USC Trojans:

The Record Setters

By Jordan Moore on May 25, 2013 9:51 AM | No Comments

Quite simply, USC women's golf delivered the greatest performance in program history.

Congratulations to the record-setting quintet of Annie Park, Sophia Popov, Rachel Morris, Kyung Kim and Doris Chen, and their head coach Andrea Gaston. Here is their championship video:

An Unbreakable Bond

By Jordan Moore on May 24, 2013 11:54 AM | No Comments

Seeded No. 2 in the women's doubles draw, Sabrina Santamaria and Kaitlyn Christian have advanced to the round of 16 at the NCAA Championships cruising past a Northwestern duo 6-1, 6-1.

Click here for all the women's tennis individual results.

While many pairs would be shaken by suffering their first loss of the season in a crushing team defeat to eventual national champion Stanford, Santamaria and Christian have been through too much together to lose belief now. The lifelong friends share an everlasting bond off the court, which leads to a sixth sense on it.

Here is a touching Trojan Spotlight on the dynamic duo:

Women's Golf Going Low

By Jordan Moore on May 22, 2013 4:17 PM | No Comments

No. 1 USC women's golf shot the lowest round in NCAA Championships history with a 12-under 276 to take a 12-stroke lead at the midway point of the tournament. The Women of Troy were once again led by freshman Annie Park, who sits in second on the individual leaderboard after a 5-under 67.

Click here for the complete recap.

While Park remains the pacesetter, Andrea Gaston's team had four players shoot under par. Juniors Sophia Popov and Rachel Morris followed their opening round 71s with matching 70s on day two, and they sit in a sixth place tie as individuals.

Here are the highlights and the coach's reaction from a record-setting day in Georgia:

The Golden Goal

By Jordan Moore on May 13, 2013 4:12 PM | No Comments

Watching the sudden death overtimes unfold in the Women's Water Polo NCAA Title Match, it seemed like neither team would ever score. The Trojans and Cardinal had aqua wrestled for 45 minutes and 47 seconds, and the gaslight had long since come on when freshman Anni Espar found enough reserve to rise out of the water and rocket the national championship winning goal past a stunned Stanford defense.

Here is the golden goal and the ensuing celebration:

Matriculating to Hahvahd

By Jordan Moore on May 9, 2013 5:27 PM | No Comments

No. 1 USC women's water polo is hoping to play Boston Strong this week as the Women of Troy make the final push for the NCAA title. The eight-team tournament begins Friday at Harvard as the Trojans take on Pomona-Pitzer in the quarterfinals (2:15 p.m. PT).

Click here for NCAA Tournament central.

With a win, USC will take on either No. 4 Hawaii or No. 5 UC San Diego on Saturday. The NCAA Title match is Sunday with No. 2 Stanford and No. 3 UCLA looming on the other side of the bracket.

Outside of the Vavic duo, head coach Jovan and MPSF Player of the Year Monica, the Women of Troy will rely on Olympians Flora Bolonyai and Anni Espar. In case you missed it, here was our profile on the international stars:

Kirby and Stevi

By Jordan Moore on May 7, 2013 11:58 AM | No Comments

Coming off a Final Four appearance and the AVCA National Pairs Championship for Kirby Burnham and Stevi Robinson, USC women's sand volleyball celebrated with a team banquet Monday night. To go along with their championship medals and All-American honors, Burnham was given the Coaches' Award, while Robinson was named the Team MVP.

Here is a look at their championship match from a wild and windy Gulf Shores, Alabama:

Walk Your Bike!

By Jordan Moore on April 30, 2013 4:31 PM | No Comments

As part of the 2013 Tommy Awards, each team submitted a funny video to be voted on by all the student-athletes. The best original work was done by USC women's volleyball.

Click here for the 2013 Tommy Award winners and photos.

Student-Athlete Graduation

By Jordan Moore on April 30, 2013 10:44 AM | No Comments

The Trojan Family is invited to celebrate the culmination of another year in USC Athletics at the annual Student-Athlete Graduation at Galen Center on Thursday, May 16. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow.

Click here to RSVP and get more info.

Matt vs. Matt

By Jordan Moore on April 29, 2013 4:47 PM | No Comments

Now that he is officially an NFL QB, we want to issue a big thank you to Matt Barkley who not only served the football program, athletic department and university as an exemplary Trojan, but was an honorary member of our video and social media team as the host of the Project Tro7an app.

We certainly could not have done all the "Matt vs." without Matt, so we are sending him off with a special Barkley blooper reel.

2013 NFL Draft: Matt Barkley

By Jordan Moore on April 27, 2013 8:43 AM | 1 Comment

USC QB Matt Barkley was selected with the first pick of the 4th round (98th overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles, who traded up to get him. Barkley will be coached by former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly who saw the QB throw for 807 yards and 9 TDs in the last two games against the Ducks.

While Barkley slipped down the draft significantly from where he was projected to go, the all-time Pac-12 TD pass record holder joins the likes of fellow USC QBs Rodney Peete (6th rounder), Paul McDonald (4th rounder), Rob Johnson (4th rounder), Vince Evans (6th rounder) and Pat Haden (7th rounder) who all enjoyed prosperous NFL careers.

Here is a look at what the Eagles are getting in Barkley:

2013 NFL Draft: T.J. McDonald

By Jordan Moore on April 26, 2013 6:20 PM | No Comments

USC All-American safety T.J. McDonald was selected 71st overall in the 3rd round by the St. Louis Rams. He was the second Trojan taken in the 2013 NFL Draft.

McDonald will play for former USC defensive back Jeff Fisher, the head coach of the Rams. He is the highest Trojan safety drafted since Taylor Mays (49th overall) in 2010.

Tim McDonald, T.J.'s dad, was also a USC All-American and drafted by St. Louis. He played one year in that city before the Cardinals moved to Arizona.

T.J. McDonald led the Trojans with 110 tackles in 2012. He had eight career interceptions.

2013 NFL Draft: Robert Woods

By Jordan Moore on April 26, 2013 4:30 PM | No Comments

USC WR Robert Woods was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round with the 41st overall pick. He was the first Trojan taken in the 2013 NFL Draft, and he becomes the 477th USC alum selected all-time (more than any other school).

Woods will join the Bills which currently do not have any other Trojans on the roster. He is the highest drafted Trojan receiver since Mike Williams was selected 10th overall in 2005.

He leaves USC as the school's all-time receptions leader and a 2011 All-American.

Not Again Taj

By Jordan Moore on April 26, 2013 11:18 AM | No Comments

USC men's basketball great Taj Gibson seems to save his best dunks for the postseason. He made a name for himself by posterizing Dwyane Wade two years ago, and last night, he abused Kris Humphries (insert Kim Kardashian joke here) en route to a Bulls victory and series lead.

Queens of the Conference

By Jordan Moore on April 25, 2013 1:29 PM | No Comments

No. 1 USC women's golf had all five starters make Pac-12 All-Conference teams after winning the Pac-12 Championships by 24 strokes. Annie Park, the individual Pac-12 champion, Sophia Popov, conference runner-up, and Kyung Kim were named to the first team.

Doris Chen, the 2012 Pac-12 champion, made the second team, while Rachel Morris was given honorable mention. The Women of Troy's remarkable depth has led to an historic season with five tournament wins and favorite status heading into the NCAA Championships.

