Aug. 21, 2004

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RADIO-TV-- Live national cable TV : 4:45 p.m. (PDT), ESPN, Ron Franklin, Mike Gottfried, Erin Andrews. Live national radio: 4:45 p.m. (PDT), Sports USA Radio Network, Larry Kahn, Gino Torretta, Troy West. Live local radio: 11:45 a.m. (PDT), KMPC-AM (1540 The Ticket), Pete Arbogast, Paul McDonald, John Jackson and Suzy Shuster (includes 5-hour pregame and 2-hour post-game shows. Nine other stations are included on the USC radio network: KSPAAM 1510 in Ontario/Orange County, XEMM-AM 800 in San Diego, KGEO-AM 1230 in Bakersfield, KXPS-AM 1010 in Palm Springs, KVEN-AM 1450 in Ventura, KSZLAM 1230 in Barstow, KFIG-AM 1430 in Fresno, KSFBAM 1220 in San Francisco and KFSN-AM 1140 in Las Vegas. Fans also can hear the live KMPC broadcast on www.usctrojans.com or can pay to listen to it live by dialing 1-800-846-4675 ext. 5933. Live local Spanish-language radio: 4:45 p.m. (PDT), KMXE-AM (830), John Laguna, Mitchelle Zaralegui.

USC Insider Show : 7 p.m. (PDT), Tuesdays during football season, KMPC-AM (1540) and KPLS-AM (830), Pete Arbogast, Petros Papadakis, Mark Willard. USC Trojan Talk: 7 p.m. (PDT), Sundays during football season, KDWN-AM (720), Harvey Hyde, Chuck Hayes. Fans also can hear the live KDWN broadcast on www.usctrojans.com.

USC ONLINE-- The USC athletic department has an official "home page" on the World Wide Web, featuring current and historical information about Trojan sports. For access, type www.usctrojans.com. IT'S NOT SOUTHERN CAL--Note to the media: In editorial references to athletic teams of the University of Southern California, the following are preferred: USC, Southern California, So. California, Troy, Trojans and (for women's teams) Women of Troy. PLEASE do not use Southern Cal.

PAC-10 ONLINE-- Pac-10 information, press releases, statistics and links to all league schools are available online at www.pac-10.org.

PAC-10 SATELLITE FEED-- The Pac-10 provides a weekly satellite feed featuring interviews with coaches and players regarding upcoming games along with highlight footage. The half-hour feed airs every Wednesday (through Dec. 1) at 11:30 a.m. (PDT). Coordinates are IA5/14 (formerly Telestar 5/ 14 C-Band). Trouble numbers: (310) 543-1835, (805) 231-3229 (888-451-5861 pager) or 925-932-4411.

PAC-10 COACHES TELECONFERENCE-- Pac-10 football coaches are available for 10 minutes each on a media teleconference beginning at 10 a.m. (PDT) every Tuesday (through Nov. 16) during the season. USC coach Pete Carroll comes on at 10:40 a.m. (PST). Beginning at 2:30 p.m. (PDT) each of those Tuesdays, a taped replay of the teleconference is available until the next call. Call the Pac-10 office (925-932- 4411) or USC sports information office (213-740-8480) to obtain the media-only phone numbers for the Pac- 10 Coaches Teleconference.

PETE CARROLL MEDIA LUNCHEON-- USC head coach Pete Carroll hosts a media-only luncheon in the Heritage Hall lounge at 11:30 a.m. (PDT) each Tuesday during the season (except bye weeks). Transcribed quotes from each session are available from the USC sports information office.

PETE CARROLL/MATT LEINART TELECONFERENCE-- USC head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Matt Leinart will be on a media-only conference call on Tuesday (Aug. 24) at 11:30 a.m. (PDT). Call the USC Sports Information Office (213-740-8480) for the phone number and passcode.

FACTS
USC (0-0 overall) vs. Virginia Tech (0-0), Black Coaches Association Football Classic, Saturday, Aug. 28, 7:45 p.m. EDT/4:45 p.m. PDT, FedEx Field, Landover, Md.

THEMES
For the first time since 1979, the USC football team enters a season as the defending national champion and the pre-season No. 1 pick. The Trojans, who'll be the home team despite being thousands of miles from Los Angeles, will attempt to protect their 9-game winning streak when they meet perennial power Virginia Tech. It's the first game of the 2004 college season. It's also the first matchup between the schools, only the second time USC has played in Maryland and just the seventh time Troy has competed in August. Although USC has been so-so historically against Atlantic Coast Conference foes, it usually fares well both when top-ranked and in openers (especially in openers coming off a national title campaign). Virginia Tech will be playing its first game as a member of the ACC, having come over from the Big East. Pete Carroll, the 2003 National Coach of the Year, will bring in a Trojan team capable of an explosive offense, a stifling defense and a potent kicking game. All-American signalcaller Matt Leinart, a leading contender for the Heisman Trophy, will attempt to better his record-setting 2003 season. The rushing attack will be led by the "Thunder and Lightning" tailback duo of LenDale White and Reggie Bush. All-American Shaun Cody headlines a defense that also includes the likes of Matt Grootegoed, Mike Patterson and Lofa Tatupu. Tom Malone was a recordbreaking All-American punter last year. Yet, some questions remain for USC: Can the relatively- inexperienced offensive line do its job? Will the young receiving corps step up? How will the cornerbacks play? What's the playing status of several key Trojans? Has USC been able to maintain its focus despite the hype and off-season distractions? Virginia Tech, noted for 18thyear head coach Frank Beamer's "Beamer Ball" style that produces touchdowns by its defense and special teams, returns only 9 starters, including talented quarterback Bryan Randall and cornerback Jimmy Williams. The game is a sellout in 91,655-seat Fed Ex Field, but it will be shown live nationally in prime time on ESPN (on whose air USC is making a rare appearance).

