"We use our fullbacks in a variety of roles, not only as blockers and runners but as pass catchers," said Carroll. Reggie Bush will be a key in the Trojans' running game this season. [6] However, in the key final series, under heavy crowd noise, the USC defense caused an incomplete pass, a sack by defensive tackle Manuel Wright, and two more incomplete passes to cause a loss of possession and effectively end the game. Troy led the nation in net punting (43.7 avg.) He changes the dynamic of the game when he's on the field. "That's how we're looking at it. (Alonzo Adams / Associated Press) Grinch has worked in Norman for the last two seasons as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach. But Carroll speaks from experience when he says he is confident that his 2004 Trojans will respond well. He might sprint for the USC track team this spring (he has a best of 10.42 in the 100 meters). "I truly believe we have put together an elite group of coaches that will help build this football program back to national prominence. In the process, Leinart has thrust himself to the front of this year's Heisman race and is also a leading candidate for the Davey O'Brien Award. [1], Quarterback Matt Leinart won the Heisman Trophy as the most outstanding collegiate football player in the U.S. His teammate, running back Reggie Bush, finished fifth in Heisman voting, winning the following year. Seven starters return on offense in 2004: quarterback Matt Leinart, wide receiver Mike Williams, tailback Hershel Dennis, guard Fred Matua, tight end Gregg Guenther Jr., fullback Brandon Hancock and tackle Winston Justice (Hancock and Justice won't play this season). Just look what happened last year when Troy had to replace a number of top performers, including the 2002 Heisman winner (Carson Palmer), the nation's best safety (Troy Polamalu) and 3 NFL-caliber tailbacks (Justin Fargas, Sultan McCullough and Malaefou MacKenzie). Defensively, Troy should be strong at linebacker and up the middle from front to back, while the ends and corners must be replaced. Three of the nation's top recruits could make an immediate impact as freshmen (all were prep All-Americans). And of Troy's 77 offensive scoring drives in 2003, 59 took less than 3 minutes. Former standout USC and NFL wide receiver Keary Colbert has spent 3 years on USC's fulltime staff. KICKERS/PUNTERS/SNAPPERS Will Collins, Rs. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. [23], The struggling Washington Huskies visited the Trojans for the 75th meeting in the series, with the Trojans dominating 380. Then, enrolling in the fall is J.C. All-American Scott Ware (Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, Calif.), who is a junior, and prep All-American Josh Pinkard (Hueneme High in Oxnard, Calif.), who is a freshman. ", OFFENSIVE LINEMEN Sam Baker, Rs. "[4] Ironically, the changes made to the BCS due to the 2003 season did not resolve issues with multiple undefeated teams, as Auburn and Utah finished undefeated, yet they did not get to play USC or any other team for the title. [44], In June 2010, the NCAA imposed sanctions on USC as a result of an investigation into the football program. On the inside, there is senior walk-on Marco Chavez (he sat out 2003 after transferring from Hawaii), plus sophomore Oscar Lua, who was sidelined most of last season because of a knee injury (he missed some of 2004 spring drills while recuperating). Dwayne Jarrett (New Brunswick High in New Brunswick, N.J.) and Derrick Jones (Long Beach Poly High in Long Beach, Calif.) come in this fall. As a 2002 freshman, he set NCAA frosh records for receiving yards (1,265) and TD catches (14) and the Pac-10 frosh mark for receptions (81). [8] Although Virginia Tech was not ranked going into the game, they ended the season ranked 9th, going 103 (71 in the ACC), becoming ACC Champions in their first year in the conference and were invited to the 2005 Nokia Sugar Bowl. It's possible he'll concentrate solely on basketball in his senior season. USC's tallest player at 6-8, once football season concludes he changes into a basketball jersey and stars for the Trojan hoopsters. Phone. HOLDERS Junior punter Tom Malone will be the holder for his third season. [29] LenDale White ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns while Matt Leinart passed for 280 yards and three more scores; the game guaranteed USC a spot in, at worst, the Rose Bowl[30], After two weeks off, the Trojans were visited by the rival Fighting Irish, led by Coach Tyrone Willingham, in the inter-sectional rivalry for the Jeweled Shillelagh. "That's my fundamental approach to the game: control the ball on offense, go get it on defense and make things happen on special teams," said Carroll. Junior Dallas Sartz (60 tac, 6 for loss, 2 sack, 4 dfl, 1 blk P in 2003) assumes the starting strongside job. On offense in 2004, USC's entire backfield, its star wide receiver and the tight ends are back, but a new wide receiver must be developed and most of the line must be rebuilt. He became the wide receivers coach in 2019 after handling the tight ends and inside receivers in 2018. of Playoffs), Offensive Coordinator Los Angeles Wildcats, Still Laying the Foundation of the Program, Coach Pete Carroll Coaching Tree & Rating. 1 and No. Best Players on the 2007 USC Trojans Football Team. "We lost one of the greatest receivers in USC history and it will be a challenge to replace him. Fr. Fr. [18] Beyond the 2004 season, the game marked a turning point in terms of crowd participation at the Coliseum, which thereafter garnered a reputation as a loud and difficult place to play for opposing teams. Is Coach Ken Niumatalolo on the Hot Seat? [32] The Trojans set a record for home wins (including pre-Coliseum), with their 21st victory; coincidentally, the previous team to defeat them at home were the Stanford Cardinal then-under Coach Willingham. WR Fred Davis. "But because of our accomplishments the past two seasons, we know we'll be challenged to the max each game now. But he was not selected because of a judicial stay on that ruling, which was then overturned. ", DEFENSIVE LINEMEN Chris Barrett, Rs. "They're both really hard to block and are relentless in how they play the game. Other key defenders returning with starting experience include linebacker