Here are the highlights from Pac-12s featuring head coach Andrea Gaston:

Project Trojan: The New Defense

By Jordan Moore on April 23, 2013 4:15 PM | No Comments

Aside from the quarterback battle, Clancy Pendergast's new 5-2 defense was the biggest storyline of spring practice. In the new scheme, USC will attack the line of scrimmage with five dangerous pass rushers, which led to double-digit sacks in the Spring Game.

Here is a look at the new defense in the latest episode of "Project Trojan":

Emphatic Response

By Jordan Moore on April 22, 2013 2:35 PM | No Comments

While it took all year, Jovan Vavic finally got to see how USC women's water polo responds to a loss. The Women of Troy took out their frustrations on UCLA last Friday with a resounding 11-6 victory to close the regular season.

Click here for the recap.

The No. 2 Trojans will head up to Berkeley this week for the MPSF Championships and another possible showdown with No. 1 Stanford. Both teams will be tipped to meet one final time at the NCAA Championships at Harvard in May.

Here are the highlights of USC's win over UCLA led by three goals apiece from Anni Espar and Kaleigh Gilchrist:

Eagle Eyed

By Jordan Moore on April 22, 2013 11:59 AM | No Comments

Four-time USC women's golf All-American Lizette Salas is enjoying her best run of form on the LPGA Tour. Last week, she was in contention for the first major of the year at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, and she followed that performance by losing a playoff at the Lotte Championship, her best finish as a pro.

Read Salas' remarkable life story written by Bill Dwyre in "The Trojan Way": TrojanWay-Salas.pdf

Salas also made the SportsCenter Top 10 for her incredible eagle on the Par 4 10th hole. Check it out...

Project Trojan: Sideline Soundtrack

By Jordan Moore on April 18, 2013 5:32 PM | No Comments

What does it sound like to be on the USC sideline for the Spring Game? We went field level with our microphones so that you could find out.

Here is the sideline soundtrack in the latest episode of Project Trojan:

Cooper-Dyke Reintroduced

By Jordan Moore on April 16, 2013 5:09 PM | No Comments

USC legend Cynthia Cooper-Dyke was welcomed home today as she returns to Troy to take over as the head women's basketball coach.

At her spirited introductory press conference, she was cheered on and peppered with questions by her former national champion teammates in attendance. Cooper-Dyke made it clear that she will bring the fire that made her a superstar player to the job every day.

Project Trojan: Meet the Offensive Assistants

By Jordan Moore on April 16, 2013 2:29 PM | No Comments

In the newest episode of Project Trojan, running backs coach Tommie Robinson and offensive line coach Mike Summers are introduced to the Trojan Family. After a physical spring, both men are ready to make a positive impact on their position groups.

Meet Darreus Rogers

By Jordan Moore on April 16, 2013 11:00 AM | No Comments

Name: Darreus Rogers

Position: Wide Receiver

Class: Freshman

Size: 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds

Age: 19

High School: Carson HS

Game: Rogers is built a bit bigger than the recent crop of speedy, route-runners that USC has featured at receiver. While he is not a burner, he could develop into a valuable third down and red zone target if he learns to use his frame.

Prep Career: As a senior at Carson High, Rogers had 64 receptions for 1,251 yards and 10 TDs. He was the All-Marine League Co-Offensive Player of the Year as well as being named Max Preps All-State first team in 2011. He was originally a member of the 2012 recruiting class but was unable to enroll until the end of the first semester. Rogers was able to practice with the team before the Sun Bowl last season and so gained a little bit of experience on the other 2013 early entrants.

Spring Ball: Rogers will be thrown immediately into the mix this fall now that George Farmer is out for the season. He started spring strong, but then missed the final weeks with shoulder and hamstring injuries.

To Quote Rogers: "I came in here with a big chip on my shoulder and it's given me something to work for each and every day."

(Photo via TrojanCandy.com)

Here is Rogers with our Sarah Bergstrom...

No. 42 as No. 28

By Jordan Moore on April 15, 2013 4:52 PM | No Comments

We don't often spotlight Bruins on this blog, but Jackie Robinson made a legacy out of being the exception to the rule.

As a four-sport star at UCLA, he became a key player in the Crosstown Rivalry, including the 1939 classic which ended in a 0-0 tie. The game was played in front of 103,303 people at the Coliseum, a rivalry attendance record at the time.

The Trojans held off the Bruins when Bobby Robertson batted down a 4th-and-goal pass with less than five minutes to play. USC went on to shutout Tennessee in the Rose Bowl to win the fourth and final national championship of the Howard Jones era.

Here is rare footage of No. 28 Robinson playing both ways against the Trojans in this Coliseum classic:

A Legend Returns

By Jordan Moore on April 11, 2013 7:47 PM | No Comments

USC women's basketball is searching for a leader to return the program to the glory days of 1983 and 1984 when the Women of Troy won back-to-back national championships, so who better than Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, a key guard on both squads.

Click here for complete coverage of Cooper-Dyke's hire.

As Cooper-Dyke assumes her post, here is a look back at some highlights from her playing career at Troy...

Meet Chris Hawkins

By Jordan Moore on April 11, 2013 3:45 PM | No Comments

Name: Chris Hawkins

Position: Cornerback

Class: Freshman

Size: 6-foot and 170 pounds

Age: 18

High School: Rancho Cucamonga

Game: While many high school defensive backs come into college as hybrid players, Hawkins is a true corner who has the size and skill-set to contribute immediately. He still has a baby face, but don't be fooled as he packs a good punch for his size.

Prep Career: Hawkins was a two-way starter at cornerback and wide receiver for Rancho Cucamonga High School where he earned All-CIF Inland honors as well as spots on the ESPN 150 and Rivals 100 lists. His senior year, he had 56 tackles, 6 deflections and 2 interceptions while also contributing 2 TD's on offense. He was a U.S. Army All-American.

Spring Ball: At times this spring, Hawkins has been running with the first team. The truth is that both cornerback positions are wide open competitions, and the freshman will benefit from getting to USC a semester early. While it often looks like trial by fire going up against Marqise Lee and Nelson Agholor, Hawkins has kept a short memory and enough confidence to battle it out with the best.

To Quote Hawkins: "You can't be caught flat-footed playing against Marqise Lee, Nelson Agholor, De'Von Flournoy and Victor Blackwell."

Here's Hawkins with our Sarah Bergstrom...

Men's Basketball Awards

By Jordan Moore on April 10, 2013 5:39 PM | No Comments

USC hoops seniors Jio Fontan and Eric Wise were named the team MVPs at Tuesday night's men's basketball awards banquet. Chass Bryan (top GPA), Omar Oraby (most inspirational), Aaron Fuller (110% effort), Byron Wesley (most improved), Dewayne Dedmon (top rebounder) and J.T. Terrell (best example of a Trojan) were among the other award winners.

Click here for the complete list of winners.

Under interim head coach Bob Cantu, the Trojans caught fire in conference play with big wins over UCLA and Arizona en route to tying for sixth place in the Pac-12 regular season. USC bids farewell to six seniors led by Fontan and Wise as well as Renaldo Woolridge, James Blasczyk, Aaron Fuller and Tyler Sugiyama.

