunion Saturday.
• The first 5,000 fans to enter the stadium to receive a commemorative button
• The 1960 team members will greet the team at end of Gopher Victory Walk
• 1960 team captain Greg Larson will participate in the coin toss

USC's weekly football release.

Minnesota's weekly football release.

Fight On!  Beat the Gophers!

USC Virginia Game Notes 9-11-2010

As you watch USC host Virginia tonight, you might see some of these interesting bits and pieces:

• USC is 1-0 (0-0 Pac-10), ranked #16 in the AP (ineligible for Coaches' poll ranking)
• Virginia is 1-0 (0-0 ACC), unranked
• USC is favored by 20 points, up from an opening line of 17
• Kickoff: 7:42 p.m. PDT at L.A. Memorial Coliseum
• Weather will be cool and clear, coming down from a high of 77° toward a low of 59°
• Broadcast: FSN, Barry Tompkins, Petros Papadakis, Rebecca Haarlow
• USC leads the series 1-0
• Last game: USC 52 @ Virginia 7 (2008)
• The 64,947 who watched that constituted the largest Virginia home crowd ever
• This is Virginia's first game in the state of California
• USC's game at Virginia in 2008 was its first in the state of Virginia
• The Cavaliers have played just three times against California schools (San Jose State, Fresno State, USC)
• This is only the 15th game played west of the Mississippi River in Virginia history
• They are 4-10 in those games
• Their next trip is to UCLA in 2015
• In its opener against Richmond, Virginia faced former USC QB Aaron Corp
• This is Lane Kiffin's home debut as head coach of the Trojans
• Virginia head coach Mike London is in his first season
• Both USC and Virginia fielded their first football teams in 1888
• USC has no players from Virginia and the Cavaliers have no California natives
• USC has had only 1 football letterman from Virginia: LT John Wilkins (1959-60)
• USC’s record for home openers is 90-18-7 (.813)
• The Trojans have won their past 12 home openers
• USC has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 104 of its past 105 games
• USC is 12-6 all-time against current ACC teams
• USC has lost 2 of its last 3 home games
• USC has won its last 31 home night games
• USC has won 17 straight non-conference games and 13 non-conference home games
• Virginia is 42-73-3 all-time in road openers, including losses in its last four openers on the road.
• 22 Cavaliers played in the 2008 contest against USC, including 4 starters
• Virginia WRS Kris Burd and Dontrelle Inman each had 80-plus receiving yards last week
• Cavalier great “Bullet” Bill Dudley's #35 is on a sticker on Virginia's helmets
• Virginia kicker Robert Randolph is on the watch list for the Lou Groza Award
•  Virginia players are sometimes called Wahoos 
• QB Matt Barkley's 5 TD passes last week tied a USC record
• WR Ronald Johnson's 3 TD catches last week tied a USC record
• USC returns 5 starters on offense from 2009
• Five first-year freshmen have played for USC in 2010
• Two of those started
• USC freshman TB Dillon Baxter makes his debut in this game
• Baxter was suspended for the Trojans' opener at Hawaii
• USC’s roster features 2 Gatorade National High School Football Players of the Year
• Both are QBs: Mitch Mustain (2005) and Matt Barkley (2007)
• USC has won 89 of its last 100 games
• USC is ranked sixth nationally in passing efficiency
• The USC football program is on probation until June 9, 2014
• USC's press releases now list just 6 Trojan Heisman Trophy winners
• Reggie Bush's #5 jersey has been removed from the Coliseum
• There will be a pre-game ceremony to commemorate the 9th anniversary of 9/11
• USC’s 3 NCAA championships from 2009-10 (men’s and women’s water polo and men’s tennis) will be saluted at halftime
• The 2010 USC football schedule poster will be given to fans after the game
• USC outgoing transfers this season included: Malik Jackson, D.J. Shoemate, Byron Moore, Travon Patterson
• USC signees Seantrel Henderson and Glen Stanley were released from letters of intent
• USC FB FB Soma Vainuku did not qualify
• USC DE Nick Perry, CB T.J. Bryant, and WR Scott Stephens are listed as questionable due to injury
• USC S Patrick Hall is suspended
• USC C Abe Markowitz (foot), LB Marquis Simmons (appendix), TE Xavier Grimble (ankle), TB D.J. Morgan (knee), LB Hayes Pullard (knee), DT Christian Tupou (knee) are out with injury

USC's weekly football release.

Virginia's weekly football release.

Fight On!  Beat the Wahoos! 

My Top 25 Rooting Interests for 2010, Week 2

My rooting interests this season are going to be a little different than in year's past. Since I don't care about the BCS, I don't need to worry about what computers will think of USC's strength of schedule. Ergo, I want as many perfect weekends as possible. I will root for UCLA possibly never, and for Notre Dame probably never, all season. I want to see some interesting upsets, particularly of teams ranked ahead of the Trojans, but mostly, I just want USC to win. This week, the games I'm watching and the outcomes I want are:

1. USC v. Virginia - I want USC to win. Always.
2. Michigan @ Notre Dame - I still like Michigan a bit, and Notre Dame losing could set up the possibility of a Trojan fan's "Perfect Day."
3. #25 Stanford @ UCLA - I have no love for Stanford, but they play UCLA this week. Enough said.
4. #18 Penn State @ #1 Alabama - It wouldn't help USC in the polls, since Penn State would jump USC if they won this, but I'd love to see Alabama go down. This would give Penn State the "College Football Belt", too
5. Miami (FL) @ #2 Ohio State - I like the Buckeyes if I'm betting, but I'm rooting for the U if I'm not.
6. San Jose State @ #11 Wisconsin - This is just because Wisconsin is ranked ahead of USC.
7. Kansas v. #15 Georgia Tech - The pollsters dropped USC behind Georgia Tech this week. I disagree, and the best way to prove them wrong would be for Kansas, an FCS upset victim last week, to knock the Yellowjackets off.
8. South Florida @ #8 Florida - It's Florida.
9. #17 Florida State @ #10 Oklahoma - One of these teams is very overrated. Maybe both. I'm hoping it's Oklahoma that proves to be the more overrated team.
10. Tennessee Tech @ #4 TCU - TCU is not the 4th best team in the nation. Tennessee Tech probably doesn't have the stuff to prove it.
11. Wyoming @ #5 Texas - I'm rooting for Wyoming as just another upset-above-USC scenario.
12. Washington State v Montana State - Please guys, don't embarrass the conference.
13. Washington v. Syracuse - Another Pac-10 non-conference rooting interest.
14. Tennessee v. #7 Oregon - I'm torn with this one. Maybe a win would calm the Vols fans down a bit, and an Oregon loss bodes well for USC's chances to finished first in the Pac-10.
15. Louisiana Monroe @ #14 Arkansas - Another upset-above-USC scenario.
16. Idaho @ #5 Nebraska - I don't think the Cornhuskers are one of the top five teams in the nation. A loss or close win against Idaho might help me argue the point a bit more easily.
17. James Madison @ #13 Virginia Tech - How funny would it be if Boise State's only quality win turned to crap this week with a home loss to James Madison?
18. South Dakota @ Minnesota - Not bloody likely, but it would be pretty cool to watch USC's next opponent fall to a FCS school the week before we play them.
19. #22 Georgia @ #24 South Carolina - It's a close call, but I don't like the Ol' Ball Coach, so ...
20. Vanderbilt v. #19 LSU - Almost always, I root against LSU.
21. Iowa State @ #9 Iowa - Iowa needs to lose for USC to crack the top ten, but this is a very remote shot.
22. Cal v. Colorado - Another Pac-10 non-conference rooting interest.
23. Arizona State v. Northern Arizona - Another Pac-10 non-conference rooting interest.
24. Arizona v. Citadel - Another Pac-10 non-conference rooting interest.
25. Mississippi v. #21 Auburn - Played on Thursday. Mississippi State came close, but lost 17-14.

If I get the first one like I want it, I can live without the other 24, but I'd love to see 15 of my rooting interests fulfilled.

Is USC Going to Have to Cancel Its Season Opener?

Is USC limited to 12 games in 2010, or am I reading this wrong?

NCAA Bylaw 17.9.5.2 (see page 241) says:

The maximum number of football contests shall exclude the following:

...

(k)   Any football games played in Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico, respectively, either against or under the sponsorship of an active member institution located in Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico, by a Division I member institution located outside the area in question;

Here's Sanction #4 from page 57 of today's NCAA report on USC:

4.     The institution's football team shall end its 2010 and 2011 seasons with the playing of its last regularly scheduled, in-season contest and shall not be eligible to participate in any postseason competition, including a bowl game, following the season. Moreover, during the two years of this postseason ban, the football team may not take advantage of the exceptions to the limit in the number of football contests that are provided in Bylaw 17.9.5.2, with the exception of a spring game as set forth in Bylaw 17.9.5.2-(a).

 

That means USC is limited to 12 games, and cannot play an extra game in 2010 or 2011 as a result of scheduling an away game at Hawaii, which USC has done this year. Does it not? USC currently has 9 Pac-10 contests scheduled in 2010, along with home games against Virginia and Notre Dame, and road games at Minnesota and Hawaii. Does one of those have to go?

How Can You Tell The Difference Between a Mayan and a Trojan?

The Mayan thinks it'll be another two years before the world comes to an end.

(The Mayan is wrong)

USC 2009 Emerald Bowl Notes

As you watch USC play Boston College in tonight's Emerald Bowl, you might see some of these interesting bits and pieces:

• USC is 8-3 (5th Place Pac-10)
• Arizona is 8-4 (2nd Place ACC Atlantic Division)
• Neither team is ranked. USC is #24 in the BCS rankings.
• This is the first time USC has been unranked since the 2001 Vegas Bowl
• That was the Trojans' last appearance in a non-BCS bowl
• They lost that one to Utah
• USC is favored by 7½ points
• Kickoff: 5:06 p.m. PDT at AT&T Park in San Francisco
• Weather will be in the lows 50s, with a 50% chance of rain
• Broadcast: ESPN (Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore, Todd Harris)
• The series dates back to 1988
• USC leads the series 2-0
• Last game: USC 34 @ Boston College 7 (1988) 
• That was USC's first appearance on ESPN
• (It was my first game as a USC student - I watched it on TV from home)
• USC and Boston College have a home-and-home series in 2013 and 2014
• Streaks ending for USC this season: 7 BCS bowls, 11-win seasons, Pac-10 titles
• This is USC's first non-BCS bowl since 2001
• USC head coach Pete Carroll grew up in the Bay Area
• Both teams start true freshman quarterbacks
• BC's freshman QB, Dave Shinskie, is 25 years old
• BC PK Steve Aponavicius holds the school career records for points and PATs
• BC LB Mark Herzlich, a 2008 All- American and Butkus Award finalist is out with bone cancer
• USC has a 39-24-7 (.607) all-time record while playing in the month of December.
• USC is 64-41-11 (.599) in all season finales.
• USC’s last bowl game in a stadium with a baseball field: the 2005 Orange Bowl
• USC’s last game in a stadium with a baseball field: 2005 @ Hawaii
• This will be just the third time that USC has played a game in San Francisco.
• USC is 1-1 in San Francisco (loss to Stanford in 1942, win over USF in 1943)
• USC has an 11-6 (.647) record against current Atlantic Coast Conference teams
• Boston College is 4-4 against the Pac- 10
• USC and Boston College both played at Notre Dame in 2009. USC won, BC lost.
• USC has no players from Massachusetts
• BC has one California player - QB Codi Boek
• USC head coach Pete Carroll was the head coach of the New England Patriots for 3 years
• USC has never played in the Emerald Bowl
• Boston College beat Colorado State in the 2003 Emerald Bowl
• None of USC's 1,135 football games has ever been played on December 26
• USC has the fourth highest bowl winning percentage (.660) among 72 schools with 10+ bowls
• USC is tied with Alabama for most bowl victories (31) (the Tide have one win under appeal).
• In non-BCS bowls, USC is only 5-7
• USC's 47 bowl appearances are tied for third with Tennessee, behind Alabama (55) & Texas (48)
• USC has appeared in 12 different bowls — the Rose Bowl, the Christmas Festival, Liberty Bowl, Bluebonnet Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Aloha Bowl, Florida Citrus Bowl, Sun (John Hancock) Bowl, Freedom Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl and Orange Bowl.
• Boston College has appeared in 14 different bowls: Cotton, Sugar, Orange, Tangerine, Liberty, Hall of Fame, Carquest/ Champs Sports, Aloha, Insight.com, Music City, Motor City, San Francisco, Continental Tire/ Meineke Car Care and MPC Computers.
• Boston College is playing in its 11th straight bowl game
• This is USC's 9th straight bowl
• BC freshman LB Luke Kuechly averages 11.83 total tackles per game.
• That’s the highest average by any rookie since the NCAA began tracking tackles in 2003.

