2013 SEASON (3rd Qtr.)
WEEK 9
vs. Oregon State (1-6) (PAC-10)
(USC -34) USC BCS RANK: #7
Wideout Brian Robinson has missed the last two games with a seperated shoulder, but Fullback Clyde Dotson has really emerged as a solid checkdown receiver for Malcolm Moreno the past few games. That's a pleasant development and a nice bonus out of Dotson, a terrific run blocker.
We got the committments and three rejections this week - two of the rejections went to Notre Dame and UCLA, though UCLA only snagged a punter, so it didn't hurt too badly.
Mitchell Blackburn, a center from Highland High School in Palmdale, California, Brett Thornton, a punter from Burton Academy High School in San Francisco, California and Rick Holmes, an outside linebacker from Santa Cruz Valley Union High School in Eloy, Arizona all signed letters of intent to play for Southern Cal next season. Blakcburn was the #17th ranked recruit in the nation.
The reserves saw a lot of playing time this week as we built up a 35-0 lead at halftime infront of a capacity crowd of 96,600 en route to a 52-3 thrashing of a very poor Oregon State team.
The Trojans controlled the ball for over 40 minutes of play and put up 515 yards of total offense while limiting the Beavers to just 69 total yards. Wideout Ronnie Wheeler was a standout on the day, hauling in a 60 yard scoring strike from Malcolm Moreno, who went 12/14 with 2 TD passes and 1 INT before being relieved by redshirt sophomore Mark Rayburn for the day. Wheeler made 4 catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns and Wingback Brad Berberich had 8 receptions on the day. Freshman Free Safety Louie Finch ran an interception back for a touchdown to cap a dominating game by Southern Cal.
Very good game against a very bad team. But I like the way we're playing, and no new injuries. We're halfway through our PAC 10 schedule now and playing good football. But we've got the real tests coming up.
USC 52 -- Oregon State 3
PAC 10 (4-0) -- OVERALL (7-0)
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WEEK 10
@ Arizona State (4-4) (PAC-10) *TV4*
(USC -15) USC BCS RANK: #9
Network TV is picking up a lot of our games again this year, always a sign that you're playing well. This should be a tough test as Arizona is always good at home.
We received two more commitments this week as Gabe Kaplan, an offensive tackle (93--, Rank #11) from Beatrice High School in Beatrice, Nebraska and Cris Griffin, a safety (80++) from Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Illinois both signed letters of intent to play for Southern Cal next year. That brings the number of signees this year to 11, leaving only five more slots open in our recruiting class.
It was a difficult loss to take this week as we probably played too conservatively - though Malcolm Moreno threw two INT's in 17 attempts - as we dropped a 17-14 decision to Arizona State on the road. But the Sun Devils shut down Tailback Junior Coffey and we couldn't get anything going through the air. This unit isn't quite ready for championship contention, and this week showed it.
5th year senior Wingback Brad Berberich played well in defeat, gaining 52 yards on 9 carries, but he's the only one who could do anything all day.
Arizona State 17 -- USC 14
PAC 10 (4-1) -- OVERALL (7-1)
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WEEK 11
vs. #17 California (8-1) (PAC-10) *TV1*
(USC -7) USC BCS RANK: #14
We fall to #14 in the BC rankings this week after our tough to swallow loss at ASU. We're the prime time national television game this week as the Golden Bears come into the Rose Bowl. They're in 1st in the PAC-10 at 5-1 and us and UCLA are at 4-1. This would be a big win for us this year if we can bring it off. We'll be playing without starting OC Chester Hoffman who hurt had his knee scoped this week.
Three more recruits signed letters of intent with USC this week. They are: Glenn Cook, a center (77+/Rank #82) from Del Campo High School in Fair Oaks, California; Hunter Blount, an offensive tackle (79+) from Carson High School in Carson, California; and Sam Alexander, a (62+) cornerback from La Serna High School in Whittier, California. Decent depth signings, nothing spectacular. That leaves us with two more slots open and three scholarship offers out there.
Falling behind 21-7 at the half, our Trojans put up 28 unanswered second half points to earn a come from behind 35-21 victory over Cal this week. We did it on the legs of Tailback Junior Coffey, who rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries (6.6 ypc), winning a big, big game at home. Wingback Brad Berberich also had a fine game running the ball, gaining 82 yards on 9 carries (9.1 ypc) and rushing for one touchdown.
The Southern Cal defense applied pressure to the Cal quarterback all day as DE Alonzo Chevrier had 2.5 sacks and NT Big Ben Burroughs had a sack and a half.
UCLA also won, putting us both in 1st in conference, a game up in the loss column on Cal.
These are the kinds of games we have to win to be champions.