Click here for the photo gallery of the men's basketball banquet.

Here is the 2012-13 highlight video:

Battle at the Top

By Jordan Moore on April 10, 2013 5:28 PM | No Comments

No. 1 USC women's water polo will host No. 2 Stanford this Saturday at 4 p.m. PT at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center in a rematch of the UCI Invitational title match back in February when the Women of Troy dealt the Cardinal its only loss of the season. The Trojans are undefeated (20-0), and both teams are a perfect 4-0 in MPSF play.

Click here for a preview.

Juniors Madeline Rosenthal and Kelly Mendoza broke the down the much anticipated match-up for our latest Trojan Spotlight.

Friendly Fire

By Jordan Moore on April 9, 2013 12:09 PM | No Comments

In last year's Olympic semifinal in London, Spain and Hungary battled for a spot in the Gold Medal Match. While Hungarian goalie Flora Bolonyai fought to keep her team in it, Spanish phenom Anni Espar was the difference on the night with four goals in a 10-9 win.

Less than a year later, Bolonyai and Espar are fighting the same fight as leaders of the undefeated Women of Troy. As No. 1 USC women's water polo prepares for its biggest home match of the season (Saturday at 4 p.m. vs. No. 2 Stanford), the Olympians talked about their budding friendship and pushing each other to greatness.

Setting the Tone

By Jordan Moore on April 9, 2013 11:37 AM | 1 Comment

The 2013 USC football team will feature a fresh quartet of captains. Matt Barkley, Khaled Holmes, T.J. McDonald and Nickell Robey are all moving on to Sunday football.

While Marqise Lee naturally steps into the role as the offensive leader, the defense requires a new voice, and maybe even more importantly, a physical enforcer. Enter Hayes Pullard...

The two-year starter has already made his mark tying for the team lead in tackles as a redshirt freshman (81) before passing the century mark (107) as a sophomore. But under Clancy Pendergast, Pullard will take over the Mike linebacker position serving as the central hub of communication and a downhill playmaker.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, Pullard may not have the statuesque build of his Trojan linebacker brethren, but as you can see from the clip below in which he takes down 300-pound OT Aundrey Walker, he is more than willing to set a physical tone for this defense.

Senior Night Success

By Jordan Moore on April 8, 2013 10:12 AM | No Comments

Thanks to a roster loaded with underclassmen, USC men's volleyball has spent the year rebuilding after back-to-back Final Four appearances. However, the program did recognize a pair of seniors, Chris Trefzger and J.B. Green, before sweeping No. 10 Cal State Northridge on Saturday.

Click here for the recap.

Here's our Dustin Avol with surprise starters Trefzger and Green after the match...

2013 Spring Practice #12: Notes

By Jordan Moore on April 6, 2013 2:32 PM | No Comments

Written by Sarah Bergstrom, USC blog contributor

The offense dominated today's scrimmage as the Trojans practiced at the Coliseum for the last time before next Saturday's Spring Game.

Freshman running back Justin Davis had another impressive practice looking more like an upperclassman than an early entrant this spring as he makes his case for the starting spot in the fall. He had 17 carries for 116 yards with a four-yard touchdown. Buck Allen had 10 carries for 42 yards.
Kiffin says Davis has been by far one of the highlights from this spring. "I can't imagine a guy having more of an impact in just a month of practice. He is so natural, he sees things really well running our offense. It's possible for him to be the number one tailback."
The passing game was the story of the day which Kiffin attributes to the success of Davis and Allen at running back. "SC's best offenses have always been when we've ran the ball really well and the play actions have come off of that which was much like today," said Kiffin.
All three quarterbacks looked equally strong further complicating the picture of who will get the starting nod. Kiffin said after a day like today having three solid QBs is the kind of problem he doesn't mind having. "Today you would have taken any of them," said Kiffin. "All three guys played great. They are all much improved from the first Saturday in here."
Max Wittek was 14 for 17 with 200 yards and 2 TDs including a nice 16 yard toss to Nelson Agholor in the corner of the end zone. Cody Kessler was 12 for 21 with 120 yards and a long 60-yard touchdown pass to Marqise Lee. Max Browne was 6 for 7, throwing for 85 yards and 2 TDs, with a potential third touchdown slipping through the fingers of Randall Telfer.
Marqise Lee was finally back in real-time action playing a solid portion of the scrimmage. Lee had 10 receptions for 191 yards and 2 TDs.
Continuing his dominant performance this spring, Nelson Agholor had 6 catches for 91 yards with 2 TDs, one apiece from Wittek and Browne.
One of the bigger stories of the spring has been the performance of both Anthony Sarao and Lamar Dawson at the Will linebacker position. Their dominant play at that position has made the coaches consider moving Dion Bailey back to safety when he resumes practice.
The return of many secondary players from injury and Bailey's potential move would make safety one of the deepest positions for the Trojans come fall according to Kiffin.
The defensive leader of the day was Josh Shaw who had 7 tackles including 2 for a loss and 2 deflections.
The scrimmage ran 76 plays with the same injured players still out including Demetrius Wright, Torin Harris, and DJ Morgan. The Spring Game will be next weekend at 1 p.m. at the Coliseum. The game is open to the public and tickets are $10.
Here is Lane Kiffin with the full practice recap, video courtesy of Lindsey Thiry (Fox Sports)....

Half Nelson

By Jordan Moore on April 5, 2013 9:29 AM | 1 Comment

With only one hand available, Nelson Agholor made an incredible catch to end Thursday night's practice and send his teammates into frenzy. Even with Robert Woods heading to the NFL, Lane Kiffin is not worried about the No. 2 wide receiver spot, and here's why...

A Song and Dance AD

By Jordan Moore on April 4, 2013 4:25 PM | 1 Comment

Pat Haden is "petrified." The USC athletic director has conquered the gridiron, the courtroom and the boardroom, but he is now faced with his greatest challenge...musical theater.

Since taking over as AD, Haden has encouraged the student-athletes to explore the breadth of all USC has to offer. In an effort to heed his own advice, Haden has a singing part in "The Most Happy Fella," a USC School of Dramatic Arts production.

Click the link for the flyer: MostHappyFella Poster_FINAL.pdf

The show runs from April 4-14 at Bing Theatre with Haden playing the role of the postman in his theatrical debut. He even has a solo, "I seen her at the station."

Click here for the full story.

Just hours before curtain, here's an exclusive sneak peek at Haden's performance with commentary from the athletic director...

Project Trojan: Meet the Jimokes

By Jordan Moore on April 4, 2013 12:04 PM | No Comments

If USC football practice is run like a well-oiled machine, the student managers are to thank. They are constantly one step ahead of every drill and every rep.

In the newest episode of Project Trojan, we provide an inside look at the "Jimokes," the underrated soldiers of USC football.

Enfield's Opening Remarks

By Jordan Moore on April 3, 2013 3:49 PM | No Comments

New USC men's basketball head coach Andy Enfield was introduced to the media and Trojan Family at a formal press conference today.

"This is a dream come true," Enfield said. "To be here in front of you today is just an unbelievable dream."

Here is his entire opening speech...