RANKINGS
USC is ranked first by AP and USA Today/ESPN. Virginia Tech is not ranked.

SERIES
This is the first meeting between USC and Virginia Tech.

VERSUS ACC
USC is 7-6 all-time against current Atlantic Coast Conference teams: 3-0 versus Duke, 1-0 versus Clemson, 2-1 vs. Georgia Tech, 1-1 versus Miami (Fla.) and 0-2 against both Florida State and North Carolina. USC's last game against an ACC opponent was a 30- 10 loss at Florida State in 1998.

LAST TIME PRE-SEASON NO. 1/DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPS
USC last opened a season with a No. 1 AP ranking in 1979, which was also the last time it entered a season as the defending national champion (having won the UPI crown in 1978). The Trojans posted an 11-0-1 record in 1979 (the only blemish was a 21-21 tie against Stanford) to finish second in the AP poll.

USC IN OPENERS AFTER A NATIONAL CROWN
USC has an 8-0-1 record in season openers immediately following its national championship seasons. The average score of those games was 31.1 to 5.3, with 5 shutouts. The list:
1929--USC 76, UCLA 0
1932--USC 35, Utah 0
1933--USC 39, Occidental 0
1940--USC 14, Washington State 14
1963--USC 14, Colorado 0
1968--USC 29, Minnesota 20
1973--USC 17, Arkansas 0
1975--USC 35, Duke 7
1979--USC 21, Texas Tech 7

OPENERS
USC's record in all season openers is 80-23-8 (.757), with 36 shutout victories. In season openers on the road, the Trojans are 23-7-1 (.758). In its first road game of each season, USC is 72-27-8 (.710).

USC IN MARYLAND
This will be only USC's second game ever in the state of Maryland. In 1950, the Trojans lost to Navy, 27-14, in Baltimore's Memorial Stadium.

IN AUGUST
USC has a 4-2 mark in games played in August (all since 1990), including a 23-0 seasonopening victory at Auburn last season (Aug. 30).

WIN STREAKS
The Trojans have captured their last 15 home games (with 2 shutouts). That's USC's longest Coliseum win streak since getting 19 in a row during the 1931 through 1933 campaigns.

Besides that Pac-10 leading 15-game home winning streak, USC also has the longest current Pac-10 win streaks for overall games (9), Pac-10 games (7) and road games (5).

For the first time since 1979, the USC football team enters a season as the defending national champion and the pre-season No. 1 pick.

HIGH RANKING
USC has been ranked in the AP Top 10 for its past 19 games, its longest string since 34 in a row in 1978-80. The Trojans have been in the AP Top 5 in 14 of the last 18 polls.

RECORD WHEN NO. 1
USC has a 36-4-2 (.881) record games when it is ranked No. 1 by AP. When a No. 1-ranked Trojan team faces an unranked opponent, it is 22-1-1 (.938).

CONNECTIONS
USC has no players from Virginia or Maryland, while Virginia Tech claims 1 California native (DE Jordan Trott)...USC quarterbacks coach Carl Smith was the quarterbacks/wide receivers coach with the USFL champion Baltimore Stars in 1984 and 1985...OT Kyle Williams' uncle, Eric Williams, played for the Washington Redskins from 1990 to 1993 (including on the 1991 Super Bowl champs).

LAST YEAR
USC was named the 2003 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. Last year's record-setting team won its last 9 games en route to a 12-1 overall mark. Troy captured its second consecutive Pac-10 title (going 7-1) and beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl to secure its 10th national crown (its first in 25 years). Along the way, USC swept traditional rivals UCLA and Notre Dame for the second year in a row (only the second time it has ever done that in back-toback seasons). All of that came on the heels of USC's nearly-as-successful 2002 campaign that ended with an 11-2 mark, a victory in the Orange Bowl and a No. 4 final ranking. The Trojans have won 20 of their last 21 games (and their past 15 home contests) and have been dominant on both sides of the ball. 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. And the Trojan defense--whose +1.33 turnover margin and +111 takeaways in Carroll's first 3 seasons are best in the nation--topped the country in 2003 in rushing defense. Last year, 2 Trojans finished in the Top 10 in the Heisman Trophy balloting, 5 were All-American first team selections and 9 were All-Pac-10 first teamers.

SCHEDULE
USC will defend its national championship against a schedule that features 6 opponents who played in bowls last season. The challenge starts right away, as the Trojans open on Aug. 28 against perennial power Virginia Tech in the Black Coaches Association Football Classic in Landover, Md. USC then hosts Colorado State and travels to BYU and Stanford before having a trio of home games (California, Arizona and Washington) followed by another pair of road contests (Washington State and Oregon State). The Trojans-- who have 3 byes in 2004 for the second consecutive year--then return home to host Arizona and Notre Dame before concluding their season on "Championship Saturday" (Dec. 4) at UCLA. It's a schedule that could help USC better the average overall (72,806) and home (77,804) attendance school records it set last year...and gives credence to the Trojan marketing department's 2004 slogan of "Still The Hottest Ticket In Town."

