But a new snapper (for both short and long snaps) must be developed. But there's a host of talented players hoping to fill the void: promising sophomores Steve Smith (17 rec, 319 yds, 18.8 avg, 2 TD in 2003), who was USC's No. Others back with starting experience include guard John Drake, tight end Dominique Byrd, fullbacks Lee Webb and David Kirtman, and wide receivers Chris McFoy and William Buchanon. QB Mark Sanchez. USC then hosts Colorado State and travels to BYU and Stanford before having a trio of home games (California, Arizona and Washington) followed by a pair of road contests (Washington State and Oregon State). We'll attempt to continue to play defense fast and aggressively, looking to take away the football.". The championship game against the Sooners was later vacated as a result of NCAA sanctions and USC was stripped of the 2004 BCS title. First, a starting wide receiver must emerge and we must reconstruct the line. Check out the detailed 2004-05 USC Trojans Roster and Stats for College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. LOS ANGELES New USC football head coach Lincoln Riley has named his full-time assistant coaching staff. Twitter. But all is not lost, as 2 starters returnand they're among the nation's best. He was sixth nationally in receptions (7.3, second in Pac-10) and 10th in receiving yards (101.1, third in Pac-10) in 2003. It's always difficult to lose a player the caliber of 4-year starter Keary Colbert, USC's career receptions leader (207) who had 1,000-yard receiving seasons the past 2 years (including 1,013 yards and 9 TDs on 69 catches in 2003). Fr. [7] This was the first time the two teams had competed in football;[7] and with the game held only three hours away from Virginia Tech, the crowd was dominated by Hokies fans. Troy scored 68 touchdowns and 534 points last year, both Pac-10 records, and its 6.5 yards per play average was a school record. After trailing 130 in second quarter, USC scored the next 28 points with a pivotal 65-yard scoring return by Reggie Bush in the 4th quarter with the game close at 1413. USC Finally Announces Coaching Staff The USC coaching staff is official. [25] The game marked the first career start for Husky quarterback Isaiah Stanback. Other potential returners are junior tailback Hershel Dennis, who led USC in kickoff returns in 2002 (9 KOR, 151 yds, 16.8 avg), senior cornerback Kevin Arbet (4 PR, 19 yds, 4.8 avg in 2003), who led USC in punt returns in 2001 (25 PR, 225, yd, 9.0 avg), and junior cornerback Justin Wyatt (3 KOR, 41 yds, 13.7 avg in 2003). Offensively, Troy has scored at least 20 points in the past 26 outings, with stretches of 11 consecutive 30-point games and 7 straight 40-point performances, and last year scored a Pac-10 record 534 points. Dale Thompson, In. [36] The game also featured four out of five of the 2004 Heisman finalists with Leinart, White, Reggie Bush and Sooner running back Adrian Peterson, the Heisman runner-up. [34] Reggie Bush scored on a pair of touchdown runs and totaled a career-best 335 all-purpose yards and placekicker Ryan Killeen kicked a USC and Pac-10 Conference game record 5 field goals. [43] All three players made the All-Pac-10 first team, with Bush making the team as both a running back and punt returner; they were joined by Mike Patterson, Matt Grootegoed, Lofa Tatupu and P Tom Malone. LINEBACKERS USC's strength on defense will be its linebacking corps. However, the Associated Press still recognizes USC as 2004 AP title winner. Hanson, who served as a graduate assistant on Riley's Oklahoma staff in 2019, comes to USC after two years of coaching Tulsa's offensive line. His 164.5 passing efficiency rating ranked third nationally and was a USC record (he's the nation's top-rated returning passer). "We've made so much progress on special teams," said Carroll. RETURNERS USC has back from last year its top kickoff returner in sophomore tailback Reggie Bush (18 KOR, 492 yds, 27.3 avg, 1 TD in 2003), who was 10th nationally in kickoff returns (27.3, first in Pac-10) and was the first Trojan to lead the league in kickoff returns since Anthony Davis in 1974, and its top punt returner in junior wide receiver Greig Carlson (21 PR, 188 yds, 9.0 avg in 2003). Then there's senior Brandon Hance (4-of-9, 44.4%, 44 yds in 2003), who started 9 games at Purdue in 2001 and was No. He also had stops as wide receivers coach at Richmond (2004) and Western . "We