Meet Leon McQuay III

By Jordan Moore on April 2, 2013 12:27 PM | No Comments

Name: Leon McQuay III

Position: DB

Class: Freshman

Size: 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds

Age: 18

High School: Armwood (Seffner, FL)

Game: McQuay is long and rangy, so he fits naturally as a deep safety, but he has intrigued the coaching staff as a possible solution at cornerback. Off-the-field, he is a talented music producer and is pursuing that career at USC.

Prep Career: McQuay entered his freshman year at USC with many prep accolades including being named to the USA Today All-USA second team his senior year and first team his junior year. During the course of his senior year, he had 54 tackles and 5 interceptions as a safety. He is also currently a finalist for the Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Award given to the country's top African-American male high school scholar athlete. McQuay wrapped up his senior season playing in the Under Armour All-American game where he publicly chose USC.

Spring Ball: He started spring ball trying to convert to cornerback, but he has played more safety lately. If he stays at safety, he will likely fill a reserve role in 2013, but could end up as the perfect future pair with hard-hitting Su'a Cravens.

To Quote McQuay: "I am in two music industry classes - one in the studio and one is about production management. I get to work on the boards."

Here is McQuay with our Sarah Bergstrom...

Pursuing His Passion

By Jordan Moore on April 1, 2013 4:13 PM | 1 Comment

USC QB Matt Barkley announced via Twitter that he will forego the NFL Draft to pursue a career in professional ping pong. Here is behind-the-scenes video of Barkley training to become a master at his craft...

Welcome to the Big Show

By Jordan Moore on March 29, 2013 12:04 PM | No Comments

On the first night of the NCAA Championships in Indianapolis, USC junior Vladimir Morozov put together a transcendent performance that had the swimming globe spinning in amazement. Not only did Morozov become the first Trojan to win an individual national title in the 50y free since 1977, he posted a 17.86 leg in the 4x50y free relay that is the fastest in history, and landed him on SportsCenter's Top 10.

Click here for the complete recap of day one at the NCAA Championships.

While the relay team finished second, Morozov's third leg (video below) made the final results a mere post-script.

"The 50 in the relay was an out of body experience," said Morozov (pictured by Walt Middleton). "I was 100% ready to go physically and mentally and executed the details perfectly. We have never won this relay in history and today we were runner-ups - and all the guys are coming back next year."

Morozov even managed to overshadow his own championship swim in the 50y free. He recorded the third fastest time ever (18.63) from a flat start.

"As for the individual title, I'm definitely happy to finally become a national champion and post the fastest textile time ever. I can't wait to see what I can do in the 100!"

Here is the amazing Morozov swimming an unmissable third leg...

2013 USC Pro Day

By Jordan Moore on March 27, 2013 7:16 PM | No Comments

The 2013 USC Pro Day was a successful one as Trojan seniors and former players impressed scouts both in the gym and on the field. Matt Barkley had a solid day working through a variety of throwing drills in his first outing since the end of the regular season. Nickell Robey had a fantastic workout earning a vertical jump of 40.5 inches and running a 4.44 in the 40 yard dash. Here's a look into this year's Pro Day where the Trojans hustled to show NFL scouts their best...

Reg-gie, Reg-gie

By Jordan Moore on March 25, 2013 1:09 PM | No Comments

USC men's and women's track and field combined to win a dozen events at the Trojan Invitational this past weekend, including senior Reggie Wyatt setting a collegiate best time for the new season with a 50.51 in the 400m IH. Senior jumper Alitta Boyd topped a pair of scoreboards on Saturday with the best leaps in the triple jump and long jump.

Click here for a video playlist of all the events.

Here is a look at Wyatt dusting the field in the 400m hurdles...

Meet Justin Davis

By Jordan Moore on March 19, 2013 4:40 PM | 1 Comment

Name: Justin Davis

Position: RB

Class: Freshman

Size: 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds

Age: 17

High School: Lincoln (Stockton, CA)

Game: Davis is a smooth runner that fits immediately into USC's system. He is not a blazer or monster power back, but he brings balance and patience which gives the offensive line time to open up holes for the neophyte. He describes himself as a "one cut" runner who "relies on my vision a lot."

Prep Career: Davis had an outstanding high school career running the ball 274 times with 39 touchdowns and 2,613 yards his junior year, followed by 229 carries for 23 touchdowns and 1,806 yards his senior year. Among other awards, he was chosen as a US Army All-American.

Spring Ball: In just the second practice, head coach Lane Kiffin heaped praise on Davis. He ran for just 11 yards on four carries in the first scrimmage but made a big play leaking out as a receiver for a screen pass. He broke a finger last week which kept him out of the second scrimmage.

To Quote Davis: "It started out at first that I was kinda lost. I am starting to get the hang of the thing. It comes down to its just football. I've been playing it my whole life."

Here is Davis with our Sarah Bergstrom...

Hanging at .500

By Jordan Moore on March 19, 2013 10:23 AM | No Comments

USC women's lacrosse has shown remarkable consistency despite its youth this season. The inaugural Trojans are 5-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play by avoiding any losing streak more than two games.

The Women of Troy's most recent bounce back victory came at the expense of Marquette. USC hits the road now for a pair of games in Rhode Island at Bryant and Brown.

Here are the highlights from the 12-9 home win over Marquette:

Mendoza's Line

By Jordan Moore on March 18, 2013 3:39 PM | No Comments

As if No. 1 USC women's water polo needed any more firepower, the Women of Troy welcomed Cal transfer Kelly Mendoza this season, who netted a hat trick in Saturday's blowout win over San Jose State. Mendoza was an All-MPSF Freshman in Berkeley, and the junior has tallied 14 goals to jump start her first season at Troy.

The Trojans are now 15-0 on the season with a five match road trip starting in Hawaii this week. Here are the highlights from the 18-4 victory over San Jose State...

2013 Season Tickets ON SALE NOW

By Jordan Moore on March 18, 2013 11:29 AM | No Comments

USC football season tickets are officially on sale for new and returning season ticket holders. Get your season tickets now to receive a discount over single game prices, complimentary Spring Game tickets, bowl game priority and exclusive access to merchandise.

Click here to buy season tickets!

Click here to renew your season tickets!

The Trojans play seven home games in 2013 including rivalry rematches with Stanford and UCLA.

Gauntlet Update: Sand Volley Sweep

By Jordan Moore on March 18, 2013 10:51 AM | 1 Comment

In the first ever sand volleyball match-up between the crosstown rivals, USC trumped UCLA in both the team dual match and the pairs tournament final at Merle Norman Stadium. The Women of Troy earned five points towards defending the Gauntlet, which the Bruins currently lead 42.5 to 37.5.

Click here for the sand volleyball recap.

No. 3 USC women's sand volleyball defeated No. 6 UCLA and Loyola Marymount, but lost a tough battle with No. 2 Long Beach State on Saturday. The Women of Troy are now 5-2 as a team this season.

In the bracket tournament on Sunday, the Trojans' top pair of Kirby Burnham and Stevi Robinson defeated UCLA's Meg Norton and Kelly Reeves to capture the final. USC's Katie Fuller and Cinnamon Sary took third place.

Here are the highlights from Sunday's day at the beach...

Meet Max Browne

By Jordan Moore on March 15, 2013 12:00 PM | No Comments

Name: Max Browne

Position: Quarterback

Class: Freshman

Size: 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds

Age: 18

High School: Skyline HS (Sammamish, Wash.)