1979 DÉJÀ VU?
There were numerous similarities between last year's national champion Trojans and the USC team from 25 years earlier, the 1978 national champs. This year, again there are many coincidental repeats between the 2004 Trojans and the USC team from 25 years earlier, the 1979 squad that went 11-0-1 and finished No. 2 in the polls. As in 2004, that 1979 team was a pre-season No. 1 coming off a controversial split national title shared with an SEC team (Alabama) and a Rose Bowl win over a Top 5 Michigan team, and was led by a head coach in his fourth year at the helm (John Robinson). More similarities for both teams: the opener against a "Tech" team (Texas Tech, Virginia Tech), an efficient lefthanded quarterback in his second year as a starter (Paul McDonald, Matt Leinart) who set the school touchdown pass record the previous season, a running back named White (Charles, who wore 12, and LenDale, who is No. 21), a player named Mike McDonald (this year's Mike is the son of the 1979 quarterback, Paul), a highlytouted freshman receiver from New Jersey (Timmy White, Dwayne Jarrett), a record-breaking receiver named Williams (Kevin then, maybe Mike now!), a top Heisman candidate (Charles White, Matt Leinart) and a No. 1-ranked recruiting class. Also, eerily, the previous season for both squads featured a Heisman winner from Oklahoma who returned for his final year (Billy Sims, Jason White).

RETURNING TROJANS
The Trojans return 13 starters (5 on offense and 6 on defense, plus both kickers) from last year. In all, 72 squadmen return from last year's national championship team, including 51 who saw playing time in 2003 (46 were lettermen and 30 were on the season-ending 2-deep). Some 22 Trojans have started at least once in their career. Joining them are 22 new scholarship players, including 3 who enrolled at USC this past spring and participated in spring practice. They comprise what many are saying is the school's second consecutive No. 1 recruiting class in the nation.

GONE FROM 2002
Key losses from the offense are wide receiver Keary Colbert, a 4-year starter who set the USC career receptions record (207), and a trio of experienced linemen: All-American tackle Jacob Rogers (a 3-year starter), All-Pac-10 center Norm Katnik (a 3-year starter) and guard Lenny Vandermade (a 4-year starter). Gone from the defense are All-American end Kenechi Udeze, a 3-year starter who left after his junior season to enter the NFL draft (he was the nation's sack co-leader in 2003 when he had 16.5 sacks, 26 tackles for loss and 5 forced fumbles), and fellow end Omar Nazel (a 2- year starter), plus both starting cornerbacks (All-Pac-10er Will Poole, who had 7 interceptions and 80 tackles in 2003, and Marcell Allmond, who led USC to an 18-1 mark when he started in the secondary, and 2-year starting outside linebacker Melvin Simmons.

USC'S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
USC has won 10 national championships in football: 1928-31-32-39-62-67-72-74-78-2003. In 5 other years (1929-33-76-79-2002), the Trojans were picked by some as No. 1, but the selectors were deemed not all-encompassing enough to claim a legitimate national crown.

PAC-10 TITLE
After sharing the Pac-10 championship in 2002, USC won the 2003 Pac-10 title outright (its first outright crown since 1989). That was the first time that USC won back-to-back Pac- 10 titles since 1988 and 1989 (the Trojans also won it in 1987). USC has now won the league title 33 times, nearly twice as much as any other school.

PRE-SEASON RANKINGS...
Here's a look at where the 2004 Trojans are ranked by various pre-season prognosticators:

...AND PRE-SEASON HONORS
QB Matt Leinart (Playboy, Sports Illustrated, Lindy's, The Sporting News, CBS.Sportslilne.com, Blue Ribbon, Phil Steele's, NationalChamps.net), DE-DT Shaun Cody (Playboy, Athlon, Street & Smith's, The Sporting News, Collegefootballnews.com, Blue Ribbon, Rivals.com, NationalChamps.net), P Tom Malone (Playboy, Sports Illustrated, Lindy's, Phil Steele's, Collegefootballnews.com), TB Reggie Bush (Athlon, CBS.Sportslilne.com, Phil Steele's), LB Matt Grootegoed (Street & Smith's, CBS.Sportslilne.com) and DT Mike Patterson (Football Action) have been named to various pre-season All-American first teams. S Darnell Bing was a pre-season All-American third teamer by several media outlets.

WATCH LISTS
The following Trojans have made the official "Watch Lists" for national 2004 post-season awards:
QB Matt Leinart
Davey O'Brien Award (top quarterback)
Maxwell Award (top player)
Walter Camp Award (top player)

DE-DT Shaun Cody
Lombardi Award (top lineman)
Nagurski Trophy (top defensive player)
Outland Trophy (top lineman)
Bednarik Award (top defensive player)

LB Matt Grootegoed
Lombardi Award (top lineman)
Butkus Award (top linebacker)
Walter Camp Award (top player)
Bednarik Award (top defensive player)

DT Mike Patterson
Lombardi Award (top lineman)
Outland Trophy (top lineman)

LB Lofa Tatupu
Butkus Award (top linebacker)

WR Mike Williams
Maxwell Award (top player)

TE Alex Holmes
Mackey Award (top tight end)

S Darnell Bing
Thorpe (top defensive back)

PK Ryan Killeen
Groza Award (top placekicker)

