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The 2004 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern Californiamarker in the 2004-2005 NCAA Division I-A college football season. The Trojans ended this season with 13 wins and no losses. They were the Pacific 10 Conference champions as well as the national champions, and remained the top-ranked team for the entire season. USC became just the second team ever to hold the AP No. 1 ranking fromthe pre-season through the bowl, also referred to as wire-to-wire (Florida Statemarker did it in 1999). The Trojans also became the 10th team to win consecutive AP national championships.

Quarterback Matt Leinart won the Heisman Trophy as the most outstanding collegiate football player in the U.S.; teammate, running back Reggie Bush finished fifth in Heisman voting, winning the following year. Both were named co-winners of the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. The team captains were Shaun Cody, Matt Grootegoed and Matt Leinart.

Because of the controversy that ended the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season with a split national title between LSUmarker and USC, the motto for the Trojans' 2004 season became "Leave No Doubt." Ironically, the changes made to the BCS due to the 2003 season did not resolve issues with multiple undefeated teams, as Auburn finished undefeated, yet they did not get to play USC or any other team for the title.

Schedule

The Trojans finished the season with a 13–0 record, 8–0 in the Pac-10.[500333] Ranks are based on the time the game was played, USC remained number 1 throughout the season.

Roster

Game notes

Virginia Tech

Trojans take the field at the 2004 BCA Classic.


USC and Virginia Tech opened the 2004 college football season with the Black Coaches Association Football Classic at a sold out FedEx Fieldmarker in Landover, Marylandmarker. 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 try for another title. This was the first time the two teams had competed in football; and with the game held only three hours away from Virginia Tech, the crowd was dominated by Hokies fans. The game marked the emergence of running back Reggie Bush, who often lined up at wide receiver, catching five passes for 127 yards and scored three touchdowns in a tight game. Although Virginia Tech was not ranked going into the game, they ended the season ranked 9th, going 10-3 (7-1 in the ACC), becoming ACC Champions in their first year in the conference and were invited to the 2005 Nokia Sugar Bowl.

Colorado State

Colorado State visited USC in the first meeting between the two programs. The Trojans dominated the Rams in route to a 49-0 shut out, led by running back LenDale White who ran for 123 yards on 14 carries, scoring three touchdowns. Matt Leinart went 20-of-31 for 231 yards in three quarters before being retired from the game, Dwayne Jarrett caught a touchdown on what was his 18th birthday, and the Trojans handed the Rams their worse loss in eight years and first shut out in 85 games.

BYU

Fans enter the stadium before USC at BYU.


The Trojans made their first visit to LaVell Edwards Stadiummarker, on the campus of Brigham Young Universitymarker in Provo, Utahmarker. The game marked the return of USC Offensive Coordinator Norm Chow to the program where he spent 27 years as an assistant under former Coach LaVell Edwards. Running backs Reggie Bush and LenDale White both broke 100 yards each en route to victory.

Stanford

USC had what would be its closest game of the season against the unheralded Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadiummarker in their Pacific 10 Conference opener. Both USC and Stanford had just previously beat BYU in convincing fashion, however Stanford had the added benefit of a bye week to rest and reorganize between games. 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. After an energetic and emotional halftime in the locker room, the Trojan defense shut down the Cardinal while the offense put together the drives that gave the Trojans the lead and the victory.

California

California at USC before the first non-rivalry-game sell out at the Los Angeles Coliseum in 52 years.


ESPN's College GameDay program visited the Los Angeles Coliseum for the first time in anticipation of a game between highly ranked and undefeated teams: 7th-ranked California had given USC its only loss in the 2003 season, resulting in the Trojans sharing the 2003 National Championship. It was the first time since 1968 that the teams met when both were ranked and it also was the highest-ranked Cal squad USC had faced since 1952, also the last time the two programs were ranked in the top ten. 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 crowd was USC's largest crowd for a non-UCLA/Notre Dame rivalry game since the 1952 Cal game.