Game: Long and lean, Browne does not fit the physical mold of any of the recent USC quarterbacks. He is built more like former Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett. Of course, under the Trojan strength and conditioning coaches, he will physically transform during his career, but the coaches are impressed early on with his feet and mobility for a tall quarterback. All the tools are there to be a special player.

Prep Career: Browne swept up about every accolade you could imagine for a senior in high school. The Gatorade National Player of the Year, USA Today All-USA Offensive Player of the Year, and US Army All American led Skyline to back-to-back state championships. From his sophomore to senior season he threw for 12,953 yards and 146 touchdowns. Browne threw for 384 yards and 4 touchdowns in the state championship his senior year and enrolled early at USC as the number one ranked quarterback in the country.

Spring Ball: The true freshman carries himself like a senior. He is poised and professional in interviews and strong and commanding in the huddle. From high school to college, he has been forced to make the adjustment from a shotgun offense to playing under center, but he is rapidly improving in all phases. With Max Wittek down, Browne is benefiting from the increased reps including throwing a Coliseum touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor in last Saturday's scrimmage.

To Quote Browne: "I'm making my fair share of mistakes but I'm learning from them. That's why I came early, that's why I'm here. I think it's been a good first couple of weeks."

Here is Browne with our Sarah Bergstrom...

Two Sand Sweeps

By Jordan Moore on March 15, 2013 11:31 AM | No Comments

No. 3 USC women's sand volleyball took care of business on Wednesday with a pair of sweeps over Bakersfield and Grand Canyon. The Women of Troy will face stiffer competition this weekend with UCLA, Long Beach State and Loyola Marymount coming to Merle Norman Stadium for a two-day tournament (pool play on Saturday and bracket play on Sunday).

Here are the highlights of the latest home victories...

Emotional Locker Room

By Jordan Moore on March 14, 2013 3:27 PM | No Comments

USC men's basketball rallied around interim head coach Bob Cantu this season and salvaged some great wins out of a campaign that did not start well. The Trojans took down the Bruins in Pauley Pavilion and sunk the highly ranked Wildcats in Galen Center en route to a 9-9 finish in the Pac-12 just a year removed from winning one conference game.

The team wanted more though. The Trojans were building towards a run in Las Vegas that just did not materialize Wednesday night.

Here is an exclusive look inside the locker room at Bob Cantu's post-game address after the loss...

2013 Spring Practice #4: Kiffin Presser

By Jordan Moore on March 13, 2013 11:15 AM | No Comments

The Lane Kiffin post-practice press conference was accidentally posted on private last night, so we are re-posting here. Sorry about that...

Split on the Sand

By Jordan Moore on March 11, 2013 2:48 PM | No Comments

No. 3 USC women's sand volleyball got off and running with a pair of dual matches Sunday. The Women of Troy defeated Loyola Marymount before losing 3-2 to No. 4 Florida State

Click here for the recap.

The Trojans are tough at the top with their best two pairs winning both matches. Captain Kirby Burnham and Bria Russ are USC's top team, while Katie Fuller and Stevi Robinson back them up at No. 2.

The Women of Troy are at home this Thursday, Saturday and Sunday including a match-up with UCLA. Here are the highlights from the opening weekend at Merle Norman Sand Volleyball Stadium...

Meet Kenny Bigelow

By Jordan Moore on March 11, 2013 11:45 AM | No Comments

Name - Kenny Bigelow

Position - Defensive Line

Class - Freshman

Size - 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds

Age - 17

High School - Eastern Christian Academy (Elkton, MD)

Game - Bigelow is already built like a college player, which is rare for someone so young. He has the strength and athleticism to play any of three spots up front for Clancy Pendergast, but he is starting out at nose tackle.

Prep Career - At Red Lion Christian Academy and Eastern Christian Academy, Bigelow split time at defensive line and tight end. His high school only played three games during his senior season, but he was still named a U.S. Army All-American.

Spring Ball - While he was on the wrong end of a "welcome to college" pancake block from Jordan Simmons during the first practice, Bigelow is a big time talent. Don't expect him to redshirt. The defensive line lacks depth and Coach O prefers a two-deep rotation, so Bigelow should push Antwaun Woods at the nose.

To Quote Bigelow - "I never want to be satisfied with my performance. I want to get better and better everyday and someday be a great Trojan."

Here is Bigelow with our Andie Hagemann...

Project Trojan: QB Competition

By Jordan Moore on March 8, 2013 5:03 PM | No Comments

The torch is all set to be passed. From Carson Palmer to Matt Leinart to John David Booty to Mark Sanchez and then Matt Barkley, the line of succession has been pretty clean at USC for over a decade with an Aaron Corp or two mixed in.

Who will be the next USC starting quarterback? Max Wittek, Cody Kessler or Max Browne??

Meet the contenders and listen to offensive coordinator Clay Helton mic'd up at practice in the first Project Trojan of 2013 spring football...

Come Get Sandy

By Jordan Moore on March 8, 2013 3:13 PM | No Comments

The Merle Norman Sand Volleyball Stadium will officially open for competition this Sunday as No. 3 USC hosts No. 4 Florida State and Loyola Marymount starting at 11 a.m. The first 250 fans will receive Trojans sand volleyball towels.

The new on-campus stadium is located at the corner of Figueroa Street and McCarthy Way adjacent to Parking Structure X and across the street from The Lab.

Here is a video look at the new digs and the opening ceremonies from Thursday night:

Inside the Equipment Room

By Jordan Moore on March 6, 2013 4:27 PM | No Comments

USC's football uniforms are always a hot topic of conversation among fans. The Trojans have maintained the traditional helmets and jerseys, while adding new Nike accessories in recent years.

Here is an exclusive look inside the equipment room in the John McKay Center and a peek at the new Nike technology that the Trojans are trying out this spring.

Trojan Spotlight: Ellie Chai

By Jordan Moore on March 6, 2013 4:00 PM | No Comments

No. 1 USC women's golf is on a remarkable run to start the season with three tournament wins, including back-to-back team victories at the expense of UCLA at the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the Bruin Wave Invitational.

Click here for the recap of the latest championship.

While she has only played four competitive rounds in her young career at Troy, Ellie Chai is an inspiration for even making it on the top-ranked Trojans. The freshman's golf career has already been threatened by losing her childhood home to Hurricane Katrina and a devastating injury.

Here is her story in her own words...

Celebrate the Seniors

By Jordan Moore on March 1, 2013 4:16 PM | No Comments

USC men's basketball will pay tribute to a six-pack of seniors before the home finale against Arizona State on Saturday (tip time at Noon). Led by captain Jio Fontan, the scholarship group is made up entirely of transfers, but they quickly assimilated into the Trojan Family.

The final home game is also fan appreciation day, so click here for tickets.

Here is a look at the 2013 senior class:

Hedges Leads Women's Legacy Series

By Jordan Moore on March 1, 2013 11:31 AM | No Comments

Pioneering women's athletics administrator Barbara Hedges will be a featured panelist in the "Living Your Legacy Speaker Series" at the USC Women's Conference on March 7. After arriving at Troy in 1973 just after the groundbreaking Title IX legislation had gone into effect, Hedges spearheaded the creation of USC women's athletics, which has won 23 national champions and produced some of the world's greatest athletes.

