USC Football: Final Stretch of 2014 Season Sets Tone for Sarkisian's Program

Replicating the strong finishes of past USC teams is an obvious goal of the 2014 Trojans, but the four-game final stretch is as much about setting the tone for head coach Steve Sarkisian's overall vision as it is improving upon this year's record. 

USC enters this last month of Sarkisian's debut campaign out of the Top 25 and clinging to slim hope of winning the Pac-12 South. Since starting 2-0 and reaching No. 9 in the Associated Press poll, the Trojans are .500 with a series of tough losses that have tested the team's collective attitude. 

“They’re learning about themselves and the strengths they possess,” Sarkisian said after practice Tuesday at Howard Jones Field. “It’s natural to try and focus on the weaknesses, which we have to learn from and getting better. But we have to dig deep and find out about ourselves." 

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The most recent was a 24-21 heartbreaker last week at Utah, decided on the game’s final possession. In the immediate aftermath, redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Zach Banner said he learned a lot about the program’s makeup.

“I’ve never seen so many people that were disappointed about a loss, [who] care, [who] want to fix things and step up,” he said.  

Although in his first season as a primary contributor for the Trojans, Banner has been in the program for three seasons. He said that in his time at USC, the response to losing was not always this way.

"Me being on a couple of these teams in college the last couple years, when things go downhill, you question some leadership," he said. "People stop encouraging. They start getting extremely selfish, where they only think about themselves."

Losing can become cyclical in that way, but Banner believes USC is prepared to fend off the malaise that can create internal strife.   

“This is a different feeling I’ve never felt before with any team and the reason I say that is the people in this locker room care about each other,” he said. “You can take that however you want.”

Chemistry just might be the most valuable long-term quality USC develops in its first season with Sarkisian at the helm, particularly given the considerable collective youth of the roster.  

First and second-year players who will shape USC’s identity in the coming years are in prominent roles across all three phases.

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Among the youngsters taking on key responsibilities are Banner’s mates on the line: Damien Mama, Toa Lobendahn and Viane Talamaivao.

The three true freshmen started against Utah’s prolific sacking defense last week and the unit played arguably its best game of the season—even with redshirt sophomore Chad Wheeler sidelined by a torn ACL. Lobendahn practiced in Wheeler's spot at left tackle this week. 

USC will only get younger, too. Next year’s recruiting class marks the first with a full allotment of 25 scholarships in three years.

But for as much as the upcoming stretch sets the tone for seasons to come, Sarkisian is steadfast that this year’s team can compete for the conference championship.

One of the team’s veterans, redshirt junior running back Javorius "Buck" Allen, discussed how USC can successfully navigate its final stretch.  

 “Trust the coaches with what they prepare us with day in and day out,” he said.  

Allen added USC must commit to playing “Trojan ball.”

What exactly constitutes Trojan ball in the Sarkisian era is a question repeatedly asked of the coach through his first eight games.

As important as the off-field atmosphere USC cultivates in this final stretch is establishing its on-field identity. Banner sees the former laying the foundation for the latter.

“You have to care enough to say, ‘I’m going to get my job done,’” he said. “There’s a lot of things we can fix. There’s a lot of things we can do better. But we’re getting better.”

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise cited.