Updates from December, 2007

After Sunday’s practice, each of the senior players exited the field through a tunnel formed by the underclassmen, a tradition Pete Carroll instituted in his first season. Except for injured DB Josh Pinkard, every other link to USC’s Orange Bowl National Championship team of 2005 will be gone after Tuesday’s game.  None of SC’s current […]

In what was supposed to be a tune up for the Pac-10 season which begins on Thursday night at California, USC’s basketball team (9-3) ran into some trouble in the first half against Riverside (3-8) on Saturday night before ultimately prevailing 70 - 57.  The Trojans trailed the Highlanders 26-12 early in the first half, but they […]

There hasn’t been a truckload of news items coming out of Rose Bowl practice this week, other than the typical storyline that USC has trouble with mobile quarterbacks (such as Illinois’ “Juice” Williams). The daily Patrick Turner injury issue hasn’t been completely resolved. Because he could only participate in a few drills Saturday, Pete Carroll described […]

USC’s freshman quarterback Aaron Corp, who is redshirtting this year to learn the playbook and get stronger before competing for playing time next spring with Mark Sanchez and Mitch Mustain, has impressed Trojan coaches with his bowl practice performances as the would-be “Juice” Williams, Illinois’ mobile starting quarterback. Pete Carroll told the LA Times, “At […]

Junior wide receiver Patrick Turner, second to only Fred Davis in receiving yards this season with 569, missed practice again Thursday with a hematoma in his right leg and seems even more likely to miss the Rose Bowl.  Though the coaching staff can afford to wait at least another day for him, and Turner was scheduled to […]

Trojan players noticed a perceptible change in the tone and speed of practice Wednesday, the official beginning of game-week preparations for Tuesday’s Rose Bowl.  Pete Carroll challenged his injured players to get on with returning to the team and proving that they’re healthy enough to take on the Illini. Carroll told the Times, “In essence, I […]

The Trojans practiced again at Carson’s Home Depot Center on Friday and Saturday, and now are off for a short Christmas break before returning to campus for their final week of Rose Bowl preparations on Wednesday. Here are the latest developments:

LB Brian Cushing suffered a painful knee bruise in Friday’s practice after colliding with a […]

The Trojans (8-3) had their second straight easy home victory on Saturday evening, defeating the Cal Poly Mustangs (5-6) at the Galen Center, 78-55. It was the eighth consecutive game that the Trojans held their opponents to 62 points or fewer, matching a streak last attained in 1950. The Mustangs shot just 35% on the […]

The 25th-ranked Trojans (7-3) host the Big West Conference’s Cal Poly Mustangs (5-5) at the Galen Center at 5:00p tonight.
The matchup
In the only previous meeting between the two schools, USC lost in 2003 at the Sports Arena, 93-78. The well-rested Mustangs have not played since defeating CS Bakersfield one week ago. They lost to the […]

Senior DT Sedrick Ellis and senior TE Fred Davis were selected by their teammates as co-MVPs of the 2007 USC Trojans, the team announced during its annual awards banquet on Wednesday night. Versatile senior linebacker Thomas Williams was named the team’s most inspirational player. A full list of the award winners can be viewed at […]