NCAA Football • Provincial Report • USC Trojans

The Provincial Report: USC

Out in Hollywoodland they like anything that jiggles, wiggles, or sparkles. They like winners in California — nothing else will do — so it’s no big surprise that the celebrity elite have been flocking to the USC Trojans over the past few years.

How dejected they all must have been when the mighty Trojan army was felled this weekend 24-23 by Stanford — Stanford! — dashing any and all hopes of another national title run for SoCal. I bet the sun doesn’t tan as evenly today, the pool doesn’t seem as soothing, the McMansions must feel cold and empty. Well boo freakin’ hoo!

But if the current Trojan corps couldn’t get it done on Saturday night, maybe some alumni could get it done in the NFL on Sunday.

Former USC running back Reggie Bush has been having a tough time of it this season, with his Saints winless and he not being able to do a whole lot about it. Against Carolina he rushed for 67 yards on 21 touches and caught nine passes for 52 yards, but New Orleans still fell to the Panthers 16-13. Just a year after his rookie season and the whispers are already starting. Keary Colbert, though, had a decent outing for the big cats, catching four passes for 74 yards.

Cleveland might not be the place you’d expect a Trojan to end up, but Willie McGinest recorded two assists for the Browns as they played the Patriots. Too bad the Pats had Junior Seau on their side: He had a monster of a game with four tackles, two assists, two interceptions, and another pass defensed.

In Pittsburgh it was another Trojan defenseman, Troy Polamalu, tearing up the Seahawks with two tackles, one assist, and one pass defensed. Linebacker Lofa Tatupu got a sack for Seattle, but it was barely enough to slow the Steelers juggernaut.

In Jacksonville’s 17-7 win over Kansas City, that was Sammy Knight with eight tackles and one pass knocked down. Brian Kelly, meanwhile, had a couple tackles for Tampa Bay in their loss to Indianapolis. And LenDale White carried the ball for 32 yards in Tennessee’s inexplicable win over Atlanta; he also accounted for one of the five Titans turnovers.

Finally, a word about Matt Leinart. It looks like the season might be all but over for the former super stud on campus after his collarbone was broken on a sack against St. Louis. Before that happened, though, he completed seven of 13 passes for 100 yards with an interception. Having your collarbone broken would suck, admittedly, but it might be better than ourtright losing your job to Kurt Warner.

Related Posts

• No Related Post