USC's weekly football release.

Boston College's weekly football release.

Fight On!  Beat the Eagles! 

USC Arizona Game Notes 12-5-09

As you watch USC host Arizona tomorrow afternoon, you might see some of these interesting bits and pieces:

• USC is 8-3 (5-3 Pac-10), ranked #20 in the AP, #18 in the BCS and #19 in the Coaches' poll
• Arizona is 7-4 (5-3 Pac-10), unranked (30th if you count the "others receiving votes")
• Winner ties for 2nd place
• Loser finishes in 6th place, or a 5th place tie, in the Pac-10
• USC is favored by 7 points
• Kickoff: 12:36 p.m. PDT at L.A. Memorial Coliseum
• Weather will be partly cloudy, with temps in the low 60s
• Broadcast: ABC Mike Patrick (play-by-play); Craig James (color analyst); Heather Cox (sideline)
• The series dates back to 1916.
• USC leads the series 26-6-0
• The Trojans won 7 straight from 1916 to 1928, then they didn't play again until 1979
• The Trojans have won the last seven
• Last game: USC 17 Arizona 10
• Last game in L.A.: USC 20 Arizona 13
• Both teams are coming off wins over their rivals
• USC is ranked in the AP Top 25 for its last 102 games.
• In Los Angeles games, USC is 15- 3, with victories in the last 3 Coliseum meetings.
• Last time USC and Arizona played this late in the season: Dec. 9, 1916
• USC has a 39-23-7 (.616) all-time record while playing in the month of December.
• USC has 3 players on its roster from Arizona (Everson Griffen, Devon Kennard, Kris O’Dowd)
• Arizona has 49 Californian players
• USC OT Matt Kalil’s father, Frank, played center for Arizona
• USC C Kristofer O’Dowd’s grandfather, Jack, lettered in football at Arizona for 3 years (1930-32)
• Arizona QB Andrew McDonald is the son of former USC QB Paul McDonald (1977-79)
• USC DT Jurrell Casey turns 20 on Saturday (Dec. 5)
• Six Trojans were named semifinalists for national 2009 post-season award. They were:
• QB Matt Barkley O’Brien Award (top quarterback)
• OG/C Jeff Byers Campbell Trophy (top scholar-athlete)
• PK Jordan Congdon Groza Award (top placekicker)
• LB Chris Galippo Butkus Award (top linebacker)
• S Taylor Mays Bednarik Award (top defensive player), Thorpe Award (top DB), Lott Trophy (top defensive impact player)
• TE Anthony McCoy Mackey Award (top tight end)
• USC has allowed just 14 sacks in 2009.
• USC is ranked seventh nationally in sacks (3.0, first in Pac-10)
• USC is 15th in both tackles for loss (7.3, second in Pac-10)
• USC is 15th in pass efficiency defense (105.2, first in Pac-10) and 23rd in scoring defense (20.4)
• USC is seventh nationally in punt returns (16.1, second in Pac-10)
• USC is 21st in net punting (37.9, first in Pac-10).
• USC is allowing opponents just 2.1 yards per punt return (third best nationally)
• Arizona is 21st nationally in rushing defense (109.6, third in Pac-10)
• Arizona is 22nd in total defense (318.9, second in Pac-10)
• Arizona is 16th in sacks (2.8, second in Pac-10).
• USC’s 19 football seniors will be saluted prior to the game
• USC's women’s tennis team will be honored during the game for winning the Pac-10
• USC’s Swim With Mike swim-a-thon will be saluted in recognition of its 30th anniversary.
• USC TB Joe McKnight (thigh), TE Blake Ayles (knee, ankle), CB Brian Baucham (ankle), LB Jarvis Jones (neck) and OG Zack Heberer (back) are hurt, but could play.
• USC QB-WR Garrett Green (knee), WR David Ausberry (calf), LB Luthur Brown (back), TB Marc Tyler (toe), TE James Boyd (knee), WR Scott Stephens (knee), TB Stafon Johnson (throat), DT Hebron Fangupo (ankle), CB Marshall Jones (neck), OG Martin Coleman (foot) are out
• Only four of Pete Carroll's eighteen losses have come at home
• Pete Carroll is 96-18 at USC. That's second best among active coaches
• Pete Carroll is 29-1 in November games
• Pete Carroll is 62-13 in Pac-10 games
• That is 9th on the all-time Pac-10 victories list, best among active coaches
• USC’s 2009 schedule currently is ranked the nation’s fifth toughest by the Sagarin rankings.
• USC started the season with 6 road games in their first 9
• USC has played in the last 4 consecutive Rose Bowls
• No team has been to 5 straight
• Arizona has never been to the Rose Bowl
• USC OL Jeff Byers has been named a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy.
• USC LB Malcolm Smith was named Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week last week
• Pete Carroll is 7-0 against the Wildcats
• Arizona head coach Mike Stoops has beaten everyone in the Pac-10 except USC
• Stoops is 32-38
• His Wildcats are 6-3 against ranked teams in November/December games
• Arizona WR Bug Wright is the nation's best punt returner at 19.2 yards per return
• USC WR Damian Williams is sixth with 16.1 uards
• Arizona has given up just 11 sacks all year.
• USC has 33 sacks
• The teams' rushing stats are almost identical:
• Arizona has 379 attempts, USC 378;
• USC has 1,942 net yards, Arizona 1,938
• USC averages 176.5 per game, Arizona 176.2
• USC has 22 rushing TDs, Arizona has 18
• USC TB Joe McKnight needs 21 yards to get his first 1,000-yard season
• Nic Grigsby's next rushing touchdown will move him into a tie for No. 4 all-time at Arizona
• Since they joined the Pac-10, Arizona is 99-11-1 when they score 30 or more points
• USC will be honoring its 22 seniors before the game. They are:

2 MAYS, Taylor S 6-3 235 2/7/88 Sr./Sr. 3V Seattle, WA (O’Dea)
13 JOHNSON, Stafon TB 5-11 210 2/6/88 Sr./Sr. 3V Compton (Dorsey)
14 GREEN, Garrett QB-WR 6-2 210 5/21/88 Sr./Sr. 3V Chatsworth (Notre Dame)
15 THOMAS, Kevin CB 6-1 190 9/20/86 Sr.*/Sr. 3V Oxnard (Rio Mesa)
26 HARRIS, Will S 6-1 210 12/29/86 Sr.*/Sr. 3V Covina (Charter Oak)
28 HART, Justin CB 6-0 180 4/3/87 Sr.*/Sr. SQ West Covina (South Hills)
36 PINKARD, Josh S-CB 6-1 215 4/2/86 Sr.*/Sr. 4V Oxnard (Hueneme)
38 CONGDON, Jordan PK 5-9 175 12/15/86 Sr.*/Sr. SQ San Diego (St. Augustine/Nebraska)
45 GOODMAN, Adam FB 6-1 240 6/30/87 Sr.*/Sr. 2V Huntington Beach (Edison/Saddleback CC)
52 BROWN, Luthur LB 6-2 235 4/7/87 Sr.*/Sr. 2V Lakewood (Lakewood)
53 BYERS, Jeff OG-C 6-3 290 9/7/85 Sr.*/Sr. 3V Fort Collins, CO (Loveland)
56 PARSONS, Alex OG-C 6-4 300 9/14/87 Sr./Sr. 3V Irvine (Woodbridge)
57 GARRATT, Nick LB 6-1 235 6/16/86 Sr.*/Sr. 3V South Lake Tahoe (South Tahoe)
64 NOLAN, Garrett C 6-4 275 7/26/87 Sr.*/Sr. 1V Northridge (Chaminade/Holy Cross/Moorpark JC)
71 BROWN, Charles OT 6-6 285 4/10/87 Sr.*/Sr. 3V Chino Hills (Diamond Ranch)
76 HOWELL, Nick OT 6-5 290 10/10/86 Sr.*/Sr. 2V Fresno (Bullard)
86 McCOY, Anthony TE 6-5 250 12/28/87 Sr./Sr. 3V Fresno (Bullard)
99 SPICER, Averell DT 6-2 295 4/26/87 Sr.*/Sr. 3V Rancho Cucamonga (Rancho Cucamonga)

Along with four graduating seniors with remaining eligibility:

39 Cavignac, Preston WR 6-0 185 4/4/88 Jr.*/Sr. SQ San Diego (Francis Parker)
59 Deckas, Dan LB 5-10 215 12/17/87 Jr.*/Sr. 1V Edina, MN (Edina)
38 Erickson, Robert S 5-11 190 6/5/88 Jr.*/Sr. SQ Ojai (Nordhoff)
39 O'Malley, Billy P 6-1 190 8/19/87 Jr.*/Sr. SQ Novelty, OH (St. Ignatius)

Several juniors who are NFL draft eligible might be playing their final games at the Coliseum, including Damian Williams, Joe McKnight, Stanley Havili and Everson Griffin.

Senior Stafon Johnson could return with medical redshirt.

Finally, Jake Olson, the 12-year-old Trojan fan featured on ESPN's "College GameDay" and "SportsCenter" shows this week, is scheduled to take part in the pre-game coin toss and conduct the Trojan Marching Band at the start of the fourth quarter on Saturday.

USC's weekly football release.

Arizona's weekly football release.

Fight On!  Beat the Wildcats! 

The Trojan Fan's Rooting Interests for Championship Week

USC fans no longer need to worry about the BCS rankings. USC won't crack the top 14 in the final pre-bowl rankings, although at least theoretically, they are in the running for the final at-large spots if they are in the top 14. USC cannot get into the Rose Bowl, but if Oregon beats Oregon State and USC beats Arizona, they would finish tied for second place in the Pac-10, and a likely selection to play in the Holiday Bowl, probably against Nebraska. If Oregon State wins, then Oregon is in the Holiday Bowl, and USC would be playing for a Sun Bowl invitation, probably to play Oklahoma. A loss would drop USC to 5th or 6th in the Pac-10, depending upon whether Cal beats Washington. To get USC into the best bowl possible, and see them move up a few notches in the final regular season rankings, here's how I'm rooting this week:

In the Pac-10:

• USC over Arizona
• Oregon over Oregon State
• Washington over Cal

Rooting interests against the teams we could jump in the polls on Sunday:

• Oregon over Oregon State
• Cincinnati over Pitt
• Washington over Cal
• Clemson over Georgia Tech

Games where I'll probably root for chaos:

• Alabama over Florida
• Nebraska over Texas
• Cincinnati over Pitt
• New Mexico State over Boise State

There is no UCLA or Notre Dame opponent to root for this week.

