2003 USC Trojans football team

NCAATeamFootballSeason
Year=2003
Team=USC Trojans


Conference=Pacific Ten Conference
Division=
ShortConference=Pac-10
APRank=1
CoachRank=2
Record=12-1
ConfRecord=7-1
HeadCoach=Pete Carroll
OffCoach=Norm Chow
DefCoach=
OScheme=
DScheme=
StadiumArena=Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Champion=Associated Press National Champions
FWAA National Champions
Rose Bowl Champions
Pac-10 Champions
BowlTourney=Rose Bowl
BowlTourneyResult= W, 28–14 vs. Michigan

The 2003 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2003-2004 NCAA Division I-A college football season. They were named the Associated Press and Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) National Champions but were denied a spot in the BCS Championship Game due to controversy with the BCS selections for the national championship game.

The regular season ended with three one-loss teams in BCS contention: Oklahoma, LSU and USC. USC ended the regular season ranked #1 and LSU #2 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. USC lost one triple-overtime at California, which finished 8-6; LSU had a 12-point home loss against a Florida team that went 8-5; Oklahoma, which had been ranked #1 for most of the season, fell to #3 after suffering a 35–7 defeat in the Big 12 Championship Game to Kansas State, which finished 11-4. Controversy erupted when the BCS computers selected Oklahoma-LSU as the BCS title game; leading to protests from USC supporters and many neutral observers. During the bowl games, USC had a convincing 28–14 win over #4 Michigan in the Rose Bowl while LSU beat Oklahoma 21–14 in the Sugar Bowl (designated the BCS title game). USC remained #1 in the final AP Poll and LSU was ranked, by contractual obligation, #1 in the final Coaches' Poll, though three coaches did not follow instructions and voted USC #1 in that poll as well.Ted Miller, [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3403882 BCS system leaves long trail of wounded victims] , ESPN.com, May 20, 2008, Accessed May 20, 2008.]

Recruiting

With the late arrival of highly touted quarterback John David Booty, who left high school a year early to attend USC, the Trojan's 2003 recruiting class was considered by some to be the best in the country.Jamie Newberg, [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/recruiting/news/2003/05/22/newberg_watch/ Upon further review ...] , SI.com, May 22, 2003, "Accessed April 30, 2008".] [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/recruiting/2003-02-05-usc-class_x.htm USC wins on recruiting trail by grabbing California talent] , USA TODAY, February 6, 2003.]

Its legacy included many NFL Draft picks over several years, including four first round picks. [http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/usc/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/03-recruits-info.pdf 2003 USC FOOTBALL SIGNEES] , USC Trojans - Official Site, "Accessed April 30, 2008".]

2004 NFL Draft:
*Will Poole (Round 4, Pick 102)
2006 NFL Draft:
*Reggie Bush (Round 1, Pick 2)
*LenDale White (Round 2, Pick 45),
2007 NFL Draft:
*Steve Smith (Round 2, Pick 51)
*Eric Wright (Finished career at UNLV, Round 2, Pick 53)
*Ryan Kalil (Round 2, Pick 59)
2008 NFL Draft:
*Sedrick Ellis (Round 1, Pick 7)
*Sam Baker (Round 1, Pick 21)
*Lawrence Jackson (Round 1, Pick 28)
*Terrell Thomas (Round 2, Pick 63)
*John David Booty (Round 5, Pick 137)
*Thomas Williams (Round 5, Pick 155)
*Chauncey Washington (Round 7, Pick 213)

chedule

The Trojans finished the season with a 12-1 record, 7-1 in the Pac-10. [http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/012604aaa.html]