Dallas Sartz (6 starts), end Frostee Rucker (5 starts), and cornerbacks Ronald Nunn and Kevin Arbet (he missed 2002 and most of 2003 with a foot injury). It is widely considered one of the greatest college football teams of all time. "The past 2 years, we were really good on defense and we played just how we drew it up," said Carroll, the team's defensive coordinator. [21] USC quickly put the game out of reach, scoring 42 points in the first half behind 4 touchdown passes Matt Leinart and school single game record-tying 3 scoring grabs by Dwayne Jarrett. LB Rey Maualuga. [36] Both USC and Oklahoma started and ended the season ranked No. We present them here for purely educational purposes. [6] After an energetic and emotional halftime in the locker room, the Trojan defense shut down the Cardinal while the offense put together the drives that gave the Trojans the lead and the victory. So we must take our game to the next level and be ready for everyone's best shot.". A lot of the key players from that offense return this year. So he sought to have his collegiate eligibility restored (as of mid-July, the NCAA hadn't ruled). [17], The game was highly touted by the media, with both teams earning praise for their performances. The team also won the AP title for the second year in a row. In the hunt for the tackle jobs are sophomore Kyle Williams, redshirt freshmen Sam Baker, Drew Radovich and Matt Spanos, plus incoming 370-pound junior Taitusi Lutui (Snow Junior College in Ephraim, Utah), a J.C. All-American. "With Ronald Nunn, Kevin Arbet and Justin Wyatt, it's really like we have four returning starters in the secondary," said Carroll. However, the Associated Press still recognizes USC as 2004 AP title winner. [22], At halftime USC recognized the 1939 Trojans as National Champions based on their #1 ranking in the contemporary Dickinson System, with surviving members of the team in attendance. Last season, he had 95 catches for 1,314 yards and a USC record 16 TDs. [6] Matt Leinart passed for a career-high 400 yards and a school record-tying five touchdowns Saturday, leading the top-ranked Trojans to a 4110 victory and adding a highlight performance to his ultimately successful Heisman campaign. The USC football coaching staff has been rounded out by Lincoln Riley with the hire of Josh Henson as offensive line coach late Sunday night. LOS ANGELES New USC football head coach Lincoln Riley has named his full-time assistant coaching staff. Fr., DE Travis Tofi, So., DT Ryan Watson, Rs. He proved to be a load at 350 pounds before breaking his ankle late in the year (he missed 2004 spring drills while recuperating). Coming aboard this fall as freshmen are 3 prep All-Americans: former high school teammates Jimmy Miller and Michael Stuart (Westlake High in Westlake Village, Calif.), plus Dale Thompson (Santiago High in Corona, Calif.), "We have a lot of personnel options at tight end, which is good because we emphasize the position in our offense," said Carroll. Tackle Winston Justice and guard Fred Matua return as starters on the line (John Drake, who started 7 times last year at guard and tackle, is back as well). Both have a knack for creating havoc. LB Brian Cushing. 2020 Seattle Seahawks Season 12 4 Lost in Wild Card to LAR, (Win Expectations: Make Div. But, in my. Title. He went on to throw a Pac-10 record 38 TDs (1 shy of the NCAA sophomore mark). It's always difficult to lose a player the caliber of 4-year starter Keary Colbert, USC's career receptions leader (207) who had 1,000-yard receiving seasons the past 2 years (including 1,013 yards and 9 TDs on 69 catches in 2003). Or write about sports? Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Fr., CB Justin Wyatt, Jr., CB. football@usc.edu. USC then hosts Colorado State and travels to BYU and Stanford before having a trio of home games (California, Arizona and Washington) followed by a pair of road contests (Washington State and Oregon State). In March, he took over as interim inside wide receivers coach while Dave Nichol was away from the program for a personal matter . Some school's results have been altered by retroactive NCAA penalties. "We've made so much progress on special teams," said Carroll. Zach Hanson, tight ends coach. Is Coach Rick Stockstill on the Hot Seat? Henson, 46, spent the past 3 seasons (2019-21 . He also had stops as wide receivers coach at Richmond (2004) and Western . [36] The game also featured four out of five of the 2004 Heisman finalists with Leinart, White, Reggie Bush and Sooner running back Adrian Peterson, the Heisman runner-up. The Trojans have done a superb job of getting turnovers under Carroll, as their +1.33 turnover margin and +111 takeaways the past 3 seasons are the best marks in the nation. [37], There was some controversy in the final team selections as the Auburn Tigers had also finished the regular season undefeated and won their bowl game, the Sugar Bowl, against the same Virginia Tech team USC defeated in the season opener; Auburn began the season ranked outside the top 15 and perhaps because of this they were unable to secure a spot in the national championship game,[38] although they did tie Oklahoma at No. The AP released a statement saying that USC will keep its 2004 AP title. PUNTERS All-American junior Tom Malone (49.0 avg in 2003), the nation's best punter, has proven to be a weapon whenever he boots the ball. He started all of 2002 and could win back his job in 2004. Alex Grinch, defensive coordinator. Both performed flawlessly during their careers. If we can have that kind of work ethic, we'll be on the right track.". The team also won the AP title for the second year in a row. So the competition for playing time will be intense. Jimmy Miller, In. QB John David Booty. Fr., FB Reggie Bush, So., TB Hershel Dennis, Jr., TB John Griffin, Rs. We were efficient and took care of the football. It would be USC last win at Oregon State until 2013. Cody, Patterson and Grootegoed are All-American candidates. The tight end corps is deep, with Gregg Guenther Jr. (17 catches and 2 TDs in 2003)-also a star on the Trojan basketball team-back after starting the last half of 2003, along with Dominique Byrd (14 catches and 6 early starts in 2003) and Alex Holmes (58 career catches), USC's starter in 2002 but injured last season.