Hope is Here

I sit here, at my desk writing. Trojans, I have stayed quiet. A knot has been in my stomach since September 19, 2009, the date in which USC was stunned, at the stadium of the Washington Huskies. I broke into a cold sweat when USC gave up at Autzen Stadium, losing to Oregon 47-20, the largest loss that the Trojans suffered in the Pete Carroll era at the time, where the Ducks racked up 613 all-purpose yards.

A lump, a relatively large one, was in my throat when USC lost its first game in the month of November, a count of 55-21 at the Coliseum to the Stanford Cardinal -- where Toby Gerhart and company rushed for 325 yards, and attempted a two point conversion, when they lead by twenty seven points in the fourth quarter. USC was booed off the field, though we all know that they could only do the best they could. Obviously, their best wasn’t good enough to our fans, yet it was to me.

I looked the other way, when Matt Barkley was sacked on the last play of the game against the Arizona Wildcats, where the Trojans fell short 21-17. I cried when my Trojans barley made the Emerald Bowl, and when we were knocked out of the top twenty-five for the first time since 2002. I was broken-hearted when our coach, our guidance, and our friend, left us in our time of need for the Seattle Seahawks.

I have not written one of these articles since January of 2009 when the Trojans defeated Penn State for yet another Rose Bowl title. But, during the past year, I felt that I could not sit here and say “cheer up Trojans,” when none of us could.

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You all know the sanctions. The penalties -- the rules broken. The players we used to worship (at least I did) but now they are the very players of whom I feel ashamed. And yet I say, as I did when Mark Sanchez declared himself for the NFL Draft: cheer up Trojans, all will be okay.

No better words can sum up how I feel about why this season will be great (even though there will not be postseason) than my “prediction” of how this season will unfold. As Ted Miller, the Pac-10 blogger on ESPN states, “this is a work of fiction.” For all of those Trojan naysayers, this one is for you. This is what I envision that we can look forward to.

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Predictions for the 2010 Trojan Football Season:

After a long offseason, the USC Trojans have long forgotten the sanctions that the NCAA had imposed on June 10, 2010. “The penalties for the 2010 football season will only make us work harder, and leave everything we have on the field,” says quarterback Matt Barkley.

The rested Trojans stride into paradise to face the Hawaii Warriors on a warm Thursday night.  Lane Kiffin shocks Trojan fans by requesting to receive to start the game after USC wins the coin toss. Barkley looks sharp on the first drive and throughout the first half throwing for over one hundred yards as both teams head to intermission. The Trojan defense puts a stop to Hawaii’s run game, allowing just fifty five yards on the ground. The Trojans cruise to a 28-3 victory to open the season, as Barkley tosses 2 touchdowns, with Allen Bradford running for another score. The defense returns an interception for a touchdown to seal the deal in the fourth quarter.

The Spirit of Troy is full of energy to kick-off USC’s home opener against Virginia. “I have never heard our marching band louder in my entirety as a Trojan fan,” says a spectator. The Cavaliers could not convert a third down opportunity until the second half, as the screaming fans and drum-line of USC are too much of a distraction for the Virginian offensive line. Two third-down attempts for Virginia result in a sack, and one fumble. The Trojans stick to their power and speed for the duration of the game, as Bradford ran for two touchdowns on twenty three attempts, though Barkley threw for two short touchdown passes as well, in a 31-0 blank of the Virginia Cavaliers. In secret, Lane Kiffin and marching band director Art Bartner exchange fist bumps after the contest.

The Trojans hit the road again, this time facing the Minnesota Golden Gophers in another Pac-10/Big-10 in-season matchup for the Trojans. The Trojans keep the game conservative in the first half mainly running the ball, though Bradford does not do all the work. Kiffin frequently subs in C.J. Gable who runs for a score, while Bradford has complaints of a hurt ankle after a rough first quarter hit. He would stay active though. Matt Barkley and the Trojans go to the air more often after the break as the Barkley passes for two scores, both to his tight ends Rhett Ellison and Blake Ayles, and he sneaks in for a score in the waning moments. USC still looks impressive as they roll 34-9 and to number nine in the nation.  