PETE CARROLL
It took energetic and charismatic USC head football coach Pete Carroll only 3 years to restore the glory of the Trojan football program and return Troy to national prominence. He is 29-9 (76.3%) as a college head coach (all at USC). His losses were by a total of 42 points (4.7 average) and only 1 was by more than a touchdown (it was by 11 points). After starting off his Trojan career 2-5, he has gone 27-4 (87.1%). He is 10-0 in November. His teams already have posted 4 shutouts. He also serves as USC's defensive coordinator. --The 2003 season-his third at Troy-was one of the best in USC history. The Trojans won the AP national championship (USC's first national crown since 1978) and entered the Rose Bowl also ranked No. 1 in the USA Today/ ESPN poll but weren't allowed to keep the top spot after winning that bowl because of a contractual agreement which required the coaches to vote the Sugar Bowl winner as their poll's champion (USC ended up second). USC was 12-1 overall (the only loss was by 3 points at California in triple overtime) and, at 7-1 in the Pac-10, Troy won its second consecutive league title for the first time since 1988-89 (and its first outright crown since 1989). His Trojans won their last 9 games (and 20 of the last 21) and posted back-to-back seasons of double digit wins for the first time since 1978 and 1979. For just the second time in history (the other time also was 1978 and 1979), USC swept traditional rivals UCLA and Notre Dame in consecutive years. His 2003 squad featured a potent offense, a stingy defense and productive special teams. USC, which scored at least 20 points in its last 26 games (a school record), had a stretch of 11 consecutive 30- point games (also a school mark) and 7 straight 40-point contests (a Pac-10 record). USC's 534 points was a Pac-10 record. The defense led the nation in rushing defense and was second in turnover margin, forced 42 turnovers and scored 8 touchdowns. And the Trojans topped the nation in net punting. Five Trojans-wide receiver Mike Williams, offensive

FUN FACT
Although USC football games have been televised live 321 times overall, this will be just Troy's fifth appearance on ESPN. The Trojans sport a 3-1 record on ESPN's air, with wins in 1988 (Boston College), 1990 (Washington State) and 1991 (Oregon) and the loss coming in the last appearance in 1992 (UCLA). tackle Jacob Rogers, defensive end Kenechi Udeze, punter Tom Malone and quarterback Matt Leinart-were first team All-Americans (Leinart and Williams finished sixth and eighth, respectively, in the Heisman Trophy voting). For all this, Carroll was named the 2003 American Football Coaches Association Division IA Coach of the Year, Home Depot National Coach of the Year, Maxwell Club College Coach of the Year, ESPN.com National Coach of the Year, Pigskin Club of Washington D.C. Coach of the Year and All-American Football Foundation Frank Leahy Co- Coach of the Year. He also was the Pac-10 Co-Coach of the Year (USC's first honoree since Larry Smith in 1988). --In 2002, just his second season at USC, his Trojans thrived despite playing what was ranked by the NCAA, Sagarin and the BCS as the nation's most difficult schedule (facing 9 AP-ranked teams and 11 bowl squads). USC-- which beat Iowa in the Orange Bowl--posted an 11-2 overall record and a No. 4 ranking in the final polls, and won the Pac-10 championship while going 7-1. The Trojans also won their last 9 home games. It was USC's first 11- win season since 1979 and its highest ranking since 1988. Troy won its final 8 games (scoring at least 30 points in each), including blowouts of traditional rivals UCLA and Notre Dame (the first time USC beat both in the same season since 1981 and the first time in back-toback games since 1978). USC led the Pac-10 in total offense (449.3) and total defense (284.9), as well as scoring offense (35.8) and scoring defense (18.5), and was in the NCAA's Top 25 in nearly every team statistical category on both sides of the ball. Heisman Trophy- winning quarterback Carson Palmer and safety Troy Polamalu were first team All-Americans. --Carroll brought big doses of experience, enthusiasm and leadership in his quest to revive the USC football program when he was named the Trojans' head football coach on Dec. 15, 2000 (he signed a 5-year contract). After USC started off his opening 2001 season slowly at 1-4, Carroll stayed the course and got his troops to rally by winning 5 of their last 7 games (including the final 4 regular season contests) to finish at 6-6 overall. USC, which won its last 5 Pac-10 games after beginning league play at 0-3, placed fifth in the conference at 5-3 and earned a berth into the Sega Sports Las Vegas Bowl. Putting an exclamation point on the regular season was a 27-0 blanking of No. 20 UCLA, USC's first shutout in the crosstown rivalry since 1947 and the series' biggest margin of victory since 1979. --The 52-year-old Carroll has 29 years of NFL and college experience, including 13 on the college level. He was the head coach of the NFL's New England Patriots for 3 seasons (1997-99) and New York Jets for 1 year (1994). He guided the Patriots into the playoffs in his first 2 seasons, winning the AFC Eastern Division title at 10-6 in 1997 and advancing to the second round of the playoffs. His overall record in New England was 27-21 in the regular season and 1-2 in the playoffs. After serving as the Jets' defensive coordinator for 4 seasons (1990-93), he became the team's head coach the following season. His 1994 Jets went 6-10. He spent the next 2 years (1995-96) as the defensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers, who won the NFC Western Division title both seasons. Carroll began his coaching career at the college level, serving as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Pacific, for 3 years (1974-76), working with the wide receivers and secondary. He then spent a season as a graduate assistant working with the secondary at Arkansas (1977), and then a season each as an assistant in charge of the secondary at Iowa State (1978) and at Ohio State (1979). That Buckeye squad lost to USC in the 1980 Rose Bowl. He next spent 3 seasons (1980-82) as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at North Carolina State, then returned to Pacific in 1983 as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. He entered the NFL in 1984 as the defensive backs coach of the Buffalo Bills, then held a similar position with the Minnesota Vikings for 5 seasons (1985- 89). Carroll spent the 2000 season as a consultant for pro and college teams, doing charitable work for the NFL and writing a column about pro football for CNNSI.com. --Carroll was a 2-time (1971-72) All-Pacific Coast Conference free safety at Pacific and earned his bachelor's degree in 1973 in business administration. He received his secondary teaching credential and a master's degree in physical education from Pacific in 1976. He was inducted into the Pacific Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. He was born on Sept. 15, 1951 in San Francisco. He and his wife, Glena, who played volleyball at Pacific, have 3 children: sons Brennan, 24, who played tight end at Pittsburgh (he previously played at Delaware) and is now an assistant at USC, and Nathan, 16, and daughter Jaime, 21, a senior at USC who played on the Women of Troy's highly-ranked volleyball team which competed in the 2000 NCAA Final Four.

OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW
Five starters return on offense in 2004: quarterback Matt Leinart, wide receiver Mike Williams, tailback Hershel Dennis, guard Fred Matua and fullback Brandon Hancock. Hancock (knee injury) likely won't play this season, while Williams' reinstatement status is still pending. 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. USC's top 4 rushers (and 14 of its 17 ballcarriers), its top 4 passers and 14 of the 17 players who caught passes last year return in 2004. 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). And USC's rushing offense (155.9), though not nationally ranked, was its best since 1991. 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. As an indication of just how prolific USC's offense has become under coordinator Norm Chow, consider that the Trojans have scored at least 20 points in their last 26 games (a school record), including a stretch of 11 consecutive 30-points games (also a USC mark) and 7 straight 40-point contests (a Pac-10 record). And of Troy's 77 offensive scoring drives in 2003, 59 took less than 3 minutes.

LEINART
USC has perhaps the nation's top quarterback in record-setting All-American first teamer Matt Leinart (255-of-402, 63.4%, 3,556 yds, 38 TD, 9 int in 2003), a leading Heisman Trophy candidate. The junior finished sixth in last year's Heisman Trophy voting and was only the second sophomore (along with Stanford's John Elway) to win Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year honors. The accurate and efficient lefthanded Leinart came out of relative obscurity to more-than-capably fill the shoes of 2002 Heisman winner Carson Palmer. 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. He gave an early indication of his talent when his first career pass went for a touchdown at Auburn in last fall's opener. He went on to throw a Pac-10 record 38 TDs (1 shy of the NCAA sophomore mark). His 164.5 passing efficiency rating ranked third nationally and was a USC record (he's the nation's top-rated returning passer). He set a Pac-10 season mark with 212 consecutive passes without an interception (just 4 throws short of the league's career record). And he punctuated USC's Rose Bowl victory over Michigan by catching a 15-yard scoring pass off a reverse.

USC CAREER PASSING LEADERS
(Based on Number of Completions -- Includes bowl games)

OTHER QUARTERBACKS
Behind Matt Leinart is a stable of very capable backups. Sophomore John David Booty (7- of-14, 50.0%, 90 yds in 2003), believed to be the first football player to graduate a full year early from high school and enroll at a major Division I-A university when he did so last year, became Leinart's backup by the middle of the 2003 season before breaking his wrist late in the year. 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. 2 at USC after Booty got hurt last year, as well as senior Matt Cassel (6-of-13, 46.2%, 63 yds in 2003), who has also spent time in his career at tight end and is a pitcher on the Trojan baseball team, junior Billy Hart, an infielder/ outfielder on USC's baseball team (he has yet to throw a pass at USC and has seen only brief action in 2002), and walk-on redshirt freshman Michael McDonald, the son of ex- USC All-American quarterback Paul McDonald. Joining the signalcalling corps this fall as a freshman was prep All-American Rocky Hinds.

TAILBACKS
USC is loaded once again at the running back spots. Last fall, the Trojans used a rotation of 3 young tailbacks that worked so well, look for more of the same in 2004. The threesome combined for 1,906 rushing yards (146.6 yards a game) with 20 TDs in 2003; each rushed for at least 500 yards (the first time that had happened at USC since 1988) and averaged at least 4.8 yards per carry. Junior Hershel Dennis (137 tcb, 661 yds, 4.8 avg, 4 TD in 2003, plus 10 rec, 62 yds, 6.2 avg, 1 TD), the veteran of the group, started each game last year and was effective. He'd then give way to USC's "Thunder and Lightning" duo: LenDale White (141 tcb, team-high 754 yds, 5.3 avg, 13 TD in 2003, plus 6 rec, 15 yds, 2.3 avg, 1 TD) and Reggie Bush (90 tcb, 521 yds, 5.8 avg, 3 TD in 2003, plus 15 rec, 314 yds, 20.9 avg, 4 TD and team-best 18 KOR, 492 yds, 27.3 avg, 1 TD), now both sophomores. The bull-like White, who had a trio of 100-yard games last season, was the first true freshman to lead USC in rushing (his 754 yards were the second most by a Trojan frosh behind Charles White's 858 in 1976) and his 13 rushing TDs were a USC freshman mark (his 14 total TDs tied the USC frosh record). 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-yourbreath- when-he-gets-the-ball runner, had 24 plays of 20-plus yards in 2003. He was 10th nationally in kickoff returns (27.3, first in Pac- 10) and had a scoring runback. Looking to break into the tailback rotation is quick redshirt freshman Desmond Reed, who worked at wide receiver and in the secondary last fall, along with a pair of walk-ons in junior Andre Woodert (3 tcb, 19 yds, 6.3 avg in 2003) and redshirt freshman John Griffin.