UCLA Week 2009 - Saturday (Your Game Day Rooting Guide)

It's time for the "City Championship", the "Bell Bowl", the "Crosstown Showdown" and the 79th game of the famous crosstown rivalry. We're heading to the Coliseum early. The tailgating begins at 9:00 a.m. Kickoff is at 7:12 p.m., with the TV broadcast on Fox Sports starting at 7:00 p.m. (Barry Tompkins and Petros Papadakis). The game will also be heard on ESPN Radio and locally on AM 710 KSPN (Pete Arbogast, Paul McDonald, John Jackson). AM 570 (KLAC) and the Bruin Radio Network (Chris Roberts, Matt Stevens and Wayne Cook) broadcasts for the Bruins. Parking might be sixty to eighty bucks near the stadium. We'll park early.

Game Promotions: Retiring USC President Steven Sample will be honored during the game for his service to the university.

Things to Do Before The Game: Would you like to see USC's Heisman Trophies? Then check out Heritage Hall before the game. Then you can stop by to see Tommy Trojan, before kicking the flagpoles across from the Rose Garden. FanFest will be set up between the Figueroa and the peristyle entrance

Up-To-The-Minute Weather: The L.A. basin has a 40% chance of thundershowers this morning, which should clear this afternoon. You can check the latest forecast here.

Up-To-The-Minute Odds: The line opened at 10½ then moved up to 13, where it now sits. The over/under is 47½. The Trojans are 2-8 against the spread this season.

USC's Injury Update: WR Damian Williams and DL Averill Spicer are expected to play. LB Michael Morgan should be available, but freshman Devon Kennard will start again in his place.

Fight Songs - UCLA:

"Sons of Westwood" (played after a good play)

We are Sons of Westwood
And we hail to Blue and Gold
True to thee our hearts will be
Our love will not grow old,
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
Bruins roam the hills of Westwood
By the blue Pacific shores
And if we chance to see
A man from USC
Every Bruin starts to roar.
U...C...L...A...
UCLA, fight, fight, fight!

"Mighty Bruins" (played after a score)

We are the mighty Bruins
The best team in the west!
We're fighting on to victory
To conquer all the rest.
We are the mighty Bruins,
Triumphant ever more,
And you can hear
From far and near
The mighty Bruins roar!

Fight Songs - USC:

"FIGHT ON!" (after first downs and touchdowns)

Fight On for ol’ SC
Our men Fight On to victory.
Our Alma Mater dear,
looks up to you
Fight On and win
For ol’ SC
Fight On to victory
Fight On!

During World War II, an American task force attacked an island held by the Japanese and blasted "Fight On" from the deck of one of the transports to improve moral.

"ALL HAIL"

All hail to Alma Mater,
To thy glory we sing;
All hail to Southern California,
Loud let thy praises ring;
Where Western sky meets Western sea
Our college stands in majesty.
Sing our love to Alma Mater,
Hail, all hail to thee.

TRIBUTE TO TROY: this stanza of pounding drums and blaring horns is played when the band takes the field and again after every defensive stop.

CONQUEST: This battle cry, from Alfred Newman's score to the 1947 film "Captain from Castile," has been played after every USC score and victory since the Trojans adopted it in 1950.

FANFARE: This introduction to Tribute To Troy is played when the band takes the field.

OTHERS: 'All Right Now' is played after USC gets a turnover.  The 'William Tell Overture' is played at the start of the fourth quarter for the lighting of the Olympic Torch.  "The Emperor's Theme" from Star Wars is played when USC is flagged for a major penalty.

TUSK: If you don't go to USC, and never have, you might think that the lyrics to Fleetwood Mac's hit song "Tusk" go like this:

Why don't you ask him if he's going to stay?
Why don't you ask him if he's going away?
Why don't you tell me what's going on?
Why don't you tell me who's on the phone?
Why don't you ask him what's going on?
Why don't you ask him who's the latest on his throne?
Don't say that you love me!
Just tell me that you want me!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk!

Not so. The lyrics are actually as follows:

Why don't you ask him if he's going to stay?
Why don't you ask him if he's going away?
Why don't you tell me what's going on?
Why don't you tell me who's on the phone?
Why don't you ask him what's going on?
Why don't you ask him who's the latest on his throne?
Don't say that you love me!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Just tell me that you want me!
Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Just say that you love me!
Tusk! Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
U-C-L-A sucks!
Tusk!

It looks odd on paper, but it sounds great in a stadium. Basically, you mumble or skip all the parts that are not U-C-L-A sucks! Those parts, you scream at the top of your lungs.

USC Bowl Scenarios: If USC defeats UCLA, the Trojans will go into next week's game with a chance to finish as high as second in the Pac-10, tied with Stanford and Oregon State. The Holiday Bowl (Pac-10 #2), which would probably have Nebraska as the Big XII's representative, could pick any of those three. If Oregon State defeats Oregon next Thursday, the Ducks will end up in the Holiday Bowl and USC would probably go to the Sun Bowl, which picks 3rd among the Pac-10's bowls, and need not take the 3rd place team. Losses to the Bruins and/or Wildcats could drop USC into the Vegas Bowl, which picks 4th, the Emerald Bowl (5th) or the Poinsettia Bowl (6th).

UCLA Bowl Scenarios: If the Bruins lose, they will be 6-6, and eligible as an at-large team for any bowl that was unable to fill its slots with bowl-eligible teams from the conferences that have arrangements with that bowl. At the moment, it looks like the GMAC Bowl, Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, the EagleBank Bowl or, more likely, the New Mexico Bowl would be possibilities. If they win, the Bruins would be 7-5, and 4-5 in conference, and could end up tied with USC or Arizona for 6th place in the Pac-10, and perhaps get a bid to the

Seniors. UCLA's seniors will be playing their last Pac-10 contest. USC's Senior Day is next week against Arizona.

Where Are They Now? Last year, the L.A. Times did a feature on 2007's hero for the Bruins, Eric McNeal, who tipped and intercepted John David Booty's pass to kill the Trojans' last big drive inside the UCLA ten-yard line. "

McNeal's big tip Eric McNeal got his chance and made it count to help UCLA beat USC last year; today he drives a forklift. A week before the big game and the kitchen floor is sparkling. "I do the mopping around here," Eric McNeal says. A week before the big game and the bathrooms are shining. "That's also my job," he says. A week before the big game, and Eric McNeal is sitting at the dining-room table of the modest Carson home he shares with his parents, figuring out his work schedule. Today, clean the house. Tuesday through Friday, report to a nearby warehouse to drive a forklift.

Insert your own punchline.

 

.

.

Finally, here's your official Coliseum Game Day Guide.

Coliseum Fan Guide:

Directions:  From the North - Take the 110 Freeway south, exit Exposition Blvd., turn left on Flower St., follow the directional signs to Coliseum and parking.  From the South - Take the 110 Freeway north, exit Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., turn left on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., follow directional signs to Coliseum and parking.  From the East - Take the 10 Freeway west, exit Los Angeles St., turn left on Broadway St. or Hill St., follow directional signs to Coliseum and parking. From the West - Take the 10 Freeway east, exit Hoover St. and turn right, turn left on Jefferson St., turn right on Figueroa St., continue past campus and follow directional signs to Coliseum and parking.

Parking - General parking is extremely limited around the Coliseum on Game Days. There are many different lots to choose from that are not directly located on Coliseum property, but are within a comfortable walking distance. Lots in close proximity of the Coliseum include: USC Campus Parking: USC owned parking structures PSA, PSB, PSD, PSX - $20, PS1, PS2 - $25, USC Parking Center (with shuttle to Coliseum) - $20. Coliseum Parking: All Coliseum parking lots will open at approximately 9:30 a.m. The only General Public parking lot available is on the South Lawn of the Natural History Museum. To access the South Lawn, enter on Menlo Ave. and Exposition Blvd. All other lots are reserved for USC Athletic Department Donors. Rate information can be checked here. For updates and additional Coliseum parking information please call Classic Parking at (213) 749-5654 or follow @USCParking on Twitter.

Heritage Hall - Home to the USC Athletic Department, Heritage Hall houses six of the seven Heisman trophies (Mike Garrett's is on loan to the College Football Hall of Fame), the 2004 Football National Championship trophy, all retired football jerseys, the Lexus Gauntlet, as well as numerous awards and trophies representing all USC student athletes from past years.

Tailgating - Tailgating is permitted on Game Days, both on campus or in the parking lots. There are some rules that you must abide by, including: you may not occupy adjacent parking spaces for your tailgate.

Trojan Walk - Two hours prior to kickoff, the team arrives at the east end of Christmas Tree Lane and walks into the Coliseum through the Peristyle. Yellow ropes will be set up to guide the team into the Coliseum. Please do not cross the ropes once they are in place and please obey any request from USC staff or security while attending the Trojan Walk.

Merchandise - Official USC merchandise can be found in various areas on campus and on the Coliseum grounds during Game Day. There are merchandise stands set up on campus along Trousdale Parkway, one outside Coliseum Gate 1 on the southeast end of the stadium, and one on the west end of the Trojan Fan Fest. Also, there are merchandise stands inside the Coliseum gates, throughout the concourse.

Bookstore - The USC Bookstore is located in the center of campus just south of Tommy Trojan. On the second floor, you can find officially licensed USC products, Team Trojan merchandise, and Nike game jerseys.

Trojan Fan Fest - The Trojan Fan Fest opens 4 hours prior to kickoff of every home game. There are inflatable games for the kids and free giveaways for fans.

Ticket Policy - A USC Football ticket holder is restricted to seating in the location that appears on the tickets and agrees to abide by stadium and University policies, as well as City, State, and Federal laws. USC reserves the right to revoke tickets by refund of purchase.

Will-Call Booths - The general will-call booth is located outside Gate 4. Will-call opens 3 hours prior to kick-off and will remain open until the end of the 1st quarter. At the end of the 1st quarter, general will-call tickets will be moved to Gate 33 at the player will-call area. Picture identification is required for ticket pick-up.

Coliseum Entry Gates - You may enter the Coliseum through Gates 1, 4, 11, 16, 19, 23, and 28A up to 2 hours prior to kickoff. Gate 28 is for student entrance only with a valid student ID and the purchase of a Spirit Activity Card.

Coliseum Stadium Policies - Per the request of the Los Angeles Police Department, no re-entry privileges will be given to any ticket holder. The Coliseum and USC Game Management has the authority to prohibit any items deemed a security risk. Patrons will be required to discard or return such items to their vehicles or residence. Non-reusable sealed water bottles will be allowed into the stadium.

Customer Service - The Coliseum Office is located on the east end of the stadium, just south of the Olympic torch, directly below the stadium temperature gauge. The office can be reached at (213) 747-7111.

Game Management Office - Located in the east end of the stadium, just north of the Olympic torch, directly below the Stadium Clock, in the North Office.

First Aid - The Coliseum hospital is located on the Concourse level (Row 68), across from tunnel 6. Roaming First Aid teams are located at the Tunnels on the north, south, west, and east sides of the stadium. Please contact the nearest usher or security officer if medical attention is needed.

Lost and Found - Located in the Coliseum office. Found items may be given to any usher in your section who will turn them into the office. For more information please call (213) 747-1111, weekdays 8:30am - 4:30pm.