know we can expect a high level of play out of our experienced returning players. [17] The Cal Golden Bears, led by Coach Jeff Tedford, were already ranked their highest since 1991 and looking to earn one of the biggest victories in program history. "The reconstruction of our offensive line will be critical," said Carroll. [28] Although the fog was thick enough at times to interfere with pass plays, USC tight end Dominique Byrd caught two touchdowns. Sophomore strong safety Darnell Bing (69 tac, 2 for loss, 1 FR, 2 int, 5 dfl in 2003) was a Freshman All-American first team selection last year and he has an unlimited future. Fr., S Terrell Thomas, Rs. Jr., OT Alatini Malu, So., OG Fred Matua, So., OG Chilo Rachal, In. But this year's offense has a high standard to live up to: in 2003, the Trojans were fifth nationally in passing efficiency (159.1, first in Pac-10) and scoring offense (a school-record 41.4, first in Pac-10), 13th in passing offense (291.6, second in Pac-10) and 14th in total offense (447.5, second in Pac-10). [35] USC scored next 28 points en route to a 3810 halftime lead. Some school's results have been altered by retroactive NCAA penalties. KICKERS/PUNTERS/SNAPPERS Will Collins, Rs. 1 recruiting class in the nation. Behind Leinart is a stable of very capable backups. The leading candidates for both roles are redshirt freshman Will Collins, a one-time walk-on who earned a scholarship this spring, and junior walk-on linebacker Collin Ashton. Fr., DE Travis Tofi, So., DT Ryan Watson, Rs. His underrated, yet steady, ability-remember his highlight reel touchdown grabs against Michigan in last season's Rose Bowl-made it unwise for teams to double-cover Williams. [6], The game was tightly fought: Cal dominated the statistics, more than doubling USC's first downs (2812) and total yards (424205) while getting more plays (7950) and possession time (37:1122:49); Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a career performance, tying an NCAA single game record by completing his first 23 passes and guiding the Golden Bears to a first-and-goal at the Trojan 9-yard line with 1:47 to play. "We lost one of the greatest receivers in USC history and it will be a challenge to replace him. See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details. But nobody else has seen significant action at this level yet. [8] Although Virginia Tech was not ranked going into the game, they ended the season ranked 9th, going 103 (71 in the ACC), becoming ACC Champions in their first year in the conference and were invited to the 2005 Nokia Sugar Bowl. USC later vacated 2 wins (1 in conference), as well as the BCS and Pac-10 Championships, due to NCAA sanctions. This page was last edited on 18 October 2022, at 20:43. And, if that happens, Carroll could have USC primed to relive the glory days of the program, when Troy ruled the college football world in the '30s, '60s and '70s. They comprise what many are saying is the school's second consecutive No. Marco Chavez, Sr. Eugene Germany, In. "Our goal always will be to win the Pac-10 championship and the Rose Bowl. The 2004 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. ", USC will defend its national championship against a schedule that features 6 opponents who played in bowls last season. He received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA because he was out of action for most of the past 2 seasons with a foot injury (he'll miss 2004 spring drills while recuperating). "That talk is beyond our control," said Carroll, the National Coach of the Year in 2003 after his team was named the national champion by Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News, New York Times, ESPN.com, SI.com, CBS.SportsLine.com, Collegefootballnews.com and several other organizations. [45], The NCAA found that Bush had received gifts from sports agents Lloyd Lake and Michael Michaels from at least December 2004 in violation of NCAA rules of amateurism. Head Coach: Pete Carroll (11-2) Offensive Coordinator: Steve Sarkisian (QB Coach) & Lane Kiffin (PGC) Defensive Coordinator: Nick Holt Other Assistant Coaches: Best Players on the 2006 USC Trojans Football Team. for the first time ever. Seven starters return on offense in 2004: quarterback Matt Leinart, wide receiver Mike Williams, tailback Hershel Dennis, guard Fred Matua, tight end Gregg Guenther Jr., fullback Brandon Hancock and tackle Winston Justice (Hancock and