CFB Schedule Start
time = no
rank = yes
ranklink = yes
rankyear = 2003
tv = yes
attend = yesCFB Schedule Entry
date = August 30
time = no
w/l = w
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
away = yes
neutral =
rank = 8
opponent = Auburn
opprank = 6
site_stadium = Jordan-Hare Stadium
site_cityst = Auburn, AL
gamename =
tv = CBS
score = 23–0
overtime =
attend = 86,063CFB Schedule Entry
date = September 06
time = no
w/l = w
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
away =
neutral =
rank = 5
opponent = BYU
opprank =
site_stadium = Los Angeles Coliseum
site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
gamename =
tv = ABC
score = 35–18
overtime =
attend = 75,315CFB Schedule Entry
date = September 13
time = no
w/l = w
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
away =
neutral =
rank = 4
opponent = Hawaii
opprank =
site_stadium = Los Angeles Coliseum
site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
gamename =
tv = FSN
score = 61–32
overtime =
attend = 73,654CFB Schedule Entry
date = September 27
time = no
w/l = l
nonconf =
homecoming =
away = yes
neutral =
rank = 3
opponent = California
opprank =
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Berkeley, CA
gamename =
tv = FSN
score = 31–34
overtime = 3OT
attend = 51,208CFB Schedule Entry
date = October 04
time = no
w/l = w
nonconf =
homecoming =
away = yes
neutral =
rank = 10
opponent = Arizona State
opprank =
site_stadium = Sun Devil Stadium
site_cityst = Tempe, AZ
gamename =
tv = ABC
score = 37–17
overtime =
attend = 56,527CFB Schedule Entry
date = October 11
time = no
w/l = w
nonconf =
homecoming =
away =
neutral =
rank = 9
opponent = Stanford
opprank =
site_stadium = Los Angeles Coliseum
site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
gamename =
tv = FSN
score = 44–21
overtime =
attend = 68,341CFB Schedule Entry
date = October 18
time = no
w/l = w
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
away = yes
neutral =
rank = 4
opponent = Notre Dame
opprank =
site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium
site_cityst = South Bend, IN
gamename =
tv = NBC
score = 45–14
overtime =
attend = 80,795CFB Schedule Entry
date = October 25
time = no
w/l = w
nonconf =
homecoming =
away = yes
neutral =
rank = 4
opponent = Washington
opprank =
site_stadium = Husky Stadium
site_cityst = Seattle, WA
gamename =
tv = ABC
score = 43–23
overtime =
attend = 72,015CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 01
time = no
w/l = w
nonconf =
homecoming = yes
away =
neutral =
rank = 3
opponent = Washington State
opprank = 6
site_stadium = Los Angeles Coliseum
site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
gamename =
tv = ABC
score = 43–16
overtime =
attend = 82,478CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 15
time = no
w/l = w
nonconf =
homecoming =
away = yes
neutral =
rank = 2
opponent = Arizona
opprank =
site_stadium = Arizona Stadium
site_cityst = Tucson, AZ
gamename =
tv = TBS
score = 45–0
overtime =
attend = 39,201CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 22
time = no
w/l = w
nonconf =
homecoming =
away =
neutral =
rank = 2
opponent = UCLA
opprank =
site_stadium = Los Angeles Coliseum
site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
gamename =
tv = ABC
score = 47–22
overtime =
attend = 93,172CFB Schedule Entry
date = December 06
time = no
w/l = w
nonconf =
homecoming =
away =
neutral =
rank = 2
opponent = Oregon State
opprank =
site_stadium = Los Angeles Coliseum
site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
gamename =
tv = ABC
score = 52–28
overtime =
attend = 73,864CFB Schedule Entry
date = January 01, 2004
time = no
w/l = w
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
away =
neutral = yes
rank = 1
opponent = Michigan
opprank = 4
site_stadium = Rose Bowl
site_cityst = Pasadena, CA
gamename = Rose Bowl
tv = ABC
score = 28–14
overtime =
attend = 93,849

Game Notes

Auburn

USC opened the season visiting Auburn University: the Tigers were also ranked in the top-10 and had been named a pre-season favorite to be the national champion by at least one major news organization. In his first start, quarterback Matt Leinart led the Trojans on a domineering 23-0 performance that signaled that USC's rise in 2002 was unlikely to be a fluke.Pat Forde, [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=2993475 The Dash is off and running] , ESPN.com, August 28, 2007]

References

* [http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/usc-m-footbl-archive.html USC Football Archive (2003 Season)] , USC Athletic Department.
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex?pollId=null&weekNumber=1&seasonYear=2003 2003 NCAA Football Rankings] , ESPN.com.

External links

* [http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/usc-m-footbl-body.html Official site]