Restrooms - Located immediately inside the Coliseum gates at Tunnels 19-20 and 26-27 (on the north side), adjacent to Tunnels 2-3 and 9-10 (on the south side), and Tunnels 13-14 (on the west side). Restrooms are also located throughout the Concourse level (Row 68). Outside the Coliseum gates, a permanent restroom is located at Gate 4. Portable restrooms can be found around the Trojan Fan Fest and in various locations throughout Exposition Park.

Drinking Fountains - Located at various locations adjacent to the restrooms.

Telephones - Located inside Gate 6 next to the ATM.

ATMs - Located on the Yard level at Gates 6, 14, and 23.

Escalators - Available for those needing assistance up stairs for upper level seating. Escalators are adjacent to sections 4, 11, and 19 and will exit at Row 68. Please do not crowd the escalators or jump while using them as it may cause mechanical failure.

Elevator - Located at Tunnel 6. Elevator use is for handicap access only.

Concessions - Concession stands providing many choices of delicious Game Day foods and refreshing Coca-Cola products are located on Yard level outside of Tunnels 4, 6, 16, and 23. Additional concessions are located on the Concourse level outside every other tunnel.

Students - Student seating is first-come, first-serve and is accessed with a valid student I.D. and the purchase of a Spirit Activity Card. Student I.D.s are scanned electronically and can only be used once per game.

UCLA Week 2009 - Friday (Talking Points and Memories)

In honor of the 80th anniversary of the USC/UCLA rivalry, here is a list of 80 facts you might see on your TV tomorrow during the big crosstown game:

• USC is 7-3 overall, 4-3 Pac-10, ranked 24th in the AP, 22nd in the Coaches Poll and #20 in the BCS
• UCLA is 6-5 overall, 3-5 Pac-10, unranked
• This is their 79th game, and the 80th anniversary of their first meeting in 1929
• USC leads the series 43-28-7.
• USC won the first two games, in 1929 and 1930, by lopsided scores of 76-0 and 52-0
• The teams did not play again for the next five seasons
• Since 1936, the teams have met at least once each year
• From 1943-1945, the teams played twice each year.
• When a ranked USC team has played an unranked UCLA squad, the Trojans are 12-6-2.
• At the Coliseum, USC holds a 37-20-7 edge, with wins in the last 5 Coliseum games.
• The series is tied at 14-14-1 in last 29 meetings, 13-13-1 in the last 27, and 9-9 in the last 18
• USC holds an advantage over the course of every other "looking back" period in the rivalry
• USC has won 9 of the last 10 meetings.
• USC is 23-12-5 against unranked UCLA teams.
• When a ranked USC team played an unranked UCLA squad, the Trojans are 12-6-2.
• Until 1982, the Bruins shared the Coliseum with USC.
• UCLA is 5-7-1 in the Coliseum since leaving in 1982 for the Rose Bowl.
• The Coliseum has hosted this game 64 times. USC and UCLA used to share a home stadium, so each team would play in their home jerseys. This year, that tradition returns to the Coliseum, and both teams will be in their home colors
• No team has beaten UCLA more times than USC.
• No team has beaten USC more times than ... Notre Dame.
• USC is looking to sweep UCLA and Notre Dame for the third straight season
• They only other time they did that: 2002-2005
• UCLA's first mascot was a dog named "Rags".
• USC's first mascot was a dog named George Tirebiter.
• Tirebiter's sculpture on the USC campus is covered with a dog house this week to thwart would-be vandals.
• Both Tommy Trojan and the Bruin Bear have been covered all week, too.
• The Trojans got to the Bruin Bear, however, with cardinal and gold paint.
• This is the second-latest start time for the Bruins and Trojans
• Only 1945’s 8:30 p.m. kickoff was later
• This is only the sixth night game in the series
• This is the first time in 30 years that the teams have met on Thanksgiving weekend
• USC has a 30-game winning streak in home night games
• This is USC’s 600th conference game
• USC's Pete Carroll is college football’s second winningest active coach (84.1%).
• Until his most recent defeat, he had been the winningest active coach for several years
• USC has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for its last 101 games
• Last time USC was ranked lower than its current #24: the 2001 Vegas Bowl (unranked)
• USC WR Damian Williams is the nation’s No. 2 punt returner
• The Bruins’ current 2-game winning streak is their longest since 2007
• Last game: USC 28 @ UCLA 7
• Last game at the Coliseum: USC 24 UCLA 7 (2007)
• USC is 91-44-4 (.669) in all regular season games it has played following byes.
• Since 1955, the Trojans are 52-15-1 (.772) following byes
• But 6 of the losses and the tie were to UCLA
• USC owns a 138-35-4 (.791) record at night (games after 5 p.m.), including 85-18-4 in the Coliseum
• The winner of the annual USC-UCLA football game gets year-long possession of the Victory Bell
• Ten Crosstown Gauntlet points will be awarded to the winner
• USC has won the Gauntlet the last two seasons
• USC played 6 of its first 9 games of 2009 on the road
• Four of those were against teams ranked in the AP Top 25
• The rest of the AP Top 25 teams have played a combined 24 road games against ranked teams
• USC has defeated both UCLA and Notre Dame in the same season 17 times
• USC is averaging 5.3 yards per rush in 2009
• USC’s top 8 rushers of 2009 are averaging at least 4.6 yards per carry
• USC is scoring 85.3% of the time it is in the red zone (29-of-34), with 21 touchdowns
• USC is ranked third nationally in sacks (3.2, first in Pac-10)
• USC is ranked 15th in tackles for loss (7.4, second in Pac-10)
• USC is ranked 19th in pass efficiency defense (109.0, second in Pac- 10).
• USC has allowed just 9 passing touchdowns in 2009 (fewest in the Pac-10).
• USC is fourth nationally in punt returns (16.1, first in Pac-10).
• USC is allowing opponents just 1.9 yards per punt return (fourth best nationally, first in the Pac- 10)
• UCLA kicker Kai Forbath is one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award
• UCLA safety Rahim Moore has picked off an NCAA-leading nine passes
• UCLA's rushing offense is ranked 98th in NCAA, 9th in Pac-10 (114.82)
• UCLA's passing offense is ranked 48th in NCAA, 4th in Pac-10 (226.09)
• UCLA's total offense is 89th in NCAA, 8th in Pac-10 (340.91)
• UCLA's scoring offense is 90th in NCAA, 9th in Pac-10 (22.64)
• USC has posted a Pac-10 leading 32 sacks for 195 yards in losses this season.
• UCLA's offensive front has given up 27 sacks.
• Only Washington State has yielded more sacks this season.
• Only Washington State among Pac-10 schools has rushed for fewer yards this season than UCLA
• UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel against USC: 0-1 as a benchwarmer, 2-0 as a player, 1-0 as an assistant coach, and 1-2 as a head coach (1-1 at Washington, 0-1 as UCLA)
• USC coach Pete Carroll against UCLA: 1-0 as an assistant coach (Ohio State), 7-1 as a head coach
• USC has won 70.7% (409-161-29) of its games against Pac-10 opponents.
• USC has a 406-124-27 (.753) all-time record in the Coliseum since it opened in 1923.
• USC has a 237-122-20 (.652) all-time record in November
• Pete Carroll has only lost one game ever in the month of November
• He currently has a one game losing streak in November
• This is the first time since 2001 that the Trojans won't be playing in a BCS bowl
• This will be UCLA's 11th straight season without a Rose Bowl bid - their longest drought ever
• USC injury update: POSSIBLE: WR Damian Williams (ankle), LB Michael Morgan (wrist), TE Blake Ayles (knee, ankle), CB Brian Baucham (ankle), DT Averell Spicer (calf), LB Jarvis Jones (neck), OG Zack Heberer (back), S Drew McAllister (hip) OUT: WR David Ausberry (calf), LB Luthur Brown (back), TB Marc Tyler (toe), TE James Boyd (knee), WR Scott Stephens (knee), TB Stafon Johnson (throat), DT Hebron Fangupo (ankle), CB Marshall Jones (neck), OG Martin Coleman (foot), CB Shareece Wright (ineligible)

Now, when those facts come onto your TV screen tomorrow, you can now lean over and say "I knew that."

And here are some memorable anniversaries of previous years' games:

Memorable Anniversaries - 5 years (2004, USC 29 UCLA 24): Caught looking ahead to a BCS championship game against Oklahoma, the heavily Trojans defeat UCLA by just 5 points at the Rose Bowl, relying heavily on the leg of Ryan Killeen, who set personal career and USC records with five field goals. The win was USC's 6th consecutive, coming on the heels of an 8 game UCLA winning streak.

Memorable Anniversaries - 10 years (1999, USC 17 UCLA 7): USC ended UCLA's 8 game winning streak in the series with a 17-7 win at the Coliseum. For only the fourth time ever and the first time in over half a century both teams came into the game with a losing record, and both were starting their backups at quarterback. The Trojans made good on TB Chad Morton's preseason guarantee that the Bruin winning streak would end in the Coliseum. USC went on to beat Louisiana Tech and finish 6-6, but in 1999, a 6-6 team was not bowl eligible. USC would not lose again to the Bruins until 2006.

Memorable Anniversaries - 20 years (1989, USC 10 UCLA 10): USC was 8-2, ranked #8 in the nation and bound for the Rose Bowl. UCLA was 3-7 and a 17 point underdog with a five-game losing streak. USC dominated the Bruins in net yards (387-202) and first downs (20-10), but USC committed 6 turnovers, including a Leroy Holt fumble at the UCLA 12-yard line, tied, with 2:02 to play. The Bruins drove down to the USC 37 to set up a 54-yard field goal attempt by Alfredo Velasco, but the kick hit the crossbar and bounced forward into the end zone. USC went on to beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Memorable Anniversaries - 25 years (1984, UCLA 29 USC 10): USC quarterback Tim Green predicted that the Trojans would dish out a 'whipping' to UCLA. The Bruins responded by forcing five turnovers to cement UCLA's first ever three-game win streak over the Trojans. USC went on to defeat Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

Memorable Anniversaries - 30 years (1979, USC 49 UCLA 14): USC had clinched the Rose Bowl berth two weeks earlier, but when Arizona State forfeited an earlier win over Washington, USC found itself needing a victory or tie against the Bruins to clinch the Rose Bowl bid again. Charles White led the 4th-ranked Trojans (9-0-1) in a blowout on his way to a Heisman Trophy and Rose Bowl victory over Ohio State. White's 194 yards and four first-half touchdowns caused writer Jim Murray to remark "I have seen bullfights less one-sided."

Memorable Anniversaries - 40 years (1969, USC 14 UCLA 12): Both teams were ranked in the top ten coming into the game, with the Rose Bowl at stake for both teams. USC QB Jimmy Jones connected with Sam Dickerson for a 32-yard touchdown with less than two minutes to play, after a controversial 4th-down pass-interference call that Bruins fans still argue came on an uncatchable pass. For good measure, many Bruin fans also dispute whether Dickerson caught the ball inbounds. There was no replay in 1969, so the argument was never settled anywhere but the scoreboard. USC went on to defeat Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Memorable Anniversaries - 70 years (1939, USC 0 UCLA 0): The only scoreless tie in the series.

Memorable Anniversaries - 80 years (1929, USC 76 UCLA 0): The first game in the series and the most lopsided one. USC also won by a wide margin in 1930, and the teams didn't play again for several years. This was not UCLA's worst loss, however. That came at the hands of Whittier College in 1921 (Whittier 103, UCLA 0), and in 1925, Stanford beat them 82-0.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be another memorable one.

