The USC Trojans are at one of the low points of their storied history, but it would be foolish for anyone to think they will remain there.
This is a school with vast financial resources and an equally rich tradition. SC claims 11 National Championships. They have six officially recognized Heisman Trophy winners. The school lies in one of the foremost recruiting hotbeds in the country, five hours drive from a bevy of four and five-star recruits, season after season.
Success isn’t found on the menu at Denny’s: it’s built patiently, with vision, leadership and commitment. With Kiffin ousted, what’s next for the USC Trojans? (Jeff Gross, Getty Images)
Here are the Trojan recruiting class ranks, 2003-2011, presanctions, the last great era of Trojan football: 1st, 1st, 6th, 1st, 2nd, 9th, 9th, 5th and 5th.
Pete Carroll built a dynasty in Los Angeles. He had 7 straight 11-win seasons. He beat UCLA 9 of 10 years. Given the financial resources, location, climate, and history of the school, the right coach can return it to competitive strength.
The greatest likelihood is that with sanctions over, the wreck that is currently Trojan football can be rebuilt. They unveiled a $70 million, 110,000-square-foot football facility last year, not as opulent as Oregon’s, but competitive in the conference.
The Cardinal and Gold have had 480 players taken in the NFL draft. They’ve been to 33 Rose Bowls. They’ve had three losing seasons since 1961. Thirty-eight former SC players are in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Their lifetime record against Oregon is 38-19-2.
Oregon fans shouldn’t fear USC. The Ducks have earned their place on the national scene and will continue to work hard to remain there. But it’s arrogance to presume the wounded lion will remain in the dust. Everything in college football goes in cycles, and schools with competitive advantages and rich coffers usually find a way to be competitive again.
Kiffin failed, but he was doomed to fail. He was a last-minute hire and an ill-considered choice. Handicapped by the loss of 30 scholarships, depth became a devastating issue–the team took 56 scholarship players to Arizona State, and at one point lined up a former equipment manager at wide receiver. Kiffin didn’t truly understand the USC culture and didn’t establish one of his own. This was a team that struggled for identity and fell apart in a crisis. Even so, he succeeded in defeating the Ducks in Autzen in 2011, keeping them out of a national championship game.
The rebuilding process begins with interim head coach Ed Orgeron, 10-25 as head coach at Ole Miss. The two things Orgeron has are a raspy energy and enthusiasm. Athletic director Pat Haden told Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times, “This is supposed to be a game of fun and joy. One of the things we’re looking for in Ed is to bring that fun and joy back into the game of college football.”
The business of college football is sordid. But the game is beautiful, more beautiful when great athletes are inspired to do great things. If USC rises again, fans will once again see epic match ups rather than sad ruin and embarrassing scenes.
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