Heading into Pac-10 Conference Play:

Next week, the Trojans hit the road yet again, in their Pac-10 opener in Pullman, Washington for their next contest with Washington State. Pregame rain showers the 33,000 football fans in attendance, but the rain would hold off for the actual game. The Trojans leave the locker room (which included a visit from former coach Pete Carroll) to temperatures in the forties, and find themselves down early 7-0. The Trojans come back in time to lead 14-10 at the half. With the run game being ineffective, Kiffin turns to Barkley who razzle dazzle’s Pullman. He throws a score to Brice Butler in the third, and a deep bomb to Ronald Johnson later that quarter. Barkley also uses the short passing game effectively, as wideout Jordan Cameron would finish with over fifty yards receiving, mainly on short gains. Jeff Tuel, Wazou’s quarterback finds USC’s secondary napping momentarily in the early fourth quarter, and seizes the moment. He floats a pass over cornerback T.J. Bryant for a score, though the Trojans win comfortably 27-17, as they avoid another Pac-10 opener loss.

Back, at home, USC takes on Washington the following week. The 16-13 loss in Seattle last year is still fresh in the Trojans’ minds, as Lane Kiffin plays the ESPN highlights of that game in the locker room moments before the teams take the field. USC jumps out to a quick touchdown lead on their opening possession, but cannot sustain it long, as Husky quarterback Jake Locker, and Heisman potential candidate ties it up as he runs for the score. Things stay slow for the first half, as USC leads 10-7 at the half. USC punts on its first second half possession, and the Huskies take the lead on theirs. The Trojans score to take the lead back 17-14 soon after, but the Huskies tie it up with a field goal as the teams are deadlocked at 17 going into the final quarter of play. With five minutes remaining, Barkley and the Trojans cannot convert on fourth down at the Husky ten yard line, and turn it over. Washington cannot score on their next possession, and the Trojans run out the clock on their next drive. Place kicker Jacob Harfman drills a forty three yarder to win the game in the remaining seconds, and USC hangs on 20-17. The win is not pretty, but they will take it. The ending of this contest is like Déjà vu, but this time, for the other team.

Next week, College Game Day would make an appearance in Palo Alto for the showdown between SC and Stanford. The stakes are set high for this game, as both teams place in the top fifteen in the country. USC at five, Stanford at ten. Though Kirk Herbstreit cannot predict a victor, as he would be calling that game later in the day, Lee Corso puts on the Trojan armor and holds the sword predicting yet another Trojan victory. “No one can stop this Trojan offense!” Corso screams as the show concludes. As predicted, the offense could not be stopped on its first drive as Bradford finds the goal line from twelve yards out on the Trojans’ first possession. Stanford responds as Andrew Luck finds receiver Chris Owusu in the back of the endzone to even the game at seven. At the half, things are tied up at 17. On Stanford’s next drive, it is Andrew Luck who runs for the score, though he would leave the game with a bruised rib when he is leveled by Chris Gallipo at the goal line. With Luck out of the game, the Trojan defense harasses the replacement for Luck, sacking the new quarterback four times over the remainder of the game. USC wins 31-20.

The Trojans return to the Coliseum to face California and Jeff Tedford. Earlier that week, Tedford is fined by the NCAA for stating during a press conference that: “The Trojans are a joke of a football team to think they have something to play for this season.” The Bears, entering play with a 4-2 record have suffered losses to Colorado and Arizona, which angersTedford. Each game was decided by ten points or less. The Trojan defense shut Tedford’s mouth, sacking quarterback Kevin Riley five times over the course of the game. Barkley passes for two touchdowns, to Butler and Jordan Cameron, and connected with wideout Ronald Johnson earlier on a 65 yard gain. Jeff Tedford refuses to meet Lane Kiffin after the game at midfield as he storms off the Coliseum floor after his team was outplayed, 28-10.

Still at home, USC takes on Oregon in their next game. Though quarterback Jerimah Masoli had been kicked off the team by head coach Chip Kelley, this year’s Duck starter Nate Costa has lead them to so far an undefeated record and a number three ranking. USC sits just behind them at number four. For the second time in three weeks, ESPN’s College Game Day makes an appearance at a Trojan football game. The first this season in Los Angeles. Again, Herbstreit is calling the game so no prediction from him, though Corso is distraught on who to pick as a victor. So, Lee Corso slips on the Duck headgear, and the Trojan armor. Sports Center places that clip on their top ten plays list. What’s also on the top plays reel, is lineman Nick Perry’s sack on Nate Costa which he returns for a touchdown on Oregon’s opening drive. LaMichael James dashes to the two yard line on a fifty yard rush later that quarter, which sets up a Nate Costa rush into the endzone on an option play. Both offenses were in high gear, though it’s USC who is victorious in a 34-21 showing at the Coliseum. “I was gonna pick them anyway,” Lee Corso states after the game.