Click here for more information on the USC Women's Conference.

For more on Hedges and her tremendous legacy, here is a great piece produced by the university...

Storming the 'Cats then the Court

By Jordan Moore on February 28, 2013 12:21 PM | No Comments

USC men's basketball put together its best offensive performance of the season dropping 89 points on No. 11 Arizona in an upset victory. The Trojans' first win over a ranked team in two years was fittingly celebrated by a Galen Center court storm.

Here's a look at the highlights and the celebration:

Dante Goes Deep

By Jordan Moore on February 27, 2013 12:06 PM | No Comments

USC baseball is off to a 5-3 start thanks to strong pitching and defense, but the Trojans got a big blast from Dante Flores last night to key a 4-1 win over Long Beach State.

Here are the highlights:

The Haden Shake

By Jordan Moore on February 26, 2013 5:03 PM | No Comments

Yeah, you've seen more than a few Harlem Shake videos by now, but have you seen any athletic directors lead the charge??? At the last men's basketball game, USC AD Pat Haden was good enough to put on the infamous Nike prototype helmet and spark the flash mob.

Here is the official USC Athletics Harlem Shake video:

Twomey Two Wins

By Jordan Moore on February 25, 2013 5:02 PM | No Comments

USC baseball is 2-0 on Sundays this season thanks to true freshman ace Kyle Twomey. While he picked up a no-decision in the win over Nebraska last week, the southpaw earned his first collegiate victory by going the distance in the series clincher over Cal State Northridge.

Twomey is a lightweight at 6-foot-3 165 pounds, but he had enough endurance to throw all 9 innings on 117 pitches. He gave up two runs on five hits and struck out five to only three walks.

The Trojans are now 4-3 on the season with Long Beach State coming to Dedeaux Field Tuesday at 6 p.m. PT followed by a three-game series at Fresno State this weekend.

Here is fellow lefty Randy Flores on Twomey's performance:

Lacrosse Hits First Winning Streak

By Jordan Moore on February 25, 2013 4:37 PM | No Comments

USC women's lacrosse is already exceeding expectations in its inaugural season.

The Women of Troy competed hard against national powers Northwestern and UMass before picking up back-to-back wins over Presbyterian and St. Mary's. The latest triumph over the Gaels was the program's first conference victory.

Now at 2-2 on the young season, USC hits the road for the first time with a four-game swing through LIU Brooklyn, Princeton, UC Davis and Stanford. Here are the highlights from Sunday's win...

Keep Winning

By Jordan Moore on February 21, 2013 12:16 PM | No Comments

USC men's basketball had its four-game winning streak snapped at Cal, but the Trojans are still one of the hottest teams in the Pac-12. The good times started rolling when USC beat UCLA at new Pauley Pavilion, and now the Trojans are hoping to recapture their momentum with a win in Sunday's rematch.

Here's a look at the epic showdown ahead featuring Jio Fontan and J.T. Terrell...

The Missing Piece

By Jordan Moore on February 21, 2013 10:51 AM | No Comments

USC women's tennis started the season with a three-headed monster at the top of the lineup, but Zoe Scandalis, who burst on the scene playing No. 1 singles as a freshman last year, has been slowed most of this campaign by injury. Scandalis has been limited to three singles matches (2-1 record) and five doubles matches (2-3 record) on the young season.

The sophomore was rested yesterday in the 7-0 win over San Diego State. The Women of Troy still boast two of the top three singles players in the country in No. 1 Sabrina Santamaria and No. 3 Danielle Lao, but they are a true national title contender with Scandalis backing them up and lengthening the lineup.

The Trojans are next in action Saturday at Cal. Here are yesterday's highlights:

Coach O Part II

By Jordan Moore on February 20, 2013 4:02 PM | No Comments

If you missed the first part of our interview with Ed Orgeron, click here to see his thoughts on the recruiting class and his commitment to USC.

In part two, Coach O talks about working with new defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast and addresses the negativity around the program.

Coach O Part I

By Jordan Moore on February 19, 2013 5:04 PM | 1 Comment

In part one of our two-part interview with Ed Orgeron, the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator discussed the class of 2013 and reaffirmed his commitment to Troy.

"I'm a Trojan and I'm not wavering from that," he stated clearly. Part two tomorrow on working with new defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast...

Final Bow for Marinacci

By Jordan Moore on February 19, 2013 3:51 PM | No Comments

As the lone senior on the USC women's basketball team, Christina Marinacci was hoping for bigger things this season for herself and her team. Unfortunately, the captain has been limited to only 17 games played due to injury, while the Women of Troy have mostly struggled in her absence.

Nevertheless, Marinacci has had a solid all-around career at Troy including Pac-12 honorable mentions for hoops and academics as a junior. She will be celebrated before her final home game tonight against UCLA (tip time at 8 p.m.) as part of the Senior Night ceremony.

USC and UCLA will actually play each other twice this rivalry week. After meeting at Galen Center tonight, the crosstown foes will switch the scene to Westwood on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Running with the Walk-Off

By Jordan Moore on February 19, 2013 11:57 AM | No Comments

USC baseball earned its first victory of 2013 in dramatic fashion Sunday as the Trojans scored two runs in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Nebraska 4-3. After a strong start by true freshman Kyle Twomey, Adam Landecker delivered the walk-off win.

Update: USC vs. Loyola Marymount has been postponed until Wednesday (February 20) at 6 p.m. PT.

Here's a first person look at the celebration:

Out in Front

By Jordan Moore on February 17, 2013 12:10 PM | No Comments

No. 1 USC women's swimming and diving got the Trojans off to a perfect start this rivalry week with a Senior Day victory over UCLA. The win nudges USC out in front of UCLA in the Crosstown Gauntlet standings.

Click here for the recap.

The Women of Troy have won six consecutive dual meets over the Bruins. Here are the highlights featuring Olympic silver medalist Haley Anderson on her final home race...

On the Board

By Jordan Moore on February 17, 2013 12:01 PM | No Comments

USC women's lacrosse earned the program's first ever win by demolishing Presbyterian 24-4 on Friday. Ten different Trojans scored goals led by four apiece from Amanda Johansen and Caroline Cordrey.

Click here for the recap.

"I think it's really special for the girls," said head coach Lindsey Munday. "They worked really, really hard, so to see it come together today and to see us improve from last week is awesome. It's a milestone for our program, so we're excited about it."

Jack of Two Trades

By Jordan Moore on February 15, 2013 9:45 AM | No Comments

USC junior Elizabeth Eddy has doubled down on her athletic commitments and joined the women's lacrosse team to go along with continuing to play women's soccer. While Eddy is developing her stick skills, head coach Lindsey Munday is thrilled to incorporate her athleticism and leadership into the team.

USC women's lacrosse is hunting for the program's first win Friday against Presbyterian at McAlister Field. The Buttermilk Truck will be there to serve those in attendance.