Justice won't play this season). [32] USC set both a school home attendance (511,373) as well as the Pac-10 home per game average attendance (85,229) records. But we have a lot of players fighting for playing time, including some exciting young guys who will be fun to watch.". Henson, 46, spent the past 3 seasons (2019-21 . (Alonzo Adams / Associated Press) Grinch has worked in Norman for the last two seasons as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach. But fourth-year USC head coach Pete Carroll is having none of it. USC belongs at the top of college football, and this coaching staff is going to be instrumental in making that happen. On the inside, there is senior walk-on Marco Chavez (he sat out 2003 after transferring from Hawaii), plus sophomore Oscar Lua, who was sidelined most of last season because of a knee injury (he missed some of 2004 spring drills while recuperating). He was named to the fulltime staff in January of 2018. [39], The Sooners scored first, having stopped an opening USC drive. In the process, Leinart has thrust himself to the front of this year's Heisman race and is also a leading candidate for the Davey O'Brien Award. Reggie Bush will be a key in the Trojans' running game this season. And USC blocked 7 kicks (6 field goals and a punt). "Matt Leinart is coming off a great year," said Carroll. The 2004 USC Trojans finished the season 13-0 (8-0 in the Pac-10), | Pete Carrolls Record with Seattle Seahawks. He went on to throw a Pac-10 record 38 TDs (1 shy of the NCAA sophomore mark). ", DEFENSIVE BACKS Kevin Arbet, Sr., CB Darnell Bing, So., S Chris Bocage, Sr., S Greg Farr, Sr., S Alex Gomez, Jr., CB Jason Leach, Sr., S Ronald Nunn, Sr., CB Josh Pinkard, In. Shaun Cody (26 tac, 10.5 for loss, 6 sack, 1 FF, 1 dfl, 3 blk FG in 2003) will be starting for his fourth year, this year sliding out to end after spending his career at tackle. [22], At halftime USC recognized the 1939 Trojans as National Champions based on their #1 ranking in the contemporary Dickinson System, with surviving members of the team in attendance. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. QB John David Booty. "But we need to establish some depth at both safety positions, so some players will have to step forward.". We had tremendous fan support last year and we'll need all of them again in our quest to be the best in 2004.". Running backs coach Todd McNair was banned from off-campus recruiting for one year after the NCAA determined he'd known about Bush's dealings with the agents. Chris McFoy, So. Joining them will be 20 new scholarship players, including 3 who enrolled at USC this past spring and participated in spring practice. The Lou Groza Award candidate was 12th nationally in scoring (9.4, second in Pac-10) and tied for 18th in field goals (1.5, third in Pac-10) in 2003. The NCAA also forced USC to permanently disassociate itself from Bush. He started all of 2002 and could win back his job in 2004. [21] USC quickly put the game out of reach, scoring 42 points in the first half behind 4 touchdown passes Matt Leinart and school single game record-tying 3 scoring grabs by Dwayne Jarrett. He was sixth nationally in receptions and 10th in receiving yards in 2003. Ronald Nunn (40 tac, 4 for loss, 3 sack, 1 int for a TD, 4 dfl, 1 FF, 3 FR with 1 for a TD in 2003), known for his big plays, started 3 times in 2002 and played often in extra defensive back formations last year. So senior Lee Webb (9 tac, 1 FF in 2003, plus 4 tcb, 0 yds)-he started 5 times at fullback last year after seeing action at linebacker (where he played in 2001 and the first half of 2002)-will take over the starting job. . Although returning 11 starters from 2005, the team lost eleven players to the National Football League (NFL), including 2004 Heisman Trophy winner, Matt Leinart, and 2005 Heisman winner, Reggie Bush. [43], Coach Pete Carroll was named the National Quarterback Club College Coach of the Year, as well as a finalist for the Bear Bryant and Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Awards semifinalist, and was named the ESPN.com Pac-10 Coach of the Year. The season before that, USC fired offensive coordinator Tee Martin and three other assistants, while quarterbacks coach Bryan Ellis took the offensive coordinator job at Western Kentucky. On June 10, 2010, USC was forced to vacate its two final wins from the 2004 season (December 2004 against UCLA and the