The Trojan Fan's Rooting Interests for Week 13

Last week was another tough week for USC's rooting interests. Oregon State beat Washington State and Oregon beat Arizona, eliminating USC, Cal, Stanford and Arizona from the Pac-10 race. Notre Dame lost at home to Connecticut, sealing Charlie Weis's fate as the coach of the Irish. USC did, however, hold onto a chance to finish second in the Pac-10 when Cal defeated Stanford. Technically, USC is six spots below where they need to be in the BCS rankings for them to be eligible for a bid, and amazingly, the BCS announced this week that USC was among the 20 schools still being considered for a bid, along with, among others, Miami and LSU. In reality, there are only four BCS spots up for grabs, and TCU/Boise State, the SEC runner-up and Iowa/Penn State are virtually certain to take three of those. That means USC is really among nine teams (only two of the three top-20 SEC and Big Ten teams can win a spot in the BCS) competing for one spot, and it would take a remarkable set of unlikely upsets to make the BCS give USC a second look this week.

USC fans' rooting interests now focus on enjoying upsets, rooting against everyone between them and the top ten, and, of course, getting into the best bowl possible. So here are a few outcomes to root for this weekend, in order of my preference, starting with:

Games USC needs to keep their Holiday Bowl hopes alive:

• USC over UCLA

Games USC fans would like to see break against the teams we could jump in the polls on Sunday:

• Arkansas over LSU
• Oklahoma over Oklahoma State
• Virginia over Virginia Tech
• South Florida over Miami
• Utah over BYU
• N.C. State over North Carolina
• Mississippi State over Ole Miss
• Rice over Houston

Rivals' games:

• Stanford over Notre Dame

Games where I'll probably root for the upset, without thinking it'll happen, or really caring:

• Florida State over Florida
• Auburn over Alabama
• Texas A&M over Texas (done)
• New Mexico over TCU
• Illinois over Cincinnati
• Nevada over Boise State
• West Virginia over Pitt

Games where I'll probably root for the favorite, because the underdog is SEC:

• Georgia over Georgia Tech
• Clemson over South Carolina

I'm not sure how to root in the Arizona/ASU game. I'll probably root for Arizona, to make USC's home finale more important.

UCLA Week 2009 - Thursday (More Game Notes)

More stuff about Saturday's USC/UCLA game:

Signature Victories: USC's top 10 wins over the Bruins. UCLA's top 10 wins over the Trojans.

Weekly Releases: USC's. UCLA's.

Team Stats: Here are the Trojans' team stats for 2009. Here are UCLA's.

Webcams: USC has Tommy Trojan on a webcam. UCLA has Royce Hall on a webcam. Joe Bruin is not on a webcam, or they might have figured out who painted him this week.

Recruiting: This is one of USC's biggest recruiting weekends of the year. In addition to many recruits making unofficial vists, at least six top high school players are making their official visits this weekend:

• Top-rated DE Jackson Jeffcoat (Plano West Senior HS), Plano, TX 
• Top-rated WR Kyle Prater (Proviso West HS), Hillside, IL
• Top-five DT George Uko (Don Antonio Lugo HS), Chino, CA
• Top-five OLB Christian Jones (Lake Howell HS), Winter Park, FL
• Top-ten S Tony Jefferson (Eastlake HS), Chula Vista, CA
• Top-20 CB Demetrius Wright (Corona HS), Corona, CA

Weather: Los Angeles has been enjoying unseasonably warm weather lately, but the current weather forecast for Saturday is a 30% chance of showers in the morning, with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon, light and variable winds, and a high of 61°. The evening forecast is mostly clear skies with a low of 45°. Kickoff is at 7:12 p.m. PST.

Connections: Bruin offensive coordinator/ QB coach Norm Chow was on the USC staff (2001-04). Bruin head football coach Rick Neuheisel earned his law school degree at USC in 1990. Former UCLA All-America linebacker Ken Norton (1984-87) is on USC’s football coaching staff. Wendell Tyler, fifth on UCLA’s career rushing list, is the father of USC tailback Marc Tyler. USC LB Michael Morgan’s brother, Steve Morgan, was a defensive tackle at UCLA from 1999 to 2002. USC S Shane Horton and his brother, DE Wes Horton, are the sons of former UCLA offensive tackle Myke Horton. USC C Abe Markowitz’s father, Barry, lettered as a linebacker at UCLA in 1974. UCLA TE Jeff Miller is the brother of former USC TE Jimmy Miller (2005-06, 2008). UCLA C Kai Maiava is the brother of former USC LB Kaluka Maiava (2005-08). UCLA walk-on RB Demetrius Papadakis is the son of former USC LB John Papadakis (1970-71) and the brother of former USC FB/LB Taso Papadakis (1994, 1996) and TB Petros Papadakis (1997-98, 2000). UCLA DB Brandon Sermons is the brother of ex-USC RB Rodney Sermons (1994-97). USC defensive line coach Jethro Franklin coached UCLA’s interior defensive line in 1999. UCLA running backs coach Wayne Moses was an assistant at USC in 2001. UCLA offensive line coach Bob Palcic was an assistant at USC in 1992.

USC Injuries this season:  Much like in 2007, This season, 12 starters or projected starters have missed games with injuries: WR Ronald Johnson (missed 5 games), DE Armond Armstead (5), C Kristofer O’Dowd (4), WR David Ausberry (4), LB Malcolm Smith (3), DT Averell Spicer (3), FB Stanley Havili (2), TE Anthony McCoy (2), WR Damian Williams (1), QB Matt Barkley (1), S Taylor Mays (1) and DE Everson Griffen (1). And that doesn’t include CB Shareece Wright (9), who is ineligible this season. Also, a number of key backups have missed contests due to injury: TB Stafon Johnson (6), DT Hebron Fangupo (6), CB Marshall Jones (6), LB Luthur Brown (5), CB Brian Baucham (4), LB Jordan Campbell (3), S Drew McAllister (3), OG Zack Heberer (3), LB Jarvis Jones (2), TE Blake Ayles (1) and OT Nick Howell (1).

Websites Devoted to the Trojans or the Bruins:

Blogs and Info Sites For the Trojans:

USC Football Official

USC Freedomblogging - the OC Register's USC blog

TributeToTroy - Trojan football news and information

TrojanWire - news

USCFootball - Rivals USC Football site (news, forums, recruiting info)

WeAreSC - Insiders USC Football site (news, forums, recruiting info)

ValleyTrojan - usually has a bunch of photos

FightOn - More Trojan football links

The Living Room Times - by the Irish Trojan, a USC grad who went to Notre Dame for law school

Conquest Chronicles - a great fan site

Scott Wolf's Inside USC - LA Daily News Trojanblog

ESPN's USC Boards

Awesome stuff.

There are UCLA blogs, too:

Bruinville

The Bruin Show

www.beatsc.com

Bruin Blitz

Bruin Gold

Bruin Report Online

Bruin Show

Bruin Zone

Bruins Nation

Bruinville

Gutty Little Bruins

Inside UCLA

The Arroyo Seco

Trojan-Haters Club

UCLA Bruins Fans

UCLA Bruins Official Site

What's Bruin

What's Bruin, Dawg?

Stuff.

UCLA Week 2009 - Wednesday (Photos and Video)

The USC-UCLA rivarly has produced a decent history of college pranking. A helicopter drop of manure on Tommy Trojan is widely considered once of the best pranks ever (though well short of Caltech's all-time great Rose Bowl prank), although reportedly most of the manure got sucked up by the helicopter blades. Every year, the most foreseeable prank is a paint-the-mascot attack. USC tries to thwart the Bruins by wrapping Tommy Trojan with duct tape and having the Trojan Knights stand guard around the clock. The Bruins, meanwhile, put the Bruin Bear Security Force to work, standing guard 24 hours a day, protecting the hibernating Bruin Bear (which is a redundancy, is it not?) until 12:30 a.m. today. Why did they stop on Wednesday morning? USC pranksters don't care. They just like the opportunity. Vulnerability means a fresh coat or two of paint. As shown below:

Heh. Now, courtesy of YouTube, some USC-UCLA video for your enjoyment.

...

Here's a preview of the 2009 game

Here are highlights of last year's game, a 28-7 USC win at the Rose Bowl.

Here is a three part set of highlights from their last matchup at the Coilseum, a 24-7 win for USC:

Part 2:

Part 3:

UCLA's last win was in 2006:

USC fans still savor the Reggie Bush moments from the 2004 and 2005 games:

USC's postgame celebration if they win:

UCLA's postgame celebration if they win:

USC has the Song Girls:

UCLA has this guy:

Ain't this just like a Bruin:

Fight On!

UCLA Week 2009 - Tuesday (Why The Game's So Great)

There are many other great rivalries in college football: Michigan & Ohio State, Auburn & Alabama, Florida & Florida State, Harvard & Yale, Army & Navy, Stanford & Cal, and so on and so on and so on. But there are no two strong rivals in college football who share the same city. USC-UCLA is unique in that regard. What makes it so great?

The Thrill of Victory: The prize for this game is the Victory Bell. The winner keeps the Victory Bell for a year and paints it their team's colors. Since 1942, the Victory Bell has awarded to the winner of this game. The bell originally rang atop a Southern Pacific locomotive. It was donated to the UCLA student body in 1939 and it was used to proclaim each UCLA touchdown for two seasons. In 1941, six USC fraternity men heisted the truck that was taking the bell back to Westwood, and it was hidden away for more than a year. A series of retaliatory pranks ended with a badly needed truce, in which the student body presidents signed an agreement to make the bell a trophy given to the annual winner of the football game. It now traditionally comes out only for the first three quarters of this game. This year, the Victory Bell is painted cardinal and gold.

The Agony of Defeat: Despite the loss to the Ohio State University, Michigan fans can still wear Wolverine gear around Ann Arbor and face little ridicule from Buckeye fans. But the loser of the USC-UCLA game can't wear their colors around town without somebody popping off. Win in basketball season don't ease the pain. A College World Series title doesn't absolve you. Volleyball? Water polo? Tennis? Track? Fuggedaboudit. The winner of this game can have their fans openly dig their team for the next year. The loser and its fans are losers for the rest of the year, at home and abroad. For eight long years, we were up to our necks in Bruin crap, for seven years, Bruin fans have had to put up with the same from the Trojans. Bruins fans are still basking in the glow of their 13-9 upset in 2006, but the Trojans have a two-year winning streak working.

The Glory of Pac-10 Titles and Bowl Berths: For the last 7 seasons, this game had an impact on the Pac-10 championship, a BCS bowl bid or a national championship. When UCLA last beat the Trojans in 1998, they were atop the BCS standings and finishing off just the 4th perfect 8-0 conference record in Pac-10 history. (They lost to Miami the next week in a hurricane postponed game that was supposed to have been played in September.) In 2002, USC went to the Rose Bowl and won, 52-21, to set the stage for their Orange Bowl-sealing win over Notre Dame the following week. In 2003, the Trojans beat UCLA, 47-22, to clinch the Pac-10 title and set up their move to the top of the polls the following week. In 2004, a 29-24 win at the Rose Bowl sent the Trojans back to the Orange Bowl for the BCS title game. In 2005, a 66-19 victory clinched USC's 30th Rose Bowl appearance. In 2006, UCLA dropped the Trojans from the BCS championship game to the Rose Bowl. In 2007 and 2008, Trojan wins secured their place in the Rose Bowl. This game has no (meaningful) BCS bowl implications, but it could affect who goes to the Holiday Bowl, the Sun Bowl, the Vegas Bowl or any number of other bowls.