The game was tightly fought: Cal dominated the statistics, more than doubling USC’s first downs (28-12) and total yards (424-205) while getting more plays (79-50) and possession time(37:11-22:49); 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. However, in the key final series, under heavy crowd noise, the USC defense caused an incomplete pass, a sack by defensive tackle Manuel Wright, and two more incomplete passes to cause a loss of possession and effectively end the game.

The game was highly touted by the media, with both teams earning praise for their performances. Beyond the 2004 season, the game marked a turning point in terms of crowd participation at the Coliseum, which thereafter garnered a reputation as a loud and difficult place to play for opposing teams.

The quality of play met expectations and had major ramifications for both programs that season: It would be the only game the Bears would lose in the regular season, costing them a shot at the national title and their first BCS bowl appearance, including what could've been their first appearance at the Rose Bowlmarker since 1959; and it was the Trojans' toughest game of the season on their way to winning the national championship in the Orange Bowl.

Arizona State

The 15th-ranked Sun Devils, under Coach Dirk Koetter, were out to prove that they were a part of the national title picture and USC was out to prove it deserved its top-ranking after a series of close games to the Bay Area schools. 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. ASU quarterback Andrew Walter was rendered ineffective by the USC defense which achieved eight sacks, the same total ASU allowed in its previous five games. The decisive victory helped USC dispel concerns over its ability to dominate opponents. 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.

Washington

The struggling Washington Huskies visited the Trojans for the 75th meeting in the series, with the Trojans dominating 38-0. The shutout was Washington's first since 1981, ending a national-best active streak of consecutive games without being shut out at 271. The victory put USC's winning streak at the Coliseum at 19, tying the school record set from 1931-33. The game marked the first career start for Husky quarterback Isaiah Stanback.

Washington State

USC became the first top-ranked team to visit Pullman, Washingtonmarker, as the Trojans took on the Cougars at a sold-out Martin Stadiummarker. The Trojans had lost in their previous visit to WSU, a 30-27 overtime game in 2002; since then the Trojans had gone 28-1. USC took the upper hand early on, taking a 14-0 lead before WSU’s offense got on the field; by halftime, it was 35-0, as the Trojans had 289 yards and 16 first downs to the Cougars 54 and 4.

Oregon State

The Trojans prevailed over the Beavers in a tight game in heavy fog at Reser Stadiummarker in Corvallis, Oregonmarker. After trailing 13-0 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 14-13. Although the fog was thick enough at times to interfere with pass plays, USC tight end Dominique Byrd caught two touchdowns.

Arizona

USC clinched its third consecutive conference championship with a victory over the visiting Arizona Wildcats. LenDale White ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns while Matt Leinart passed for 280 yards and three more scores; the game guaranteed USC a spot in, at worst, the Rose Bowlmarker

Notre Dame

After two weeks off, the Trojans were visited by the rival Fighting Irish, led by Coach Tyrone Willingham, in the inter-sectional rivalry for the Jeweled Shillelagh. The Irish had been inconsistent during the season, coming into the game at 6–4 having defeated strong teams and lost to weak teams. ESPN's College GameDay made its second-ever visit to the Coliseum. Matt Leinart passed for a career-high 400 yards and a school record-tying five touchdowns Saturday, leading the top-ranked Trojans to a 41-10 victory and adding a highlight performance to his ultimately successful Heisman campaign. Trailing 10–3, USC scored the final 38 points. Irish quarterback Brady Quinn completed 15-of-29 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. The Trojans set a record for home wins (including pre-Coliseum), with their 21st victory; coincidently, the previous team to defeat them at home were the Stanford Cardinal then-under Coach Willingham. USC set both a school home attendance (511,373) as well as the Pac-10 home per game average attendance (85,229) records. It was Willingham's third consecutive 31 point loss to USC in three seasons at Notre Dame; the Irish fired him the following Tuesday.

