For the USC Trojans, It Should Be Business As Usual in 2010

I find it amazing that the sports media acts as if all the recent controversy surrounding the USC Trojan football team is something new for the school. Oh how quickly we forget that for the majority of the Pete Carroll era, there were constantly stories cropping up about this rumor or that.

From Lendale White’s “funny” fake suicide, to Charlie Weis accusing Coach Carroll of stocking up some beautiful coeds in his Malibu pad, to all the craziness in between, there never seemed to be a dull day in Trojan land over the last decade.

USC was the pro football team of Los Angeles, and along with that title came additional expectations, scrutiny, and hype. But the Trojans took it all in stride and always played at that “next level” that few teams can stay at for very long. They played with an attitude and swagger reminiscent of the old Miami Hurricane teams of the 80's and 90's.

They got away with things most teams couldn’t if only because they were USC. Can you think of any other school in which the team’s star middle linebacker plays "hump-a- famous-sideline-reporter," as Rey Maualuga did to Erin Andrews, and not face repercussions?

No, the LA boys lived by their own set of rules and their own special code, but somewhere along the way, they lost that rebel attitude.

It certainly wasn’t there for the better part of the 2009 season. It wasn’t there in Seattle; it wasn’t there in Eugene; and it definitely wasn’t there in Los Angeles when Jim Harbaugh’s squad hung two fives on the scoreboard.

Most around the team and the city chalked it up to growing pains. Going with a true freshman at quarterback is never an easy task, even if he is as talented and mature as Matt Barkley; of course, there were bound to be mistakes and missteps.

But some wondered if the problems ran deeper than that. Maybe the Trojans had just lost the mystique they once had back in the glory days of Leinart and Bush.

The icing on the proverbial cake came in the offseason, when the allegations against Reggie Bush turned into a harsh reality. Coach Carroll saw it coming, and naturally bolted for the riches of the NFL.

I mean, why stay around and help clean up the mess made under your watch?

There’s no sense in that. Right, Pete?

The penalties were substantial and the hole the program had dug itself into was growing deeper by the day. It seemed that it had finally all caught up with them. Those ten years of pushing the envelope had come crashing down like one fierce Pacific wave.

Now, there are those that say this is the end—that USC can’t come back from this, especially with an inexperienced coach like Lane Kiffin trying to navigate them through it all. But I happen to think otherwise. This team has dealt with its fair share of craziness before, maybe not on this scale, but they can surely make it through this. The 2010 season will go a long way into telling us all what type of resiliency USC has.

So what has to happen for the Trojans to once again regain their title as the bully of the Pac-10?

Well for starters, the defense must be great. Not good—great!

The front seven, especially, need to be on top of their game. It’s not a difficult task, considering the defensive line and linebacker units are some of the most talented in the country. Michael Morgan is one the most athletic linebackers in the nation, and his counterparts, Chris Galippo and Malcolm Smith, can all get the job done as well. Plus, converted defensive end Devon Kennard looks like he has some real skills and ability.

The defensive line can be special, but they have to play together. Jurell Casey is a force in the middle, and ends Armond Armstead and Nick Perry both look like they have NFL futures down the line.

The secondary will be shaky in the beginning, but they will improve as the season goes on. Shareece Wright could be one of the best cornerbacks in the conference if he plays up to his potential.

The safety position, however, is a bit of concern.

After the early departure of Taylor Mays, there’s going to be some inexperience on the back end, but guys like TJ McDonald and others all have a pedigree for success.

It helps to have a mastermind like defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin to put the players in a position to make plays.

The offense won’t have the wealth of returning playmakers they’ve been accustomed to, so it will be up to QB Matt Barkley to do more with less in his second year as starter. Expect a lot of young guys like Dillon Baxter, Kyle Prater, and Xavier Grimble to see some substantial snaps this year. All were big-time recruits that could have big futures ahead of them.

So as it is, 2010 is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing seasons at USC in quite some time. It’s up to Coach Lane Kiffin to mold the attitude of this team into one that is cocky, hungry, and resentful of the criticisms they’ve faced recently.

USC won’t go undefeated this season, but they won't have to. All the Trojans must do is show they still have the attitude that was lacking throughout their 2009 campaign.

Many want to say that the glory days are over, but USC has what it takes to fight their way out of the corner they’ve been backed into. Don’t count out the Trojans in 2010, and don’t write them off for the future just yet.