FULLBACKS
At fullback, fleet junior Brandon Hancock (1 tcb, -2 yds, -2.0 avg in 2003, plus 13 rec, 160 yds, 12.3 avg, 2 TD), a tough blocker and excellent receiver, was expected to return as the starter, but he'll likely miss 2004 while recuperating from knee surgery. 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. Backing him will be junior David Kirtman (5 tcb, 23 yds, 4.6 avg in 2003, plus 5 rec., 28 yds, 5.6 avg), a rugged blocker who has starting experience and is a key special teamer, and redshirt freshman Jody Adewale, a converted tailback. Walkon redshirt freshman Sean Kelly, another former tailback, also is available.

WILLIAMS
This past February when a court ruled that players didn't have to wait until after their third year out of high school to enter the NFL draft, All-American first teamer Mike Williams quickly decided to give up his final 2 seasons at Troy and go pro. But he was not selected because of a judicial stay on that ruling, which was then overturned. So he sought to have his collegiate eligibility restored (as of late-August, the NCAA hadn't ruled). In his 2-year Trojan career, Williams has 176 receptions for 2,579 yards and a USC record 30 touchdowns. He has 12 100-yard receiving games in his career. He averages a touchdown every 6.1 times he touches the ball. As a sophomore in 2003 when he placed eighth in the Heisman balloting, he had 95 catches for 1,314 yards (his second consecutive 1,000-yard season) and a USC record 16 TDs. 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. He'll long be remembered for his spectacular one-handed, Frisbee-like TD grab against Oregon State last fall. As a 2002 freshman, he set NCAA frosh records for receiving yards (1,265) and TD catches (14) and the Pac-10 frosh mark for receptions (81).

OTHER WIDE RECEIVERS
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). 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 Mike Williams. Colbert was selected in the NFL's second round. 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. 3 wideout last fall, and Chris McFoy (2 rec, 23 yds, 12.5 avg in 2003), senior Jason Mitchell (2 rec, 27 yds, 13.5 avg in 2003), and juniors Greig Carlson, who was USC's top punt returner last season (21 PR, 188 yds, 9.0 avg in 2003), and one-time cornerback William Buchanon (3 tac, 1 dfl, 1 int in 2003). Walk-ons Wil Smith, a sophomore, and redshirt freshman John Zilka are also available. Three of the nation's top recruits could make an immediate impact as freshmen (all were prep All-Americans). Fred Davis graduated a semester early from high school and enrolled at USC this past spring (he can also play tight end). Dwayne Jarrett and Derrick Jones came in this fall. There's also walk-on freshman Brad Walker, the cousin of current Trojan tight end Kurt Katnik.

TIGHT ENDS
Another deep unit for USC in 2004--7 deep, in fact--is the tight ends corps. Senior Gregg Guenther Jr. (17 rec, 167 yds, 9.8 avg, 2 TD in 2003, plus 1 blk FG) became the starter by mid-2003 and performed well. USC's tallest player at 6-8, once football season concluded he would change into a basketball jersey and star for the Trojan hoopsters. However, he'll concentrate solely on basketball in his senior season. Junior Dominique Byrd (14 rec, 268 yds, 19.1 avg, 1 TD in 2003) started the first half of 2003 and was impressive before suffering a season-ending knee injury (he missed 2004 spring drills while recuperating, then broke his kneecap a week before 2004 fall camp and is sidelined). Senior Alex Holmes, who has 58 career catches, is back after sitting out last fall with a back injury. He started all of 2002 and has won back his job in 2004. Also in the mix are sophomore excenter Kurt Katnik (1 rec, 13 yds, 13.0 avg in 2003), plus sophomore Nick Vanderboom, a one-time walk-on who earned a scholarship this fall. Coming aboard this fall as freshmen were 3 prep All-Americans: Eugene Germany, Jimmy Miller and Dale Thompson.

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). There will be an entirely new left side and middle, as 10 years of starting experience must be replaced now that 2003 All- American first team left tackle Jacob Rogers (3-year starter), who was a second round NFL pick, plus All-Pac-10 first team center Norm Katnik (3-year starter) and left guard Lenny Vandermade (4-year starter) are gone. Last year, USC allowed just 1.2 sacks a game (its lowest average since 1987). Also, junior tackle Winston Justice, who from his right side spot protects Leinart's blind side, was slated to start for his third year and be an All-American candidate. But he was ineligible for this past spring's practice and will not participate in the 2004 season because of a student conduct violation. Sophomore Fred Matua started most of last season at right guard and brings a defensive lineman's mentality to the offensive front. He likely will start again, as could senior guard John Drake. After transferring from a junior college, Drake had moved into the lineup by mid-2003, where he split 7 starting assignments between rightside guard and tackle. He proved to be a load at 350 pounds before breaking his ankle late in the year (he missed 2004 spring drills while recuperating). A new center must emerge, with sophomore Ryan Kalil holding an edge over first-year freshman Jeff Byers, a prep All- American who was the national high school player of the year in 2003, and junior walk-on Ross Burruel. Competing for time at guard are senior Travis Watkins, sophomore walk-on John Lanza, sophomore junior college transfer Alatini Malu, who enrolled at USC this spring, freshman Travis Draper (originally a 2003 signee, he didn't enroll at USC until this spring), and prep All-American Chilo Rachal, a frist-year freshman who also can play tackle. In the hunt for the tackle jobs are sophomore Kyle Williams and redshirt freshmen Sam Baker, Drew Radovich and Matt Spanos, plus 370-pound junior Taitusi Lutui, a J.C. All-American transfer this fall. Lutui and Williams have the edge on the right side, while Baker should start on the left.

DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW
Six defensive starters return from 2003: endtackle Shaun Cody, tackle Mike Patterson, linebackers Matt Grootegoed and Lofa Tatupu and safeties Darnell Bing and Jason Leach. Others back with starting experience include cornerbacks Ronald Nunn and Kevin Arbet, linebacker Dallas Sartz, end Frostee Rucker and linebacker Collin Ashton. USC's top 2 tacklers (and 4 of its top 5) return from a 2003 defense that was first nationally in rushing defense (a school-record 60.2), second in turnover margin (+1.5) and tied for 17th in scoring defense (18.4), all Pac-10 bests. It was the third consecutive year that Troy led the league in scoring defense. Opponents averaged just 1.8 yards per carry against the Trojans last fall, a school record and 2003 national low. USC's defense last season posted a national-best 55 sacks, forced 42 turnovers and scored 8 touchdowns (and had 2 safeties). 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. The Trojans have done a superb job of getting turnovers under Carroll, as their +1.33 turnover margin and +111 takeaways the past 3 seasons are the best marks in the nation.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
USC's highly-regarded "Wild Bunch II" defensive line of the past 2 years is now down to "Wild Bunch ½," as veteran starting ends Kenechi Udeze and Omar Nazel are gone. All-American first teamer Udeze--a 3-year starter and Hendricks Award finalist who tied for the national lead in sacks in 2003 while posting 56 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 26 tackles for loss and 5 forced fumbles--opted to skip his senior year and head to the NFL, where he was a first round pick. Nazel, the defense's vocal leader, was a 2-year starter who last year notched 27 tackles, including 6.5 for loss (with 4 sacks), 2 fumble recoveries and an interception. But all is not lost, as 2 starters return...and they're among the nation's best. Both are battle-tested seniors and are All- American nominees after winning All-Pac-10 first team honors last fall. 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, likely at tackle (but he has the ability to slide out to end). Nose tackle Mike Patterson (55 tac, 13.5 for loss, 7 sack, 3 FR with 1 for a TD in 2003), who last fall had the most tackles for a loss of any Trojan tackle since 1996, will be starting for his third season. Both have a knack for creating havoc. If Cody moves to end, sophomore Manuel Wright (8 tac, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 3 dfl in 2003) will assume his tackle spot. The backup tackles will be junior LaJuan Ramsey (6 tac, 2.5 for loss, 1.5 sack, 1 FF in 2003), who also might work at end, sophomore Travis Tofi (3 tac, 1 for loss, 2 dfl, 1 sack for a safety in 2003), who also can play end, and redshirt freshman Sedrick Ellis. Joining the tackles this fall as freshmen were prep All- American Lawrence Miles and Fili Moala, plus 2 walk-ons in junior juco transfer Mike Davis and frosh Jeff Tola. A mix of players with experience and youth will contend for the 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 (Rucker and Jackson are in the lead). A pair of new freshmen--prep All-Americans ends Thomas Herring and Jeff Schweiger --and juco transfer junior Rashaad Goodrum have a chance to make a contribution at end after arriving this fall.