UCLA Week 2009 - Monday (Records, Rankings, Odds, Streaks, Upsets and Heroes)

Once again, it's UCLA week aka "Troy Week". It's time for our annual cross-town rivalry game against the Bruins. The City Bowl. The Bell Bowl.

Less than usual is on the line in this game. USC remains in the running for the Holiday Bowl, but could end up in the Vegas Bowl or worse with a loss here. UCLA can assure itself of a bowl appearance with a win, but will have to hope for an at-large bid as a 6-6 team if they lose. Here are a few details about the game.

Starting Time: The game Saturday at the Coliseum will be broadcast live nationally at 7:00 p.m. PST on ABC. It's the last game of the night involving a ranked team.

Records: USC is 7-3. UCLA is 6-5. USC's 4-3 conference record is currently fifth best in the Pac-10. UCLA sits in 7th place in the Pac-10. This is UCLA's regular season finale. USC plays Arizona next Saturday.

Rankings: USC is ranked 24th in the AP Poll, 22nd in the Harris Interactive Poll and the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and 20th in the BCS rankings. That's USC's lowest ranking in 7 years. UCLA is not ranked.

Odds: USC opened as an 10½ point favorite. The line has moved to 13 already.

Coliseum Streak: The last four games at the Coliseum were won by USC:
• 1999: USC 17, UCLA 7
• 2001: USC 27, UCLA 0
• 2003: USC 47, UCLA 22
• 2005: USC 66, UCLA 19
• 2007: USC 24, UCLA 7

Historic Upsets: In the past 20 years, there have been several huge surprises:
• 1989: UCLA, 3-7 and unranked, ties 8th ranked and Rose Bowl bound USC 10-10.
• 1992: UCLA, 5-5 and unranked, defeats No.15 USC 38-37.
• 1994: UCLA, 4-6 and unranked, defeats No.13 USC 31-19.
• 1995: UCLA, 6-4 and unranked, defeats No.11 Rose Bowl bound USC, 24-20.
• 2001: USC, 5-5 and unranked, defeats No. 20 UCLA 27-0.
• 2006: UCLA, 6-5 and unranked, defeats No. 2 Rose Bowl bound USC 13-9.

Unlikely Heroes: The series is known for having superstars carry the day with big games, but it is also known for lesser known players having big games, e.g.,
• 1992: Senior walk-on John Barnes, the fifth-string QB for UCLA, leads the unranked Bruins (see above) to a 38-37 win on a 90-yard TD pass to J.J. Stokes with 2:04 left. Barnes threw for 384 yards.
• 1993: UCLA avoids the come-from-ahead loss when safety Marvin Goodwin intercepts a pass in the end zone on a 3rd-and-goal play in the final seconds of the game.
• 2000: USC's third-string placekicker, David Bell, who had missed all three field goal attempts that season, lined up for a a 36-yard field goal with nine seconds to go. It barely cleared the crossbar.

The Trojan Fan's Rooting Interests for Week 12

Last week was a brutal week for USC's rooting interests. Technically, USC is just four spots below where they need to be in the BCS rankings for them to be eligible for a bid. In fact, technically, USC could still go to the Rose Bowl as a 6-way co-champion of the Pac-10, at 6-3. But in reality, USC fans' rooting interests now focus on enjoying upsets, hoping that the teams from #7 to #22 lose, giving USC a chance to work themselves back into the top ten, and, of course, getting into the best bowl possible. Oh, and we want Charlie Weis to stay on as Notre Dame coach, although that would probably require the Irish to beat Stanford, as well. So here are a few outcomes to root for this weekend, in order of my preference, starting with:

Games USC needs to keep their almost impossible Rose Bowl hopes alive:

• Washington State over Oregon State
• Cal over Stanford
• Arizona over Oregon

Games USC fans would like to see break against the teams we could jump in the polls tomorrow:

• Colorado over Oklahoma State (that already didn't happen)
• Michigan over Ohio State
• Minnesota over Iowa
• Duke over Miami
• Memphis over Houston
• Virginia over Clemson
• San Diego St. over Utah 
• Air Force over BYU
• Northwestern over Wisconsin
• N.C. State over Virginia Tech
• Michigan State over Penn St.
• Ole Miss over LSU

Games where I'll probably root for the upset, without thinking it'll happen, or really caring:

• Florida Intl. over Florida
• Chattanooga over Alabama
• Kansas over Texas
• Utah State over Boise State  (that already didn't happen)
• Wyoming over TCU

Rivals' games:

• UCLA over Arizona State (so UCLA will already be bowl-eligible)
• Notre Dame over U.Conn (so Charlie's head will not roll)

Next week, I'll have a better idea of how to root in the Pac-10, since USC's chances at the various bowls will be a bit clearer.

USC Stanford Game Notes 11-14-09

As you watch USC host Stanford this afternoon, you might see some of these interesting bits and pieces:

• USC is 7-2 (4-2 Pac-10), ranked #11 in the AP, #9 in the BCS and #10 in the Coaches' poll
• Stanford is 6-3 (5-2 Pac-10), ranked #25
• USC is favored by 10½ points
• Kickoff: 12:41 p.m. PDT at L.A. Memorial Coliseum
• It's USC's Homecoming
• Broadcast: regionally on FSN (Tompkins, Papadakis, Eaves)
• The series dates back to 1905
• Stanford is USC's oldest current rival
• USC leads the series 59-25-3
• In their last 33 contests, USC leads 25-7-1 (and 40-10- 1 in the past 51 games).
• In games in the Los Angeles area (including a 1918 game in Pasadena), USC leads 26-16-1
• USC has a 57-24-4 record in its Homecoming games, dating to 1924.
• Last game: USC 45 Stanford 23
• Last game in L.A.: Stanford 24, USC 23
• That game was hailed by many as the "biggest upset" of all time
• Only three of Pete Carroll's seventeen losses have come at home
• Two of those were against Stanford
• USC is 89-11 in its last 100 games
• This is the 101st consecutive game the Trojans have been ranked in the AP Top 25
• This is the first time Stanford has been ranked since 2001
• Pete Carroll is 95-17 at USC. That's the best among active coaches.
• Carroll has never lost a game in November (28-0)
• Carroll is also 8-0 in homecoming games at USC
• Carroll is 61-12 in Pac-10 games
• That is 9th on the all-time Pac-10 victories list, best among active coaches
• USC’s 2009 schedule currently is ranked the nation’s fifth toughest by the Sagarin rankings.
• USC started the season with 6 road games in their first 9
• USC has a streak of 7 consecutive Pac-10 crowns (a league record)
• USC also has a streak of 7 straight BCS bowls (an NCAA record)
• USC has played in 4 consecutive Rose Bowls.
• No team has been to 5 straight
• USC OL Jeff Byers has been named a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy.
• USC kicker Jordan Congdon is a semifinalist for the 2009 Lou Groza Award (best placekicker).
• USC DB Will Harris was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week
• Stanford TB Toby Gerhart was Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week
• Gerhart is the Pac-10 leader in rushing and scoring
• Gerhart is the nation's #2 RB in rushing yards
• Stanford also has the Pac-10's top rated passer (QB Andrew Luck)
• Toby Gerhart would be the first Stanford back to lead the Pac-10 in rushing since 1957
• Gerhart's career rushing totals of 2,868 yards is third on Stanford’s all-time list
• He needs 73 yards to pass Brad Muster (1984-87)
• USC has 5 players who previously attended a Bay Area school
• USC offensive coordinator John Morton was an assistant for both Carroll and Jim Harbaugh
• USC is riding a 12 game home winning streak and a 9 game home Pac-10 winning streak
• USC is averaging 5.3 yards per rush in 2009.
• USC is allowing just 3.3 yards per rush in 2009.
• USC is ranked second nationally in sacks (3.6, first in Pac-10)
• USC is also in the top 25 in pass efficiency defense and scoring defense (first in the Pac-10)
• The 110 points by Notre Dame, Oregon St. & Oregon were the most USC ever allowed in 3 games.
• Stanford leads the nation in kickoff return average (32.1) and has returned three for TDs.
• At 6-3, Stanford has won its most games in a season since 2001
• Stanford is 5-0 at home this season and 9-1 at home over the last two seasons
• The lone defeat was to USC in 2008
• Stanford is 3-21 against ranked teams dating back to 2002
• But the 3 wins have come in their last five games against ranked teams
• One of those was against the Trojans
• USC injury update: Possible: WR Damian Williams (ankle), DE Everson Griffen (toe), WR Brandon Carswell (toe), DT Averell Spicer (calf), LB Jarvis Jones (neck), LB Malcolm Smith (shoulder), OG Zack Heberer (back), S Drew McAllister (hip), TE Anthony McCoy (ankle), WR David Ausberry (calf), LB Luthur Brown (back)
• OUT: TB Marc Tyler (toe), TE James Boyd (knee), WR Scott Stephens (knee), TB Stafon Johnson (throat), DT Hebron Fangupo (ankle), CB Marshall Jones (neck), OG Martin Coleman (foot), CB Shareece Wright (ineligible)
• Before the game, the top-ranked USC men’s water polo team will host No. 3 Stanford
• USC sophomore golfer Jennifer Song will be recognized during an on-field presentation

USC's weekly football release

Stanford's weekly football release

Fight On!  Beat the Cardinal! 

The Trojan Fan's Rooting Interests for Week 11

Last week was a decent week for USC's rooting interests. USC beat Arizona State, Stanford beat Oregon, Arizona beat Washington State, Northwestern beat Iowa, Ohio State beat Penn State and Navy beat Notre Dame, which I wasn't rooting for, but in hindsight, was happy to see. The latest BCS rankings have USC at #9. That makes USC BCS-eligible. To get into a BCS bowl, USC needs to win its remaining three games and needs to get one of the four at-large bids. An automatic Rose Bowl bid would require Oregon to lose two of their last three games, or two, if USC ends up in a three-way tie for first with Arizona and Oregon. The Ducks have a tough road game at Arizona and a rivalry game against Oregon State still on their schedule, so it's possible, but not likely.

The teams ahead of USC in the BCS are: Florida, Alabama, Texas, TCU, Cincinnati, Boise State, Georgia Tech and LSU. Now that Alabama and Florida have clinched their divisions in the SEC, it is almost assured that both of them will be in the BCS. That leaves three open at-large spots. It would be great for USC if TCU and Boise State dropped a game or two, as unlikely as that appears, but it is safe to assume that at least one of them will get a BCS bid. Now that Iowa has lost, it would be great for Ohio State to win the Big Ten, and for Iowa and Penn State to lose yet another game. Competition for at-large spots also comes from the ACC, in Miami and Georgia Tech (as potential loser of the ACC championship game), from the Big East in Pitt, from the Big XII in Oklahoma State. Notre Dame is no longer likely to crack the final 14, so we want to see them winning again, starting this week at Pitt.

If you want to see USC in the Rose Bowl or some other BCS bowl, here are a few outcomes to root for this weekend, in order of my preference:

• USC over Stanford
• Arizona State over Oregon
• Utah over TCU
• Idaho over Boise State ##
• West Virginia over Cincinnati
• Duke over Georgia Tech ##
• Ohio State over Iowa
• Indiana over Penn State ##
• Notre Dame over Pitt
• UCF over Houston
• North Carolina over Miami
• Texas Tech over Oklahoma State
• Arizona over Cal*
• South Carolina over Florida
• Louisiana Tech over LSU ##
• Baylor over Texas ##
• Mississippi State over Alabama ##
• Rutgers over South Florida
• UCLA over Washington State
• Oregon State over Washington**

* I'm not sure this will eventually be what I truly want, but if Oregon wins, I want UA to win too.