BCS championship game), as well as all wins from the 2005 season, following an NCAA investigation into possible violations by the Trojans' football and men's basketball programs. Last fall, the Trojans used a rotation of 3 young tailbacks that worked so well, look for more of the same in 2004. And of Troy's 77 offensive scoring drives in 2003, 59 took less than 3 minutes. Email. If we can have that kind of work ethic, we'll be on the right track.". [43] Dating back to former Trojan QB Carson Palmer's 2002 season, it was the third year in a row that a Trojan was named the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. Luke Huard, who comes from a family of outstanding quarterbacks, joined the USC staff in February of 2022 as an offensive analyst. Matt Cassel, Sr. Brandon Hance, Sr. Billy Hart, Jr. Rocky Hinds, In. It was the Trojans' first undisputed national championship since 1972, and the second time a team had gone wire-to-wire, with the Trojans holding the number 1 spot in the polls all season. [9] Each of them had very productive seasons last year and we're hoping for more of the same this year. [2] Despite low expectations, the Bruins were able to shut down Leinart and give the Trojans a close game that was not decided until the final minutes. [15] By halftime, USC found itself down 11 points after the Cardinal caught them by surprise with an 82-yard run final play while trying to run out the clock to end the half. [43], In conference, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush were named 2004 Pac-10 Co-Offensive Players of the Year, while DE-DT Shaun Cody was Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year; it marked the first time teammates had ever shared the honors on one side of the ball, the third time a school had won both offensive and defensive players of the year, and it was Leinart's second consecutive year being named the Offensive Player of the Yearmaking him the fourth to do so. "That's how we're looking at it. Defensively, Troy should be strong at linebacker and up the middle from front to back, while the ends and corners must be replaced. The official Football Coach List for the University of Southern California Trojans The official Football Coach List for the University of Southern California Trojans Football Coaches - USC Athletics Skip To Main Content USC Athletics Main Navigation Menu Then, we need to continue developing those young players who contributed so much last year and hope that they can elevate their play. Of course, Carroll-who doubles as the defensive coordinator-isn't the only one responsible for the success of these players. RB Chauncey Washington. [6], The Trojans made their first visit to LaVell Edwards Stadium, on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. [22] The decisive victory helped USC dispel concerns over its ability to dominate opponents. Fred Davis graduated a semester early from Rogers High in Toledo, Ohio, and enrolled at USC this past spring. Fr., FB Reggie Bush, So., TB Hershel Dennis, Jr., TB John Griffin, Rs. "Can the USC football team defend its national championship in 2004?". Fr. We also have some talented young players who can make a mark.". "[4] Ironically, the changes made to the BCS due to the 2003 season did not resolve issues with multiple undefeated teams, as Auburn and Utah finished undefeated, yet they did not get to play USC or any other team for the title. A mix of players with experience and youth will contend for both vacant end jobs: junior Frostee Rucker (26 tac, 4 for loss, 1.5 sack, 1 int, 1 dfl, 1 FF, 2 FR in 2003), who started 5 games last year when Nazel was injured, and redshirt freshmen Chris Barrett, Lawrence Jackson and Alex Morrow. "The tailback position is a strong one for us," said Carroll. [32] Trailing 103, USC scored the final 38 points. 1 and No. Additionally, Bush is the only Heisman winner to have forfeited his trophy. Dallas Sartz, Jr. Lofa Tatupu, Jr. Thomas Williams, Rs. [6] Days before the game, the NCAA declared star Trojans wide receiver Mike Williams ineligible to play after a failed attempt to join the NFL early, creating concern over whether the defending 2003 National Champions were prepared to try for another title. Quarterback Matt Leinart was awarded the Heisman Trophy as the most outstanding collegiate football player in the United States, with teammate Reggie Bush coming in 5th place. USC has intercepted a pass in 22 of the last 23 games, held 20 of its past 26 opponents to less than 100 rushing yards (and allowed only 1 player to crack the 100-yard rushing barrier in the last 25 contests) and had a stretch of 22 consecutive quarters without allowing a rushing touchdown. He led the nation in punting for 5 consecutive weeks in the middle of the 2003 campaign and would have finished as the leader (by 1.0 yards), but the efficiency of USC's offense left him 5 punts shy of having the NCAA-required minimum 3.6 punts per game. @Coach_Henson. 