UCLA

The top-ranked Trojans visited the Bruins for their annual crosstown rivalry game at the Rose Bowlmarker in Pasadena, Californiamarker on the 75th anniversary of the first USC-UCLA game in 1929. The Bruins, having come off a three week break of consecutive bye weeks, came into the game as serious underdogs in the battle for the Victory Bell. 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. 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. With the victory, USC sealed a bid for the BCS National Championship Game in the Orange Bowl.

Oklahoma

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 Stadiummarker in Miami, Floridamarker. The game was the first time two Heisman Trophy winners had faced each other in a college football game with Sooners quarterback and 2003 winner Jason White facing 2004 winner Matt Leinart. 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. Both USC and Oklahoma started and ended the season ranked #1 and #2 (wire-to-wire), respectively, in the AP and Coaches polls.

There was some controversy in the final team selections as the Auburn Tigers had also finished the regular season undefeated and won their bowl game, the Sugar Bowl, against the same Virginia Tech team USC defeated in the season opener; Auburn began the season ranked outside the top 15 and perhaps because of this they were unable to secure a spot in the national championship game, although they did tie Oklahoma at #2 in the AP poll at one point late in the season.

The Sooners scored first, having stopped an opening USC drive. USC scored next 28 points en route to a 38-10 halftime lead. The turning point in the game came early in the first quarter, with the game tied 7–7, Sooner Mark Bradley made a critical special teams error that resulted in USC gaining possession on the Oklahoma 6-yard-line; after that the game turned into a USC rout.Pete Thamel, College Football: USC ends doubts as to who's No. 1, The New York Times (International Herald Tribune), January 6, 2005.

Leinart, the game’s MVP, threw an Orange Bowl record (and USCrecord-tying) 5 touchdowns, including 3 to wide receiver Steve Smith, tying both an Orange Bowl and USC record; Ryan Killeen set the USC career scoring record with 329 career points; USC’s 55 points tied its most ever in a bowl and were the most ever allowed in a bowl by Oklahoma. White threw for 24-of-36 for 244 yards with three interceptions and two touchdowns; Peterson ran for 82 yards on 25 carries. USC gained 525 total yards, averaging 8.3 yards per play, to the Sooners’ 372; OU ran off 13 more plays, 76 to 63, and held the ball for 35:06; however Oklahoma had 5 turnovers to USC's none.

After the season

Matt Leinart hoists his Heisman Trophy at a 2005 campus rally


Comments

After the regular season, the University of Mississippimarker hired USC Assistant Head Coach Ed Orgeron, who also served as Defensive Line Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, to be the new head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels football team; although hired on December 16, 2006, he remained with USC through the Orange Bowl.

Awards

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.

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. Wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett, offensive tackle Sam Baker and defensive end Lawrence Jackson were named to the Freshman All-American first team. In addition to winning the Heisman Trophy, Matt Leinart also won the Walter Camp Award and was named the AP Player of the Year.

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 Year—making him the fourth to do so. 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. 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. Making the second team where RB LenDale White, OT Sam Baker and S Darnell Bing, and honorable mentions to TE Dominique Byrd, TE Alex Holmes, WR Dwayne Jarrett, S Jason Leach, LB Dallas Sartz, DT Manuel Wright and CB Justin Wyatt.

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.