USC finishes their three game homestead with a victory over Arizona State. The Trojan defensive line sacks quarterback Brock Osweilerfour times, and the defense continues to harass Brock, forcing three interceptions. After seeing some time on the bench for the first half of the season, it is freshman halfback Dillon Baxter who opens the second half with a jaw dropping 87 yard kick return, which included numerous jukes and spin moves. Matt Barkley and the offense racked up 38 points as the Trojans blank the Sun Devils—the second shutout of the year at home.

The energy at Arizona Stadium is electrifying on November 13th. “Except for when we were at the Horseshoe, and at Autzen Stadium, I’ve never heard a louder crowd than this,” Matt Barkley exclaims after the first drive, which resulted in a punt. Nick Foles leads the Arizona Wildcats to a quick touchdown lead, but USC can only respond with a field goal. By the break, Zona leads 14-10. USC regroups after halftime, and sacks quarterback Nick Foles three times in the last two quarters of play. USC uses the run game effectively as freshman Dillon Baxter, who had not played much all year, scores on an eighteen yard scamper, and Barkley tosses his second score to Ronald Johnson, as the Trojan defense completely shuts down the Wildcat offense in the second half as USC wins 24-14. USC continues to roll, as they do to number three nationally.

Surprisingly, College Game Day makes its third appearance of the year at a Trojan football game, and makes its first ever appearance in Corvallis, Oregon, to see USC and eleventh ranked Oregon State compete under the lights. Lee Corso pleases the Beaver fans by selecting Benny the Beaver over the Trojan armor when it comes time for the traditional headgear that Corso puts on. Both teams put on a show for the fans as they tie at 17 going into the midpoint break. Jacquizz Rodgers rushes for over one hundred yards in the second half, though he would slow down at one point. The teams are deadlocked at 31 with five seconds remaining, but it’s the Trojan defense that freezes Jacquizz Rodgers before the goal line just as regulation ends. Neither team seems to score through one overtime, but it is Matt Barkley who connects with true freshman wideout Kyle Prater for the winning score. It’s his first touchdown grab of his Trojan career, as USC is victorious 37-31 in the double overtime shootout.

The Trojans go back home for the last time to get together with Notre Dame on senior day at the Coliseum. The Trojans play effectively on both sides of the ball, as Notre Dame is blown out at the Coliseum 42-10, which was the highest number of points USC had scored all season. Fullback Stanley Havili impresses NFL scouts with his 85 yards receiving, while rushing for a score as well. He looks to be a top prospect in the 2011 NFL Draft.

To end the season, USC forces five turnovers, three fumbles, and two interceptions against cross town rival UCLA at the Rose Bowl in early December. Barkley showcases a beautiful display of passing, tossing 3 for touchdowns, while the defense held their end of the bargain, sacking Kevin Prince three times, and putting an end to the Bruin wildcat formation which was successful all year. Halfback Dillon Baxter returns a punt for a touchdown in the late fourth quarter, as the Trojans top UCLA for the 4th consecutive year, 31-13.

Though the Trojans were ineligible to participate in any bowl game this season, they would finish number two in the nation and go undefeated, just behind Mark Ingram, Greg McElroy and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

“It’s evident that we are one of the best football teams in the nation right now,” Athletic Director Pat Haden states. “We left all we could on the field, and I couldn’t be prouder of our boys. It’s just a shame that these fine young gentlemen have to be sanctioned. They did absolutely nothing wrong, and they took the fall for other player’s mistakes.”

If USC would play for a bowl game, the BCS standings show they would most take on Alabama in the national championship game. Just before Alabama would play third ranked Boise State in the final, Kiffin bargains Nick Saban to a date in the 2011 Chick Fil-A Kickoff Game. Saban said he would consider that.

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I am an optimist. I believe everything works out for a reason. Maybe, just maybe, if these sanctions had to come, it is at the right time to make us all remember the true meaning of belief. The true meaning of teamwork.The true meaning of coming together.The true meaning, of fighting on.

USC has one of the easiest schedules they have had in years. I believe—I know, they will take advantage of that. Fight on!

By Jacob Pollack
Loyal Trojan Fan
College Football Analyst
14 years Old