** This will shut Washington out of a bowl, but would probably put Oregon State in the Top 25

## As if it could really happen....

I'll be thrilled if USC wins and I get 4 of the first 8 games.

2010 Rose Bowl Tiebreakers

There's a lot of chatter on Twitter about Rose Bowl tiebreakers and USC needing Oregon to lose two more games for USC to get into the Rose Bowl. In fact, there is a reasonably plausible scenario under which USC goes to the Rose Bowl in a three-way tie even if Oregon only loses one more game. If Arizona beats Oregon and USC beats Arizona, with each team winning their remaining games, USC, Arizona and Oregon would each finish in a 3-way tie at 7-2. Head-to-head-to-head would leave them tied at 1-1 against each other. Then you start to look at the three teams' records against the other top Pac-10 teams until you eliminate one. You get to Stanford (Oregon's other loss) before you get to Washington* (Arizona and USC's other loss). USC and Arizona are 1-0 against Stanford, and Oregon is 0-1. That would eliminate Oregon. Then you would look at head-to-head records between USC and Arizona. USC would go. That means that if Arizona goes into the final week of the season at 7-1 in the Pac-10, with USC at 6-2 with wins over Stanford and UCLA, then USC v. Arizona on December 5 would be a de facto Pac-10 conference championship game.

Here comes the math:

Rose Bowl Selection Procedures

If a Conference team is ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) ranking system it shall participate in the National Championship Game designated by the BCS. If that is not the case, the following procedures will determine the Pacific-10 Rose Bowl Representative. The Pacific-10 Rose Bowl representative shall be that member's team with the best won-lost percentage record in Conference games. If, however, the records in Conference games of two or more members are identical, determination of the Rose Bowl representative shall be as follows:

a. Two-Team Tie.
The winner of the game between the two teams shall be the representative.

b. Multiple-Team Ties.
(1) When three or more teams are tied in Conference play, if one has defeated all others, it shall be the Rose Bowl representative. If that is not the case, a comparison of the tied teams' records against the other tied teams shall be made and the team having the best record against the other tied teams shall be the Rose Bowl representative. If two or more teams are still tied after this comparison, the appropriate two-team or multiple-team tie-breaking procedures shall be repeated among those teams still under consideration.

(2) If more than two teams are still tied after the process above is completed, each remaining tied team's record against the team occupying the highest position in the final regular season standings shall be compared, with the procedure continuing down through the standings until one team gains an advantage.

When arriving at another group of tied teams while comparing records, each team's collective record against the tied teams as a group shall be used.

If at any point in the process the multiple-team tie is reduced to two teams, the two-team tie-breaking procedure shall be applied.

If more than two teams are still tied after comparing their records all the way through the Conference standings, the team among the tied teams with the highest ranking in the final BCS standings shall be the Rose Bowl representative.

If a tie remains, the teams most recently earning Rose Bowl or Bowl Championship Series automatic selection shall be eliminated.

http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102802aai.html

This scenario fails if Arizona loses to anyone other than USC, or if USC loses another game. But if it plays out like that, USC v. Oregon is no longer the Pac-10 Game of the Year. Oregon @ Arizona on November 21 is the Pac-10 Game of the Year. If Arizona and USC keep winning, Arizona @ USC on December 5 will be the Pac-10 Game of the Year.

* If, however, Washington wins its last three (@ Oregon State, Washington State and Cal) and Stanford loses to both USC and Cal, then both will finish 5-4, so the tiebreaker will continue until you look at BCS standings where USC, which is already ahead of both, would have a clear advantage if they were 10-2 and Oregon and Arizona have dropped to 9-3.

USC Arizona State Game Notes 11-7-09

As you watch Arizona State host USC tonight, you might see some of these interesting bits and pieces:

• USC is 6-2 (3-2 Pac-10), ranked #12 in the AP and BCS and #13 in the Coaches' poll
• Arizona State is 4-4 (2-3 Pac-10),unranked.
• USC is favored by 11½ points
• Kickoff: 5:12 p.m. PDT at Sun Devil Stadium (71,706), Tempe, Arizona
• Broadcast: nationally on ABC-TV
• ASU is USC’s newest and least played Pac-10 rival. dating back to 1978
• This will be the 26th meeting between Arizona State and USC
• The Trojans hold a 16-9 lead.
• The Sun Devils have not beaten USC since 1999
• That's the such streak in the Pac-10.
• USC is 8-5 at Sun Devil Stadium
• USC has won 9 straight over the Sun Devils, including the last 4 in Tempe.
• Last game: USC 28, ASU 0 at the Coliseum
• Fourteen of Pete Carroll's seventeen losses have come on the road
• USC is 88-12 in its last 100 games
• This is the 100th consecutive game the Trojans have been ranked in the AP Top 25
• Pete Carroll is 94-17 at USC. That's the best among active coaches.
• Carroll has never lost a game in November (27-0)
• Carroll is 60-12 in Pac-10 games
• That ties Dick Tomey for 9th on the all-time Pac-10 victories list
• ASU head coach Dennis Erickson is 167-79-1 (.678).
• He is 19-14 (.576) in his 3 seasons at ASU
• Erickson has coached three Pac-10 teams against USC
• Washington State and Oregon State are the others
• He is 1-6 against the Trojans
• Three USC players come from Arizona
• The Sun Devils have 41 players from California
• 25 different Sun Devils have made their debut in 2009.
• 13 different Sun Devils have made their first career starts this season.
• Senior Dexter Davis' 46 straight starts is the most by a Sun Devil since 1984.
• ASU has 24 seniors on its roster, tied for 8th most in the nation.
• ASU's Mike Nixon has been named a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy.
• USC’s 2009 schedule currently is ranked the nation’s fifth toughest by the Sagarin rankings.
• USC started the season with 6 road games in their first 9
• USC has a streak of 7 consecutive Pac-10 crowns (a league record)
• USC also has a streak of 7 straight BCS bowls (an NCAA record)
• USC has played in 4 consecutive Rose Bowls.
• No team has been to 5 straight
• USC is ranked 24th nationally in rushing offense (191.0)
• USC is averaging 5.4 yards per rush in 2009.
• USC is ranked second nationally in sacks (3.6, first in Pac-10)
• USC is seventh in tackles for loss (8.3, first in Pac-10).
• USC is third nationally in punt returns (18.0, first in Pac-10)
• USC is allowing opponents just 1.8 yards per punt return.
• The Sun Devils have the Pac-10’s top rushing defense (80.1, fourth nationally)
• ASU also have the Pac-10's best total defense (296.0, 18th nationally).
• USC OL Jeff Byers has been named a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy.
• USC is coming off the most-lopsided loss of the Pete Carroll era, 47-20 at Oregon.
• USC last lost consecutive games in 2001.
• From 2003 to 2008, USC lost 7 games by a total of 26 points.
• Last week, the Trojans lost by 27.
• Last time USC lost by 3 TDs or more: 1997 at Arizona State (35-7)
• Last time USC gave up more than 40 points: the 2006 Rose Bowl (41-38, loss to Texas)
• Last time USC surrendered 47 points or more: 1996 (48 in OT to both Arizona State and UCLA). Last time in regulation: 1991 (Cal 52-30)
• Last time USC gave up more than Oregon's 391 rushing yards: the 1977 Bluebonnet Bowl (Texas A&M 486).
• USC injury update: LB Malcolm Smith (shoulder), wide receiver David Ausberry (calf) and safety Drew McAllister (hip) are out. Linebacker Jarvis Jones (neck), tight end Anthony McCoy (ankle) and defensive end Nick Perry (knee) are questionable. Defensive end Everson Griffen (turf toe), tailback Allen Bradford (sore knee), tailback Joe McKnight (hamstring), defensive tackle Armond Armstead (wrist), wide receiver Damian Williams (glute muscle) and linebacker Chris Galippo (neck) are expected to play; TB Marc Tyler (toe), TE James Boyd (knee), WR Scott Stephens (knee), TB Stafon Johnson (throat), DT Hebron Fangupo (ankle), CB Marshall Jones (neck), OG Martin Coleman (foot), CB Shareece Wright (ineligible) are out
• Arizona injury report: WR T.J. Simpson (ankle) is out, perhaps for the season. DT Corey Adams (back), CB Omar Bolden (knee) and C Thomas Altieri (knee) are questionable. TB Dimitri Nance (shoulder) and WR Gerell Robinson (ankle) could be limited in practice. WR Kerry Taylor (hamstring) is expected to return.

USC's weekly football release.

Arizona State's weekly football release.

Fight On!  Beat the Sun Devils! 

The Trojan Fan's Rooting Interests for Week 10

The Trojan fans' rooting interests for week 10 are much different than in prior weeks. The latest BCS rankings have USC at #12. At a minimum, USC wants to win its remaining four games and play in the Holiday Bowl, but a BCS bowl bid as an at-large team is a possibility. A Rose Bowl bid would require either  a 2007-like collapse by Oregon or 4 straight ass-whippings by Oregon, along with a 2007-like collapse by the currently unbeaten teams, including, probably (or I should say, improbably) Boise State. My best guess is that Oregon will win out, but they have a trap game today at Stanford, plus a road game at Arizona and a rivalry game against Oregon State still on their schedule.

I want USC to get back into the top ten in the BCS and get a bid to the Sugar Bowl or Fiesta Bowl. The four BCS at-large teams are going to be, in all likelihood, the SEC runnerup, TCU and/or Boise State, and one or two second-place teams from the Big XII, Big Ten, Big East, SEC or Pac-10.

If they win their last four games, USC, at 10-2, would be attractive to the Fiesta Bowl or Sugar Bowl when compared to Ohio State (but maybe not Penn State) from the Big Ten. They probably would be ahead of the ACC runnerup - unless the Sugar Bowl or Orange Bowl was interested in a 2-loss Miami. They are toast if Texas loses the Big XII championship game. The Longhorns would get the at-large bid for sure; however, if Texas wins the Big XII, the Big XII might not even have an eligible at-large team.

The teams ahead of USC in the BCS are: Florida, Texas, Alabama, Cincinnati, Boise State, TCU, Oregon, Iowa, LSU, Georgia Tech, Penn State. At least six of those eleven, and probably seven, will be automatic bids. One of those will be out. The winner of Florida v. Alabama or LSU is probably in the title game, and the loser is probably an at-large pick, but the third SEC teams is not eligible. Realistically, that means USC only needs one or two teams to drop. It also needs Notre Dame to stay below #14 in the BCS.

Outside the BCS for a moment, and looking at the Pac-10 bowl arrangements, USC needs to aim no lower than the Holiday Bowl. San Diego wouldn't benefit that much from the Trojans coming to town, but USC has never played this bowl, and it would be tempting for Holiday Bowl officials to take them to play, for example, the Sooners, even if USC finishes tied for second, without the tie-breaker, or even third in the Pac-10. But to be safe, USC needs to finish 7-2 and alone in 2nd place in the Pac-10. If USC loses another game, it might be the Sun Bowl for USC, in El Paso. Ugh. I'd probably just fly out and back same day for that one. El Paso isn't one of my favorite family destinations.

I'm going to hope to hell that the ACC Atlantic champion doesn't win the ACC. Clemson in the BCS would really hurt USC's chances for an at-large bid unless Georgia Tech loses a couple between now and then. The same goes for a Nebraska or Kansas State win in the Big 12 championship, unless Texas lost one before then. A Pitt winout, including a December 5 win over an undefeated Cincinnati would also be a tough blow to a 10-2 USC. An 11-1 Penn State certainly would get in over USC if Iowa was in the Rose Bowl. I'm not sure whether an 11-1 Iowa would get in ahead of USC if Ohio State was in the Rose Bowl.