1 Usc (100) 8:00 pm EST, Junior QB passes for career-high 400 yards, https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/recap?gid=200412040064, Sugar Bowl leaves Auburn with bitter taste, College Football: USC ends doubts as to who's No. Fr., SNP Mario Danelo, Rs. "That's my fundamental approach to the game: control the ball on offense, go get it on defense and make things happen on special teams," said Carroll. A school-record 6 Trojans were awarded All-American first team honors in 2004: Matt Leinart, RB Reggie Bush, DE Shaun Cody, LB Matt Grootegoed, DT Mike Patterson and LB Lofa Tatupu. USC's punter (All-American Tom Malone, whose 49.0 average in 2003 was a school record) and placekicker (Ryan Killeen, whose 65 PATs last year set a Pac-10 record and 19 field goals tied the USC mark) are back, as well as USC's top kick returner (Bush) and punt returner (wide receiver Greig Carlson) from 2003. QUARTERBACKS John David Booty, So. The undefeated, top-ranked Trojans met the also undefeated, second-ranked Sooners in the 2005 BCS National Championship Game held at the FedEx Orange Bowl at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. It is widely considered one of the greatest college football teams of all time. He has had a great career here already and we would expect more of the same in 2004.". 2 in the AP poll at one point late in the season. (213) 740-4204. << 2004 USC 2006 USC >> 2005 USC Coaching Staff Head Coach: Pete Carroll Offensive Coordinator: Lane Kiffin & Steve Sarkisian Defensive Coordinator: Pete Carroll Other Assistant Coaches: Steve Sarkisian (QB Coach) Lane Kiffin (PGC/OC) Best Players on the 2005 USC Trojans Football Team QB Matt Leinart QB John David Booty RB Reggie Bush The Ray Guy Award candidate broke the USC season punting average record by 3.4 yards last fall (his 49.0 mark was just 0.3 off of the Pac-10 standard). USC's defense last season posted a national-best 55 sacks, forced 42 turnovers and scored 8 touchdowns (and had 2 safeties). Joining the signalcalling corps this fall as a freshman is prep All-American Rocky Hinds (St. Bernard High in Playa del Rey, Calif.). OFFENSIVE LINEMEN A key to USC's success in 2004 will be the play of the partially-rebuilt offensive line, which could be the biggest in Trojan history (there are 8 linemen who weigh at least 300 pounds). The electrifying Bush earned Freshman All-American first team honors as he set the USC freshman all-purpose yardage record (1,331 yards) and, as a hold-your-breath-when-he-gets-the-ball runner, had 24 plays of 20-plus yards in 2003. Obviously there are emotional swings with sports and so the mathematical ratings do not always line up with the emotional expectations from a team. [22] It was the second time the Trojans played before consecutive sellout crowds in the Coliseum, the first was in 1947 when the UCLA and Notre Dame rivalry games sold out, and the first against non-rival opponents. "I'm excited about this coaching staff," said Carroll. For a while, it appeared that Williams--who has 176 receptions for 2,579 yards and a USC record 30 touchdowns in his 2-year career--would not return in 2004 after taking advantage of a court ruling to leave after his sophomore year for the NFL. USC's 2014 coaching staff is rare in that it features two coaches who won bowl games in 2013neither of whom are the head coach. Ryan Ting also can play cornerback. Zach Hanson, tight ends coach. Both performed flawlessly during their careers. [9], Colorado State visited USC in the first meeting between the two programs. LOS ANGELES New USC football head coach Lincoln Riley has named his full-time assistant coaching staff. LOS ANGELES New USC football head coach . But both snappers (short snapper Joe Boskovich and long snapper Matt Hayward) must be replaced. Is Coach Philip Montgomery on the Hot Seat? "The challenge is whether we can keep it up. Derrick Jones, In.