2005 USC Football: On The Way Up

[NickelBack]

In the hours leading up to what would soon be another domination by the machine he has built out in Los Angeles, Pete Carroll wasn't fretting about the game plan.

The Southern California coach was punching up top 100 recruits on his cell phone – from New Jersey to Illinois to Florida – cooing into their ears, reminding them to watch the game and then envisioning how it could one day all be theirs.

At this point, how could any of them say no?

Right now, there is USC and there is everybody else. The Trojans' 55-19 pounding of Oklahoma Tuesday in the Orange Bowl is just the latest example of a juggernaut that seems to be gaining speed.

"This is a program that is flying," smiled Carroll. "No doubt about that."

With the victory, the Trojans captured the BCS championship trophy. It was their 22nd consecutive win and 33rd win in their last 34. Last year, even though the BCS denied them a chance to play in the title game, USC won the AP national title.

Oh, and as many as 17 starters could return next year.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;...wN0bQ--?slug=dw-usc010405&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

[NickelBack]

USC 2005 Schedule

Sept. 3 at Hawaii
Sept. 10 TBA
Sept. 17 Arkansas
Sept. 24 at Oregon
Oct. 1 at Arizona State
Oct. 8 Arizona
Oct. 15 at Notre Dame
Oct. 22 at Washington
Oct. 29 Washington State
Nov. 5 Stanford
Nov. 12 at California
Dec. 3 UCLA


Good news for Oregon State!

 

[NickelBack]

QB will stay for 5th season

Associated Pressd

LOS ANGELES -- Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart will remain at Southern California for his senior season, he announced Friday.

Leinart's announcement will come at a 5:30 p.m. ET news conference at Heritage Hall.

``I need an extra day to continue gathering information,'' the USC quarterback said Thursday, the day he originally set as his deadline for the decision.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1964834

 

[BigRedVol]

Don't get ahead of yourself nickel...

http://collegefootballnews.com/2005/Rankings/Pre_preseason_NationalTitle.htm

National Title Contenders
Teams going into 2005 with an honest shot at the national title

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1. USC 2004 Record: 13-0 Pac 10
USC is going to be everyone’s preseason number one yet again led by the 1-2 running back punch of Reggie Bush and LenDale White behind a big-time offensive line. The receiving corps will be flat out frightening with Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett each ready for the NFL now. Oh yeah, and the Heisman Trophy winner/number one pick in the draft is back for another year. On the down side, there are huge losses on defense especially at tackle and linebacker.
Biggest offensive loss: G John Drake Biggest defensive loss: DTs Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson

2. Tennessee 2004 Record: 10-3 SEC
The Vols will be back among the elite of the elite as long as the defense can take a little overall step up in production. The offense will be a juggernaut with what many consider to be Tennessee’s most talented receiving corps ever (which is obviously saying a ton for this program). RB Gerald Riggs Jr. and QBs Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer are ready to be big-time college football household names. The defense will lose star linebacker Kevin Burnett, but there’s more than enough talent to come up with a killer D helped by the return of CB Jason Allen.
Biggest offensive loss: RB Cedric Houston Biggest defensive loss: LB Kevin Burnett

AND


The Vols lead the nation in recruits where as USC is falling behind at #8....


http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/3337152

 

[WizardOfAz]

The Vols lead the nation in recruits where as USC is falling behind at #8....

That's because USC doesn't have any scholarships to give - all of their players are returning.

 

[BigRedVol]

That's because USC doesn't have any scholarships to give - all of their players are returning.

So does that mean those 13 commitments they do have will be forced to play elsewhere

 

[WizardOfAz]

So does that mean those 13 commitments they do have will be forced to play elsewhere

I guess you could hope so, looking up at them the way your team does, right?

 

[BigRedVol]

I guess you could hope so, looking up at them the way your team does, right?

It's gonna be a wild ride en route to Pasadena next year.

I hope the condoms can survive the Pac 10 and join the party.

 

[jerryp]

As a USC fan I was thrilled with the outcome of the national title game. Wasn't really shocked at the final score though.

I have to say that the TBA date on that schedule is probably BYU. They try and play them every year and I hope they do next year because my girlfriends brother attends BYU and he's always talking about how great the mascot is.

Best of luck to your Volunteers, BigRedVol. I think the SEC is the toughest conference so if USC and UT both finish undefeated I'd have to rank the Vols as #1. Of course the Trojans at #2 would win.

Edit: P.S. Wail on Gators. Thanks.

 

[BigRedVol]

As a USC fan I was thrilled with the outcome of the national title game. Wasn't really shocked at the final score though.

I have to say that the TBA date on that schedule is probably BYU. They try and play them every year and I hope they do next year because my girlfriends brother attends BYU and he's always talking about how great the mascot is.

Best of luck to your Volunteers, BigRedVol. I think the SEC is the toughest conference so if USC and UT both finish undefeated I'd have to rank the Vols as #1. Of course the Trojans at #2 would win.

Edit: P.S. Wail on Gators. Thanks.

All except for the last sentence of the 3rd paragraph