The University of Southern California was ranked #1 by the Associated Press in their Preseason poll. They just finished their regular season with their fifth loss, against presently #1 ranked Notre Dame. USC quarterback Matt Barkley was also the preseason favorite for the Heisman Trophy. That possibility ended about a month ago, after their second loss, to Arizona. USC finished the season losing 4 of their last 5 games. This was the worst record for a preseason #1 since 1964, when Mississippi ended their season at 5-5-1.
The demise of the Trojans is really quite astounding. Matt Barkley possibly could have been the first player selected in this year’s NFL Draft, but he elected to return to USC for his senior season, and since their bowl ban was over, they were commonly thought to be a national championship contender. While the loss to Stanford in their third game wasn’t shocking, it definitely dropped them from national title contender in most people’s eyes. USC then won 4 in a row, to enter their game at Arizona with a 6-1 record. After losing to Arizona 39-36, all hopes of a national title were dashed, and possibly even making it to a BCS bowl game, especially with the games they had remaining. The next week Oregon beat them 62-51, thus ending any chance at a BCS bowl game. They followed that game with a win over Arizona State. Their last 2 games were against crosstown rival UCLA, and cross country rival Notre Dame.
UCLA jumped out to a 24-0 early second quarter lead, and cruised to a 38-28 win. A far cry from the 50-0 USC win a year earlier. Also, the Bruins injured Barkley’s right shoulder, which put him out of the game, and also out of the next game, against newly voted #1 in the country, Notre Dame. The game against the Irish went about as expected. Notre Dame won 22-13, with a goal line stand at the end. USC star wide receiver Marqise Lee was held to 75 yards receiving on 5 catches, while his partner, Robert Woods caught 7 passes for 92 yards and 1 touchdown. Many people expected USC to shred Notre Dame’s young secondary with their passing game, but it didn’t happen. USC freshman quarterback played pretty well in place of Matt Barkley, but it didn’t matter who was at quarterback. Notre Dame has given up 10.3 points per game all year, so USC did good to get 13 points.
I wonder how secure Lane Kiffin’s job is at USC. It must be incredibly disappointing for a team with such promise at the beginning of the season, to end up 7-5, with a game left in a minor bowl. I never understood the progress of Kiffin’s coaching career. His first head coaching job was with the Oakland Raiders of the NFL, where he was fired after a 5-15 record, in 2008. Then he was hired the next year with the Tennessee Volunteers. He finished that season with a 7-6 record. A total head coaching record of 12-21 qualifies him to get the head coaching job with USC? Is it because his father has been a successful defensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a long time, including winning the Super Bowl after the 2002 season? I know USC Athletic Director Pat Haden has said that Kiffin’s job is safe, but if next year is like this year, then his days are numbered.
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