USC's worst case scenario, aside from more USC losses, would be Clemson, Nebraska and Pitt all winning on December 5 to win their conferences, along with TCU and Boise State winning out, and Ohio State winning the Big Ten. That could leave unbeaten TCU and Boise State, plus one-loss Texas, Alabama, Iowa and Cincinnati competing for four at-large spots. No way is USC in that mix, and Penn State and Georgia Tech would be out, too.

So who do I want to root for and against? I want teams in front of us in the BCS to lose - for the most part. I no longer really care about anyone in the SEC (although LSU over Alabama would create a very interesting scenario that would renew my interest in SEC games). I maybe do not want Texas to lose - certainly not in the Big 12 title game. I probably do not want Ohio State to win the Big Ten - unless Iowa loses a game other than Ohio State. If Ohio State wins the Big Ten and Iowa and Penn State both finish with 2 or more losses, that is a good thing. So if Northwestern pulls off the upset tomorrow, I'm rooting hard for Ohio State all year. I want everyone outside the Big Six to lose, although Boise St. remaining undefeated props up Oregon, which makes us look a bit stronger. I want anyone who isn't leading their conference, but who has 1 or 2 losses, to lose. To try to get there, here are a few game outcomes USC fans should root for, in order of my preference:

• USC over Arizona State
• San Diego State over TCU
• Northwestern over Iowa
• Ohio State over Penn State
• Louisiana Tech over Boise State
• Wake Forest over Georgia Tech
• U. Conn over Cincinnati
• Virginia over Miami
• Tulsa over Houston
• New Mexico over Utah
• Syracuse over Pitt
• Louisville over West Virginia
• Notre Dame over Navy
• Iowa State over Oklahoma State
• San Jose State over Nevada
• Vanderbilt over Florida
• UCF over Texas
• LSU over Alabama

There are a lot of unlikely outcomes in that list.

I'm not sure how to root in the Pac-10. I'll assume that USC wins out, making it unimportant to root against any team competing for 2nd place in the conference - USC has beaten Cal and Oregon State, and have yet to play Stanford and Arizona. That means I want ranked Pac-10 teams to keep winning (although an Oregon upset would still be great), and then I want teams with 4 or 5 wins to become bowl-eligible. That means I'd probably like to see

• USC over Arizona State
• Stanford over Oregon* (but only if the Ducks plan to lose another game, too...)
• Arizona over Washington State
• Cal over Oregon State (OSU needs a 6th win, but can get it against the Cougars)
• Washington over UCLA

Let the games begin, starting with Boise State against Louisiana Tech, which, oddly enough, is in a conference called the Mountain West - which is almost as strange as the Atlanta Braves spending all those years in the NL West and only slightly stranger than it would be to see Texas in the Pac-10.

USC Oregon Game Notes 10-31-09

As you watch Oregon host USC tonight, you might see some of these interesting bits and pieces:

• USC is 6-1 (3-1 Pac-10), ranked #4 in the AP and Coaches' poll and #5 in the BCS.
• Oregon is 6-1 (3-0 Pac-10), ranked #10 in the AP, #12 Coaches' poll and #10 in the BCS.
• USC is favored by 3½ points
• Last time USC was not favored: 2007 at Oregon
• Kickoff: 5:12 p.m. PDT at Autzen Stadium.
• Despite the zen in its name, there is no peace in Autzen Stadium
• It's a sellout - the 66th straight - and an over-capacity crowd is expected
• ESPN recorded sound for the Duck's 2007 victory against USC at 127.2 decibels, making it the loudest game in college football history.
• Broadcast: live regionally on ABC (Brent Musberger, Kirk Herbstreit, Lisa Salters) out west
• It's on ESPN2 everywhere else
• ESPN GameDay is in the house
• USC's previous appearance in games at GameDay locations: 10-0
• The ten games: At the Coliseum for Ohio State (2008), Nebraska (2006), Notre Dame (2006), UCLA (2005), Notre Dame (2004), Cal (2004), as well as at Ohio State (2009), Nebraska (2007), Notre Dame (2005), Arizona State (2005).
• My own notes: USC lost at Notre Dame (1995), in the 2006 Rose Bowl against Texas.
• GameDay was also at the 2004 Rose Bowl, the 2005 Orange Bowl, the 2006 Rose Bowl, the 2007 Rose Bowl, the 2009 Rose Bowl. USC won all of those except the 2006 Rose Bowl.
• College GameDay was also at Oregon State (2008), but that was for a Thursday broadcast.
• USC holds a 37-16-2 record in its series with Oregon, dating to 1915
• USC has won four of the last five
• USC has lost its last 3 road trips to Oregon (once to OU, twice to OSU)
• Pete Carroll is 4-2 against Oregon
• USC has won its last 10 games against AP Top 25 teams
• This is the Trojans’ fourth road game against a ranked opponent in 2009
• Against AP Top 25 teams, USC is 35-7 under Pete Carroll
• Last game: USC 44, Oregon 10, at USC (2008)
• Last game in Eugene: Oregon 24, USC 17 (2007)
• That loss cost the Trojans a spot in the BCS bowl
• USC went on to win the Rose Bowl over Illinois
• In their six defeats since 2006, USC has never scored more than 10 first half points
• Thirteen of Pete Carroll's sixteen losses have come on the road
• Common opponents: USC and Oregon beat Cal on consecutive weekends by a combined 72-3.
• Common opponents: Washington beat USC, Oregon beat Washington
• In their last 28 meetings, Troy is 20-7-1 against the Ducks
• However, the Ducks have take 5 of the last 9 and 6 of the past 11
• In Oregon (Eugene or Portland), USC is 12-10-1 (9-5-1 in its past 15 trips there)
• This is just the fourth time that USC has played Oregon State & Oregon in consecutive games
• USC is 5-6 against AP-ranked Oregon teams
• When both teams are ranked, USC is 5-1 (wins in 1988- 2002-05-06-08 and the loss in 2007).
• Since 2002, USC has a higher win percentage in Pac-10 play if their opponent is ranked.
• USC is 6-5 in games played on Halloween.
• The Trojans have won their last 4 Halloween games (1981-87-92-98)
• USC's last Halloween game: a 33-10 home win over Washington in 1998.
• USC has a 293-107-19 (.722) all-time record while playing in the month of October.
• USC is 28-14-1 in its last 43 games on artificial turf.
• USC has a 21-21-2 record in games in which it rained during a major portion of the contest
• USC’s last game in the rain: a win at California in 2007 (24-17)
• USC is 2-1 in the rain in Eugene (the wins in 1968 and 1972 and the loss in 1970)
• USC owns a 137-34-4 record at night (games after 5 p.m.)
• USC is 89-11 in its last 100 games
• This is the 99th consecutive game the Trojans have been ranked in the AP Top 25
• Pete Carroll is 94-16 at USC. That's the best among active coaches.
• Carroll is 60-11 in Pac-10 games
• That ties Dick Tomey for 9th on the all-time Pac-10 victories list
• The loser of this game still has a chance to win the Pac-10, especially Oregon
• Oregon is 4-0 to start Pac-10 play for just the second time in 52 years
• Last time Oregon started 4-0 in conference play - 2000
• The Ducks' defense allowed just three touchdowns in conference play
• Oregon is 7-of-7 on fourth down conversions in Pac-10 play
• Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli rushed for a touchdown in 11 of his last 13 games
• Masoli has 17 TDs in his 18 career games as a Duck
• The Ducks have six non-offensive touchdowns in seven games (2 FR, 2 INT, 1 PR, 1 KR)
• No USC players claim Oregon as home
• The Ducks have 61 players from California
• Oregon LB Casey Matthews has 4 relatives who played at USC: father Clay, brother Clay, brother Kyle, uncle Bruce
• Oregon DE Kenny Rowe is the brother of former USC FB-S Alfred Rowe
• USC defensive lineman Christian Tupou is the younger brother of former Oregon offensive tackle Fenuki Tupou.
• Oregon WR Jamere Holland redshirted the 2006 football season at USC before transferring
• Oregon OL coach Steve Greatwood was USC’s offensive line coach for 2 years
• USC true freshman QB Matt Barkley leads the Pac-10 in both passing yards per game (256.7) and pass efficiency (148.7).
• USC is first in the nation in sacks
• USC is second in the nation in tackles for losses
• USC is fifth in the nation in rushing defense
• USC DE Everson Griffen is the Pac-10’s sack leader
• USC is averaging 5.4 yards per rush in 2009
• USC has allowed just 9 sacks in 2009
• USC is scoring 89.3% of the time it is in the red zone (25-of-28), with 18 TDs and 7 FGs
• USC is 16th in scoring defense (15.1, first in Pac-10) and total defense (291.7, second in Pac-10)
• USC is 25th in pass efficiency defense (108.1, second in Pac-10)
• USC is allowing just 2.4 yards per rush in 2009
• USC has won 70.9% (408-159-29) of its games against Pac-10 opponents
• USC's punt return team ranks sixth in the nation with an 18-yard average
• USC's punt return defense is seventh in the country with a 2.3-yard average
• Oregon has won 6 games in a row
• Oregon's spread offense ranks 14th nationally in rushing offense (210.7, second in Pac-10)
• Oregon is 16th in scoring offense (34.0, second in Pac-10).
• Oregon's defense ranks sixth nationally in pass efficiency defense (92.8, first in Pac- 10)
• Oregon's defense is 10th in sacks (3.1, third in Pac-10)
• Oregon is 19th in both total defense (297.1, third in Pac-10) and scoring defense (16.7)
• Oregon is 23rd in pass defense (178.3, first in Pac- 10)
• Oregon is 25th in tackles for losses (7.0, fifth in Pac-10)
• Oregon's tackle leader: LB Casey Matthews (44)
• USC's tackle leader: Taylor Mays (49)
• Taylor Mays was named a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy.
• Chris Galippo was named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award.
• Anthony McCoy was named the Mackey Award tight end of the week.
• Jeff Byers, Taylor Mays & Chris Galippo made the Sporting News midseason All-American team.
• USC PR Damien Williams was the Pac-10 special teams player of the week.
• USC TB Allen Bradford was Pac-10 offensive player of the week.
• Among recruits at the USC/Oregon game: RB Lache Seastrunk of Temple, Texas, who was also in South Bend to see the Trojans two weeks ago.
• Other top recruits in Eugene for Halloween: WR Trovon Reed (Louisiana), RB Dontae Williams (Texas), DE Chris McCain (N.C.)
• USC injury update - possible: TE Anthony McCoy (ankle), WR David Ausberry (calf), FB Stanley Havili (shoulder), LB Luthur Brown (back), LB Jordan Campbell (ankle)
• USC injury update - out: TB Marc Tyler (toe), TE James Boyd (knee), WR Scott Stephens (knee), TB Stafon Johnson (throat), DT Hebron Fangupo (ankle), CB Marshall Jones (neck), OG Martin Coleman (foot), CB Shareece Wright (ineligible)
• Oregon LB Josh Kaddu is out, as it CB Talmadge Jackson
• CBs Willie Glasper and Walter Thurmond are out for the year
• Oregon webcam: http://www.webcams.travel/webcam/1185651488-Weather-Eugene-Eugene
• Oregon fans plan a "blackout"

USC's weekly football release.

Oregon's weekly football release.

Fight On!  Beat the Ducks!