USC 35 -- California 21
PAC 10 (5-1) -- OVERALL (8-1)
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WEEK 12
vs. Washington (2-7) (PAC-10)
(USC -24) USC BCS RANK: #11
Jumped up to #11 this week on the strength of our big win over Cal. We play a game we should win this week, but we can't lose focus. A win this week will give us the most PAC-10 victories we've had in a single season since I took over the Southern Cal job, with only UCLA left to play.
One more signing this week, Wayne Bjorke, a quarterback from Rancho Cucamonga High School in Alta Loma, California. Bjorke is the second QB we've signed to a letter of intent his year, but he was ranked 18th in the nation and was scouted as an 80+. He'll compete for the starting job down the road.
Senior Fullback Clyde Dotson rushed for a touchdown and added another receiving as we defeated the Huskies in a convincing manner, 31-14.
Wideout Willie Davison had 5 receptions for 101 yards and QB malcolm Moreno went 14/26 for 209 yards, throwing 1 TD and 1 INT. Tailback Junior Coffey was held mostly in check, gaining only 87 yards on 28 carries, though he did find his way into the end zone once on the day.
It wasn't a great day statistically for us, but it wasn't a close game and it was a win we needed. Next up: UCLA for the PAC-10 title.
USC 31 -- Washington 14
PAC 10 (6-1) -- OVERALL (9-1)
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WEEK 13 MEDIA SNIPPETTS
LA TIMES
Week 13, 2013
And so it comes down to one game. Southern Cal vs. UCLA, the men of troy vs. the Bruins, the maroon and gold vs. the powder blue, yellow and silver. Cross-city rivals playing for one thing: the winner takes the PAC-10 championship trophy home.
This is what college football is all about. We have two of the top 10 college football teams in the nation here in Los Angeles and the fact that the PAC-10 championship has come down to this one game between these two old foes speaks highly of the quality of programs both schools have built.
We just can't wait to see the result.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEKLY
Week 13, 2013
What an interesting story has developed surrounding Southern Cal's Head Coach Bear Growlz. As he prepares his team for what is in essence a PAC-10 Championship game against arch rival UCLA, USC sits at #10 in the BCS Rankings, one spot behind tiny Keene State College, the program Growlz built and then left to take the USC job. Wouldn't it be something to see those two programs face each other in a BCS Bowl Game?
Code:
The College Years
Week 13, 2013
BCS Overall Rankings
School Record Conf Comp Poll Loss Sched Total Rank
Michigan 10-0 B10 1.00 1.00 0.00 1.88 3.88 1
Penn State 10-0 B10 2.75 3.50 0.00 4.20 10.45 2
Syracuse 10-0 BGE 3.25 3.00 0.00 4.88 11.13 3
Virginia 10-0 ACC 6.00 2.50 0.00 4.76 13.26 4
Texas A&M 9-1 B12 5.50 5.50 1.00 1.80 13.80 5
UCLA 8-1 P10 4.00 9.00 1.00 2.48 16.48 6
Florida 8-1 SEC 7.00 5.50 1.00 3.60 17.10 7
Marshall 10-0 MAC 8.25 7.50 0.00 5.00 20.75 8
Keene State 10-0 NNE 10.50 7.50 0.00 4.64 22.64 9
**Southern California 9-1 P10 7.50 11.00 1.00 4.36 23.86 10
Toledo 9-1 MAC 7.75 14.50 1.00 1.96 25.21 11
Vanderbilt 8-1 SEC 8.25 16.00 1.00 1.20 26.45 12
Alabama 8-1 SEC 16.25 11.00 1.00 4.40 32.65 13
Iowa 8-2 B10 17.25 12.50 2.00 1.60 33.35 14
Utah 8-1 MTW 12.75 17.00 1.00 3.64 34.39 15
Air Force 9-1 MTW 13.00 18.00 1.00 3.84 35.84 16
Notre Dame 7-2 IND 16.00 19.00 2.00 1.84 38.84 17
West Virginia 8-2 BGE 25.25 12.50 2.00 3.36 43.11 18
Rice 7-2 WAC 16.50 21.50 2.00 4.08 44.08 19
Georgia Tech 7-2 ACC 15.00 28.00 2.00 2.84 47.84 20
Texas Christian 8-2 USA 22.75 19.00 2.00 4.56 48.31 21
Louisiana-Lafayette 8-2 SUN 18.00 25.50 2.00 3.88 49.38 22
South Florida 8-2 USA 19.75 23.00 2.00 4.68 49.43 23
Wisconsin 7-3 B10 18.25 26.50 3.00 2.20 49.95 24
Louisville 7-2 USA 28.75 16.00 2.00 4.48 51.23 25
PAC 10 (6-1) -- OVERALL (9-1)
USC BCS RANK: #10
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