LINEBACKERS
USC's strength on defense will be its linebacking corps. Only 2-year starting weakside linebacker Melvin Simmons is gone (he had 55 tackles and 3 fumble recoveries last season). Junior middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu (98 tac, 11.5 for loss, 3 sack, 10 dfl, 4 int with 1 for a TD, 1 FF in 2003) returns after making the improbable jump from starting at Maine in 2001 to doing so at USC last fall. He ended up as the Trojans' leading tackler in 2003. Senior Matt Grootegoed (41 tac, 4.5 for loss, 1.5 sack, 1 dfl, 1 FR, 2 FF), who has started the past 3 years at strongside linebacker (he'll be on the weak side in 2004), has a knack for always being around the ball. He's good enough to merit All-American consideration (he was a Butkus Award and Lombardi Award semifinalist last season). Junior Dallas Sartz (60 tac, 6 for loss, 2 sack, 4 dfl, 1 blk P in 2003) assumes the starting strongside job. He's more than capable, as he started there the last 6 games of 2003 when Grootegoed was bothered by an ankle sprain. Other possibilities on the outside among the returnees are junior Collin Ashton (28 tac, 0.5 for loss, 1 FF, 1 dfl in 2003), who performed admirably while starting twice late last year when Simmons was injured (a one-time walk-on, Ashton received a scholarship this fall), and redshirt freshman Thomas Williams, plus walk-on sophomore Mike Brittingham, who also can play fullback. 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). Enrolling this fall were J.C. All-American Ryan Powdrell, who is a junior, and prep All-Americans Keith Rivers and Michael Stuart, who both are freshmen, along with walk-on freshman Clay Matthews, the son of the ex-USC All-American linebacker of the same name.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
The good news in the secondary is that both starting safeties return. 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. Hard-hitting senior free safety Jason Leach (88 tac, 5.5 for loss, 1 sack, 6 dfl, 1 FR, 1 FF, 2 int with 1 for a TD in 2003) was USC's No. 2 tackler last season. Providing safety depth will be senior Greg Farr (6 tac in 2003), a former walk-on who received a scholarship this fall, twin redshirt freshmen Brandon Ting (3 tac in 2003) and Ryan Ting (1 tac in 2003), and senior walk-on Chris Bocage (1 tac in 2003), who missed 2004 spring practice while recovering from a knee injury. Ryan Ting also can play cornerback. Then, enrolling in the fall were J.C. All-American Scott Ware, who is a junior, and prep All-American Josh Pinkard, who is a freshman. Both of 2003's starting cornerbacks are gone: Will Poole, an All-Pac-10 first teamer and NFL fourth rounder whose 7 interceptions (the most at USC since 1994) and 19 deflections last year ranked him in the top 10 nationally in those categories (he also had 80 tackles, 4 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries), and Marcell Allmond, who helped Troy to an 18-1 record when he started in the secondary (he had 3 picks and 48 stops in 2003). Losing that duo might not be as much of a concern as it appears, however, because their possible replacements are experienced seniors with plenty of starts under their belts. 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. Kevin Arbet (5 tac, 1 for loss, 1 dfl, 1 FF in 2003, plus 4 PR, 19 yds, 4.8 avg) has 6 career starts. 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 missed 2004 spring drills while recuperating). Also a key special teams player, he led the Trojans in punt returns in 2001 with 25 for 225 yards (9.0 average) and earned All-Pac-10 first team honors as a special teamer that season. Also pushing for playing time at the corner spots will be juniors Justin Wyatt (10 tac in 2003, plus 3 rec, 20 yds, 6.7 avg and 3 KOR, 41 yds, 13.7 avg), who also saw some action at wide receiver last fall, and John Walker (3 tac, 1 dfl in 2003), and redshirt freshmen Eric Wright and Terrell Thomas, plus 4 walk-ons: juniors Alex Gomez and Justin Tolliver, redshirt freshman Da'Sean Cunningham and first-year freshman Jim Abbott.

LenDale White was the first true freshman to lead USC in rushing.

SPECIAL TEAMS OVERVIEW
Most of USC's specialists from 2003 return, including perhaps the nation's premier punter (Tom Malone) and placekicker (Ryan Killeen), plus an exciting kickoff returner (Reggie Bush), a dependable punt returner (Greig Carlson) and a steady holder (Malone). But a new snapper (for both short and long snaps) must be developed. The Trojan special teams in 2003 were much-improved from previous years. USC fielded record-setting punt and placekicking squads. Troy led the nation in net punting (43.7 avg.) for the first time ever. The Trojans returned a kickoff for a TD for the first time since 1998. And USC blocked 7 kicks (6 field goals and a punt). But things can still be shored up a bit in 2004, as opponents blocked 4 Trojan kicks (2 punts and 2 PATs) and returned a kickoff for a touchdown last year.

SPECIALISTS
All-American junior Tom Malone (49.0 avg in 2003), the nation's best punter, has proven to be a weapon whenever he boots the ball. 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). 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. In 2003, 24 of his 42 punts traveled at least 50 yards and 28 pinned opponents within the 20-yard line. His career average of 44.9 is nearly a yard above the school standard. Senior Ryan Killeen (19-of-24 FG, 65-of- 57 PAT in 2003) ranks among the nation's top placekickers. 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. His 65 PATs last fall were a Pac-10 season record and his 19 field goals tied the USC season mark. The 122 points he scored in 2003 were the secondmost ever tallied at USC. He had 35 touchbacks among his 99 kickoffs in 2003 (and he kept foes within the 20-yard line 58 times). He also backs up Malone at punter. Behind Killeen is walk-on redshirt freshman Mario Danelo, the son of ex-NFL kicker Joe Danelo, and walk-on first-year frosh Taylor Odegard. It might not sound like a big deal, but USC must replace both of its long-time snappers: 4-year short snapper Joe Boskovich and 3- year long snapper Matt Hayward. Both performed flawlessly during their careers. The leading candidates for both roles are junior walk-on linebacker Collin Ashton and redshirt freshman Will Collins, a one-time walk-on who earned a scholarship this spring. Junior punter Tom Malone will be the holder for his third season. Senior quarterback Matt Cassel is his backup. 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). Bush might also return punts. 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).

ASSISTANT COACHES
USC's assistant coaching staff welcomed 3 new faces in 2004: QB coach Carl Smith, who has 32 years of coaching experience (his last 17 years were spent in the NFL); RB coach Todd McNair, a former NFL running back and assistant; and DEF/LB coach Ken Norton Jr., the ex-NFL and UCLA star linebacker. There were also some slight adjustments involving 3 returning coaches. Rocky Seto switched from safeties to linebackers. Brennan Carroll, an offensive assistant the past 2 seasons, became a full-time assistant, handling the tight ends. And WR coach Lane Kiffin took on the added duty of passing game coordinator.

STATS OF NOTE

WINS

How about these names: DE Frostee Rucker. OT Taitusi Lutui (he goes by "Deuce"). OG Alatini Malu, who answers to "Tiny" (he's 6-4 and 335 pounds). LB Lofa Tatupu . DT Travis Tofi. DT Fili Moala. Then, there's S Darnell Bing and the Ting twins (DBs Brandon and Ryan).