2004 Team Players in the NFL



References

  1. 2004 Game Summaries, 2005 USC Football Media Guide, USC Athletic Department, pp. 65-71.
  2. PREVIEW: (1) USC vs. UCLA, Yahoo! Sports, December 4, 2004.
  3. All-Time USC Record, 2006 USC Football Media Guide, USC Athletic Department, pg. 96.
  4. Ben Malcolmson, Trojans leave no doubt with blowout, Daily Trojan, January 11, 2005.
  5. PREVIEW: (1) USC vs. Virginia Tech, Yahoo! Sports, August 28, 2004.
  6. Ralph D. Russo, RECAP: (1) USC 24, Virginia Tech 13, Associated Press, August 29, 2004.
  7. 2004 Virginia Tech Hokies Football Schedule, San Diego Hokies Alumni Chapter, Accessed June 13, 2007.
  8. PREVIEW: Colorado St. vs. (1) USC, Yahoo! Sports, September 11, 2004.
  9. John Nadel, RECAP: (1) USC 49, Colorado St. 0, Associated Press, September 11, 2004.
  10. PREVIEW: (1) USC vs. BYU, Yahoo! Sports, September 18, 2004.
  11. Doug Alden, RECAP: (1) USC 42, BYU 10, Associated Press, September 19, 2004.
  12. Doug Alden, RECAP: (1) USC 31, Stanford 28, Associated Press, September 25, 2004.
  13. PREVIEW: (1) USC 31, Stanford 28, Yahoo! Sports, September 25, 2004.
  14. PREVIEW: (7) California vs. (1) USC, Yahoo! Sports, October 9, 2004.
  15. Ralph D. Russo, RECAP: (1) USC 23, (7) California 17, Associated Press, October 9, 2004.
  16. Michael Ventre, USC-Cal was matchup of nation's best, NBCSports.com, October 10, 2004.
  17. Jay Heater, L.A. crowd turns up noise, Oakland Tribune, November 17, 2006.
  18. Pat Forde, Southern passion propels SEC to top of conference ladder, ESPN.com, August 16, 2007.
  19. PREVIEW: (15) Arizona St. vs. (1) USC, Yahoo! Sports, October 16, 2004.
  20. John Nadel, RECAP: (1) USC 45, (15) Arizona St. 7, Associated Press, October 16, 2004.
  21. John Nadel, RECAP: (1) USC 38, Washington 0, Associated Press, October 23, 2004.
  22. PREVIEW: Washington vs. (1) USC, Yahoo! Sports, October 23, 2004.
  23. PREVIEW: (1) USC vs. Washington St., Yahoo! Sports, October 30, 2004.
  24. John K. Wiley, RECAP: (1) USC 42, Washington St. 12, Associated Press, October 30, 2004.
  25. Anne M. Peterson, RECAP: (1) USC 28, Oregon St. 20, Associated Press, November 7, 2004.
  26. PREVIEW: Arizona vs. (1) USC, Yahoo! Sports, November 13, 2004.
  27. John Nadel, (1) USC 49, Arizona 9, Associated Press, November 14, 2004.
  28. Notre Dame (6-4) at No. 1 Usc (10-0) 8:00 pm EST, ESPN Ticker, November 27, 2004.
  29. Junior QB passes for career-high 400 yards, Associated Press, November 27, 2004.
  30. AD cites lack of on-field progress, ESPN.com news services, December 1, 2004.
  31. John Nadel, RECAP: (1) USC 29, UCLA 24, Associated Press, December 4, 2004.
  32. Pete McEntegart, Orange Bowl Running Commentary, SI.com, January 4-5, 2005.
  33. Justin Einhorn, PREVIEW: (1) USC vs. (2) Oklahoma, AP MegaSports Writer, January 4, 2004.
  34. USC, Oklahoma to play in Orange Bowl, NBCSports.com news services, December 6, 2004.
  35. Ray Melick, Sugar Bowl leaves Auburn with bitter taste, NBCSports.com, December 22, 2004.
  36. Auburn dealt first loss by BCS standings, Associated Press, December 5, 2004.
  37. Ralph D. Russo, (1) USC 55, (2) Oklahoma 19, Associated Press, December 4, 2004.
  38. Ole Miss to hire USC aide Orgeron, San Diego Union-Tribune, December 16, 2004.
  39. 2004 All-Americans, 2005 USC Orange Bowl Guide, USC Athletic Department.
  40. 2004 All-Star Honors, 2005 USC Football Media Guide, USC Athletic Department, pp. 63-64.


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