Here is a Trojan Spotlight on Eddy:

Hit the Ground Pitching

By Jordan Moore on February 15, 2013 9:28 AM | No Comments

Despite the announcement of Frank Cruz being terminated from his head coaching position this week, USC baseball must soldier on with Dan Hubbs at the helm and a tough weekend trio to open the 2013 season. The Trojans will play at Cal State Fullerton tonight at 7 p.m., at CSU Baskersfield Saturday at 2 p.m., and the home opener against Nebraska on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Click here for the weekend preview.

While Hubbs will have to adjust to his managerial role, he can rely on the pitching staff he has cultivated over the last year-plus. He will give the ball to junior Bob Wheatley for the opener, followed by sophomore Wyatt Strahan in game two and highly regarded freshman Kyle Twomey at Dedeaux Field.

Here is Hubbs with USC baseball alum and World Series winner Randy Flores previewing the opening weekend:

Merle Norman Stadium Preview

By Jordan Moore on February 12, 2013 10:47 AM | No Comments

USC women's sand volleyball begins its second season with an alumni game on March 7, which will also mark the opening of the brand new Merle Norman Sand Volleyball Stadium on campus. The Women of Troy will play competitive matches against Florida State and Loyola Marymount to begin the regular season on March 10.

Here is a tour of USC's new built-in beach...

Attack Mentality

By Jordan Moore on February 11, 2013 6:06 PM | 1 Comment

In his introductory interview below, new USC defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast announced that the Trojans will switch from a 4-3 defense to his 5-2, which is an aggressive version of the 3-4. The new defense will mean slightly new positions for most of USC's front seven.

Given the relative lack of depth on the defensive line, the Trojans roster makes it seem like they would not have enough players to fill the 5-2. However, the new defense creates a spot for hybrid defensive ends and outside linebackers, which is actually a position with more than a few ready, willing and able candidates.

Just judging based on size, speed and athleticism, USC has at least five candidates that fit the mold starting with the return of senior Devon Kennard, who missed 2012 with a torn pectoral muscle. Kennard (pictured) has already played defensive end, outside linebacker and middle linebacker during his Trojan career, but he is probably best suited for this hybrid role at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds.

Morgan Breslin was expected to start opposite Kennard in the 4-3, but his pass rushing skills can easily be converted to fit Pendergast's scheme. NFL sack leaders like Clay Matthews and DeMarcus Ware play a similar role for the Packers and Cowboys.

The young guys could also make an instant impact in an attacking role. Redshirt freshman Jabari Ruffin was moved from outside linebacker to defensive end last year, and at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, he has the size to attack the line of scrimmage and the athleticism to play in space.

Finally, fall signees Quinton Powell and Michael Hutchings were scouted as outside linebackers by the recruiting services. Both are listed at 6-foot-2 between 215 and 220 pounds. In particular, Powell played defensive end in high school recording 25 sacks in his final two seasons combined.

Here is Pendergast explaining his system and the plan for the Trojans in 2013...

The Inaugural Weekend

By Jordan Moore on February 11, 2013 4:34 PM | No Comments

USC women's lacrosse made its long awaited debut this past weekend with home matches against No. 1 Northwestern and No. 14 UMass. As expected, the victories went to the more experienced sides, but the young Trojans battled hard for head coach Lindsey Munday.

After scoring five goals at the Coliseum versus the defending national champions, the Women of Troy were tied at halftime with Massachusetts before losing 18-9 at McAlister Field on Sunday. Through two games, No. 25 Caroline de Lyra leads the team with seven points (3 goals and 4 assists), while goalie Liz Shaeffer has made 30 saves already.

Here are the highlights from an entertaining opening weekend:

At Long Last...

By Jordan Moore on February 8, 2013 3:50 PM | No Comments

USC women's lacrosse is finally ready to take its bow!

After two years of building the program, the Women of Troy will get their first taste of NCAA action against the defending national champions Northwestern at 3 p.m. on Saturday in the Coliseum. Admission is FREE and the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a "USC Lacrosse - WE PLAY FOR A NEW ERA" t-shirt.

While the Trojans are heavy underdogs opening against the sport's power program with an inexperienced roster, head coach Lindsey Munday is focused on the competition not the hoopla. She knows that her players need seasoning, but the U.S. national team captain wants to build USC into a national championship contender.

Here is Munday previewing her roster and the showcase match-up against her alma mater Northwestern...

The Process

By Jordan Moore on February 8, 2013 11:42 AM | No Comments

Bill Ferguson is trying to mold a young USC men's volleyball team that has the proven talent to beat No. 1 UC Irvine and former No. 2 Stanford, but has also shown the inconsistency to drop four of six to start the season. The Trojans will need to find their game soon with a busy stretch of five matches in the next 13 days starting with a road test at Long Beach State tonight.

Here is a Trojan Spotlight on USC men's volleyball working "the process" to grow into a winner...

All the Right Moves

By Jordan Moore on February 8, 2013 10:46 AM | No Comments

USC men's basketball moved to 3-3 under interim head coach Bob Cantu after defeating Washington State at Galen Center last night.

The Trojans were struggling in the second half when Cantu made an adjustment to go to a small front court with Eric Wise and Aaron Fuller. The lineup tinker was all USC needed to hit a run and put the Cougs away.

Click here for Cantu's post-game interview on Pac-12 Networks.

Here are the highlights featuring Byron Wesley (20 points and 8 rebounds) and Jio Fontan (10 points and 11 assists)...

Artletics 2013

By Jordan Moore on February 7, 2013 1:48 PM | No Comments

The 8th annual Louis Galen Artletics exhibition will be on display tonight through March 15 at the Centofante Hall of Fame in Galen Center. If you are coming for USC basketball or men's volleyball, be sure to check out the artwork of 28 different Trojan student-athletes on display.

Click here for more on Artletics.

Here are Georgette Hernandez (women's water polo), Jeffrey Churchman (men's track and field) and Leonard Williams (football) on their work and the meaning of art in their lives...

Signing Day Press Conference

By Jordan Moore on February 6, 2013 5:45 PM | No Comments

Lane Kiffin used a pair of metaphors to describe an up-and-down National Signing Day.

The head coach instructed his charges to go "big game fishing" with the limited number of scholarships at USC's disposal due to the NCAA sanctions. While the staff may not have caught as many fish as the other schools around the country, they reeled in some "big prizes," Kiffin explained.

The head coach admitted that there was not a lot of excitement or momentum around the building today, but that was due in large part to signing so many top players early, including seven spring entrants. He compared the day to the feeling a coach gets when leading 35-0 then letting the other team come back, but eventually winning.

While you can watch the entire presser below, Kiffin was honest with his explanations in regards to the Kylie Fitts situation as well as conceding that the 7-6 season and his resulting job status questions hurt recruiting in the last month. However, he was bullish that the Trojans signed the most quality players in the country including several candidates to earn starting spots next season.

Here is Kiffin in the John McKay Center classroom...

The Marks Fortress

By Jordan Moore on February 5, 2013 10:25 AM | No Comments

No USC tennis team has dropped a dual match so far this season as the No. 4 Women of Troy have matched the four-time defending national champion men's team volley for volley.

While the competition is fierce at Marks Stadium, the support is even stronger. Both the men's and women's teams are in the stands to cheer on the opposite program as they were in the NCAA tournament last year.

The combination of competition and enthusiasm has created a tennis culture at USC that is currently unparalleled around the country. Both programs are ranked in the top four, undefeated on the season and dreaming of national championship glory.

