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3:45: The GameDay tent pops up in the corner of the opposite end zone. Herbstreit, Corso, and Fowler are all on hand for this game. On the pregame show, Corso picks the winner of each game by putting on the mascot’s outfit. Corso dove under the table to put on his USC armor and helmet. Neither Kirk Herbstreit nor Chris Fowler could talk because everyone on-set was cracking up. The normally calm and collected Herbstreit just might be human as he couldn’t even get his words out.
4:08: Best tight end in this year’s draft, Fred Davis, is again tearing up the Illinois defense. Two big consecutive pass plays to Davis.
4:12: Turf appears to be a bit slippery. Another receiver falls as USC punts to the Illinois 11-yard line.
4:13: Two rows in front of us a guy in a #41 USC jersey has “The Hitman” on it. His neck is thicker than his head. TV timeouts have us on pace for almost a four hour game.
4:17: One play that has been working for Illinois works again for a huge play. Mendenhall runs up the gut off a shotgun option for a 79 yard touchdown. He just outran everyone on the Trojan defense. More importantly gets the Illini crowd back in this game.
USC: 21 ILL: 10
4:24: Illinois stops USC on their next possession and they are forced to punt. Really feels like a game right now as the momentum has shifted.
4:30: After a big pass play down field, USC comes up with a huge turnover. The USC linebacker uppercuts the ball loose from the Illinois receiver as he was eyeing the goaline. USC ball recovered in the end zone. This is the opportunistic Carroll defense that has come along the latter half of this season. Red zone defense comes up huge again. That would have made it a 21-17 game.
4:35: Joe McKnight is showing why he was so highly coveted coming out of high school. The lateral pass out of the back field is thrown behind him. It then hits the ground as he scoops it up and sprints for a huge gain.
4:41: Just plays later, Booty with a play-action pass to Fred Davis in the back of the end zone. The fumble recovery and the McKnight play changed this game in a hurry. USC: 28 ILL: 10
4:47: McKnight finishes off a 5 play, 68 yard drive, in only 1:21 after an easy pick from Cary Harris. The floodgates have opened. USC: 35 ILL: 10
4:58: USC is running the ball a lot now and wearing down the Illinois defensive front which has really played quite well up to this point. USC is just bigger and stronger.
5:04: Booty throws another touchdown pass. This time it is to Ausberry in the corner of the end zone. Booty has looked very sharp and prepared for this game. Now has the record for Rose Bowl touchdown passes with seven. USC: 42 ILL: 10
5:17: Quote from the guys behind us as he returns from the bathroom, obviously upset. “Real men need troughs,” in reference to our deceptively female restrooms.
5:36: Three straight runs for Hershel Dennis as he scores on 3rd and goal. Good for him as the crowd acknowledges the tough college career for the senior Dennis. Another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for USC. USC: 49 ILL: 10
5:42: Touchdown for Illinois as the receiver receives a penalty for tossing the football into the seats where the USC band is sitting. USC: 49 ILL: 17
Carroll lets the game clock run out as USC drove down inside the Illinois 10 yard line. It is another Rose Bowl victory for the USC Trojans. The final score does look a bit deceiving as Illinois had a chance to cut the lead to four, midway through the 3rd quarter. Ultimately the Trojans showed they were the superior team and played the most complete game of the year.
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