Four games into the 2009 season, and the Trojans are admittedly falling short of external expectations.
But they're also falling short in another, far more important area -- internal standards.
In the world of Trojan football, there's a major difference between expectations and standards. It's the distinction between the outside perceptions and in-house principles, reputation and character, opinions in the newspaper and feedback from coaches. The latter carries much more weight than the former, and it's those things that are creating a relentless drive for improvement.
For the third straight Monday, the mood around Heritage Hall feels like the team is coming off a loss -- even though the Trojans have won two out of the last three games. With a rash of turnovers, penalties and undisciplined play in each of the previous three contests, the coaches aren't happy with the team's performance so far this season.
"We can't give the other team stuff -- the ball or penalties," Coach Carroll said this morning. "Those things keep you from feeling any rhythm and playing good football. We just need to execute and get better."
The road to improvement doesn't start Saturday -- but right now, in the present. As Carroll always says, "everything counts," so every workout, every meeting and every practice will add up as the Trojans aim to get right in all areas.
"It's a critical time for us, but it's also a great time," Carroll said. "We're right where we want to be, right in the thick of things."
But they're also falling short in another, far more important area -- internal standards.
In the world of Trojan football, there's a major difference between expectations and standards. It's the distinction between the outside perceptions and in-house principles, reputation and character, opinions in the newspaper and feedback from coaches. The latter carries much more weight than the former, and it's those things that are creating a relentless drive for improvement.
For the third straight Monday, the mood around Heritage Hall feels like the team is coming off a loss -- even though the Trojans have won two out of the last three games. With a rash of turnovers, penalties and undisciplined play in each of the previous three contests, the coaches aren't happy with the team's performance so far this season.
"We can't give the other team stuff -- the ball or penalties," Coach Carroll said this morning. "Those things keep you from feeling any rhythm and playing good football. We just need to execute and get better."
The road to improvement doesn't start Saturday -- but right now, in the present. As Carroll always says, "everything counts," so every workout, every meeting and every practice will add up as the Trojans aim to get right in all areas.
"It's a critical time for us, but it's also a great time," Carroll said. "We're right where we want to be, right in the thick of things."
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