USC Football: Two Wins Down, Eleven To Go For a Championship (Part 1)

Before the final strains of Conquest had faded from the Coliseum as the Spirit of Troy marched out after USC dispatched Ohio State's Buckeyes, Pete Carroll was mentally preparing for the next week. Since his Trojans have a bye week, Pete was considering which assistants to send where this weekend to scout high school players. 

For no matter how stuffed the bins are now, you got to keep the pipelines filled if you want success to continue.

The other thing on Carroll’s mind is keeping his team from getting too full of themselves after knocking off Ohio State in, as the fine folks at ESPN decided to billboard, The Collision at the Coliseum. Pete has a good idea how to get it done as well. He is very happy to use game film to point out errors and poor plays to keep his players motivated.

He knows how to balance it with the good stuff too, but given the multitude of back patters and glad handers—both in LA as well as in the national media—Pete will need to keep a set of well sharpened needles about.

The Trojans next face Oregon State in Corvallis on a Thursday tilt to be televised by the ESPN mothership. The Beavers will also be off this weekend to huddle up in their den and try to come up with some nasty surprises for the Trojans.

Beaver coach Mike Riley’s resume includes being a former NFL head coach in San Diego from 1999-2001, offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at USC under John Robinson during the 1993-1996 seasons, head coach for Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL from 1987-1990, where he won the Grey Cup twice and was named Coach of the Year in 1988.

Riley grew up the son of a football coach since his father, Bud, was defensive coordinator at Oregon State for coaching legend Dee Andros from 1965-1972. Mike attended the University of Alabama and played cornerback for another coaching legend, Paul “Bear” Bryant.

The first four times Riley lead Oregon State against USC, the Trojans won easily. But in 2006, in a game at Corvallis, Riley’s team broke the Trojan 27 game winning streak when JD Booty’s two—point conversion attempt with seven seconds left in the game was deflected away.

Last year, the Trojans gained a measure of revenge by giving Oregon St. a good shaving, 24-3 in what would be USC’s 750th football victory. The Trojans sacked Beaver QB’s nine times in front of the largest crowd to ever see Oregon St. in the Coliseum.

USC returns home to face the Oregon Ducks in their next contest. Given the Ducks numerous injuries at QB, their offense is in flux. However, they pose many problems with a talented defense. The Ducks will be looking for their second win in a row over the Trojans. USC was driving for a late TD to tie the score when Mark Sanchez was intercepted by Matthew Harper, his second of the day. 

Sanchez and the Trojans should have little trouble finding motivation when they play the Ducks this season.

The Trojans will host the Arizona State Sun Devils on 10/11. Last season USC had a fine Thanksgiving dinner in the desert courtesy of the Devils. I’m sure a veteran coach like Dennis Erickson will have an array of weapons and plays designed for his retribution.

The Devils will be off and licking their wounds for a week after just falling to Georgia. Then they will travel to Berkley to face Cal before their tilt against the Trojans. At 2-2 currently, this ASU team will be playing for their bowl eligible lives if they don’t break their losing streak against the Bears.

Following the Devils, USC will travel to Pullman, Washington to take on the Cougars of Washington State. Fortunately for the Trojans, this game kicks off at 12:15, so a cold evening will not hamper the game.

There is no guarantee of good weather though. Pete Carroll has prided his Trojan teams of being able to play in all conditions. This game may very well be a very good test of this years’ squad for the question of foul weather.

To achieve the ultimate goal of this season’s, USC must win all their games. With so many contenders emerging, it is questionable that once losing, the Trojans would be able to climb back to one of the top two spots.

Respecting each opponent will be crucial to prevent a letdown. Knowing each team will be pointing to their game against USC should also give the Trojans a sense of pride as well as purpose.  

Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons