Ducks Spank USC; Revenge Continues To Be an Elusive Aly For The Trojans

When USC went 9-4 after the 2009 season, most Trojan fans glumly smiled and said, "Wait until next year."

After all, those four losses were all Pac-10 conference foes and USC had just come off a remarkable seven year run where they had dominated all comers in that time period.

Then the NCAA laid down their hammer on USC and the pall cast upon the team was accompanied by player defections that depleted the depth that had set the Trojans apart from others.

No matter, those same Trojan fans declared, "We are still the Trojans and we'll find a way."

After last nights demolition of USC by the Oregon Ducks, that "way" remains elusive.

For Trojan fans who looked forward to returning the favor to Washington, Stanford, Oregon and Arizona for their part in 2009's debacle, the 2010 season remains hollow.

At this point, revenge by USC for these teams appears to be a dish, if not better (at least from the Trojans standpoint), at least realistically, left unserved.

It all began with Washington, led by ex-Trojan coach, Steve Sarkisian, coming into the Coliseum to receive their well earned payback for last year.

Except that isn't the way it went.

As we now know, the Huskies, behind a last minute drive by Jake Locker, waltzed out of the Trojan's house with a last-second victory in a game the Trojans should have won.

Fans of the men of Troy sighed, made some polite excuses, and girded for the mighty Stanford Cardinal whom the Trojans were to play in Palo Alto.

In this game, the Trojans played better than expected but once again, the game was lost in the last seconds, most assuredly in heart breaking fashion.

Yet, there were optimistic signs to be sure.

After all, no one really expected the Trojans to win this game; did they?

And yet there they were on top until the final seconds.

After this game, the Trojans continued to progress and a dominant performance against Cal at home gave the USC faithful hope for a major upset against Oregon in two weeks to follow.

Of course, who knew that Cal was a pig on the road?

Nonetheless, fans of USC came into the Oregon game with high hopes and for half of the game it appeared that their prayers may be answered.

Then reality set in.

After taking a 32-29 lead early in the second half, the Ducks simply exerted their will and that was the end for the Trojans.

Later, after the dust settled in a 53-32 shellacking of USC by mighty Oregon, the Trojans, along with their fragile psyche, were left to wrestle with the future in 2010.

With five games remaining, and only two at home, can the Trojans find a way to once again right the ship and find some good feelings heading into 2011?

And for those who would like some measure of revenge for those teams who upset the apple cart in 2009, only one team remains.

On November 13, USC will travel to Arizona to take on the 7-1 Wildcats who beat the Trojans at home in 2009.

While a win on the road that day will not make up for another season of frustration for Trojan fans, it would, at least, offer the possibility of soothing frayed nerves in the revenge department.

It also represents the toughest game the Trojans have left on their tattered 2010 schedule.

If they can get a win against Arizona, perhaps they can finish the season on a bright note.

Maybe they can even finish the season 10-3.

But it is going to take a far better effort than the Trojans gave last night against Oregon.

And its going to finally require the sweet taste of revenge.