After blowing away Fresno State (highlights below), the Women of Troy will face the biggest challenge of the non-conference schedule by traveling to Charlottesville, VA this weekend for the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.

Matt vs. Lacrosse

By Jordan Moore on February 4, 2013 4:12 PM | No Comments

The countdown continues to Saturday's inaugural USC women's lacrosse game at the Coliseum. The Women of Troy will do battle with defending national champions Northwestern starting at 3 p.m.

ADMISSION IS FREE. The first 1,000 fans will also get a complimentary USC lacrosse t-shirt.

Back in the summer of 2012, QB Matt Barkley got his first lesson in lax courtesy of USC head coach and U.S. national team captain Lindsey Munday. Here is the newest Matt Vs....

A Program Win

By Jordan Moore on January 31, 2013 4:45 PM | No Comments

USC men's basketball is undefeated in the new Pauley Pavilion. The Trojans shocked the Bruins last night in their new home, and picked up the biggest win of the Bob Cantu era.

By doing so, USC has pulled even in the Crosstown Gauntlet standings at 20-20 with UCLA. The Trojans have won the last five Gauntlets.

Here is an inside look at the rivalry victory including exclusive locker room and courtside footage...

A Moment in the Sun

By Jordan Moore on January 31, 2013 2:57 PM | No Comments

For one night at least, No. 2 USC men's tennis shined a light on unheralded senior Michael Tang, who has selflessly served the program during this remarkable run in whatever capacity the team needed. While he may not have Steve Johnson's forehand or Daniel Nguyen's steely nerves, Tang played his role behind-the-scenes at a championship level.

Seeing an opportunity to give a senior a shot at glory, head coach Peter Smith put Tang in the lineup for Tuesday's match-up against UC Irvine. Despite the entire team rallying behind him, he came up short on the scoreboard.

Nevertheless, as you can see in the Trojan Spotlight below, Tang reveled in every moment of the experience.

Meet the Early Entrants

By Jordan Moore on January 30, 2013 4:16 PM | No Comments

As part of our WE PLAY NEXT photo shoot with the seven early entrants, we checked in with QB Max Browne, RB Justin Davis and DL Kenny Bigelow to see how the freshman are adjusting to life in Troy.

Countdown to No. 21

By Jordan Moore on January 28, 2013 10:06 PM | No Comments

USC women's lacrosse is set to make its program debut in a Coliseum opener against Northwestern, the defending NCAA champions, on February 9 at 3 p.m. Admission is FREE and the first 1,000 fans will receive USC Lacrosse t-shirts as we celebrate the unveiling of our 21st sport.

Here is a look at what the Trojan Family is in store for...

Cassie for MVP?

By Jordan Moore on January 28, 2013 11:55 AM | No Comments

USC junior Cassie Harberts is starting to make a case for Pac-12 Player of the Year honors after another dominant weekend. The Women of Troy let a 16-point halftime lead slip away Friday against Arizona State, but they bounced back to blowout Arizona on Sunday led by Harberts who combined to score 50 points and 20 rebounds in the two games.

Harberts was interviewed by her teammate Christina Marinacci after Sunday's W...

Tennis Under the Lights

By Jordan Moore on January 28, 2013 10:23 AM | No Comments

No. 4 USC women's tennis won the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in primetime Sunday night by sweeping UC Irvine in the championship. The Women of Troy advanced to the ITA National Team Indoors in Charlottesville, VA, from February 8-10.

Here are the highlights and a post-match interview with Danielle Lao...

Indoors and Out

By Jordan Moore on January 28, 2013 10:17 AM | No Comments

No. 2 USC men's tennis posted back-to-back sweeps as the hosts of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend to advance to the ITA National Team Indoors (February 15-18 in Seattle). The Trojans were forced inside for the opening match, but closed the weekend outdoors at Marks Stadium.

Here are the highlights and post-match reaction from Saturday's win over Fresno State...

A Growing 7-Footer

By Jordan Moore on January 24, 2013 4:08 PM | No Comments

Upon arriving at USC, Dewayne Dedmon was saddled with lofty expectations despite not having enough basketball experience to live up to them. Quietly though, the junior's game is developing some refinement to go along with his remarkable activity and energy for a seven-footer.

USC's last two wins are great examples of Dedmon's growth and potential. In the victory at Utah, he posted a season-high 13 points and a career-best 13 rebounds to go along with 5 blocks. While Dedmon only played 15 minutes against Oregon State due to foul trouble, he still managed 5 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks.

For a player that arrived at USC with little to no experience in organized basketball, the scoring touch was always going to be the last thing to come. However, Dedmon scored in double figures in five consecutive games before the previous weekend's foul woes.

As the Trojans push for wins in the desert this weekend, starting tonight at Arizona State (7:30 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Networks), Dedmon's improvement will come into central focus. Bob Cantu not only needs him to control the paint and the glass, but his running philosophy plays to the strength of the athletic big man.

Here is a Trojan Spotlight on Dedmon featuring current USC assistant coach Dieter Horton, who was Dewayne's junior college coach, and fellow center Omar Oraby...

Aquatics Giant

By Jordan Moore on January 23, 2013 5:50 PM | No Comments

Led by five-time defending national champions men's water polo, USC has become a dominant force in the pool. In fact, all four aquatics sports are ranked in the top five nationally with No. 1 women's swimming and diving, No. 2 women's water polo and No. 5 men's swimming and diving.

In order to keep those programs flourishing, former USC swim captain Fred Uytengsu made the largest donation ever by a USC student-athlete to build the Uytengsu Aquatics Center, a state-of-the-art swimming, diving and water polo facility.

Here is a video look at the groundbreaking, renderings and the man that made it possible...

Getting Her Double Digits

By Jordan Moore on January 15, 2013 2:39 PM | No Comments

Cassie Harberts has taken responsibility for the Trojans' offense. With a young perimeter cast around her, the junior forward has consistently dominated the paint, scoring in double digits in every game this season.

Now that the guards are growing up, Harberts' efforts are leading to wins for USC women's basketball. The Women of Troy lost six consecutive games going into conference play, but they are 4-0 in Pac-12 action for the first time since 2004-05.

Harberts is averaging 17.9 ppg and 7.9 rpg with six double-doubles on the season. She has upped her numbers to 21.2 ppg and 9.3 rpg in Pac-12 play.

She will have to continue her inspired play if the Women of Troy are going to escape the Bay Area with a victory or two. USC will take on No. 7 Cal (Thursday at 6 p.m. PT) and No. 6 Stanford (Sunday at 4 p.m. PT) on Pac-12 Networks.

As part of our women's basketball coverage this season, captain Christina Marinacci has been interviewing and profiling her teammates. Marinacci, who is pursuing a career off the court as a broadcaster, sat down with Harberts recently in "Chris's Corner."

Women's Volley Awards

By Jordan Moore on January 15, 2013 12:03 PM | No Comments

USC women's volleyball celebrated its season with a year-end banquet this past weekend featuring keynote speaker Olympic silver medalist April Ross. Junior All-American libero Natalie Hagglund was named the team's MVP.

Click here for a video recap of the banquet.

Here is a list of award winners followed by the season and senior highlight video:

Paula Weishoff Award (Most Valuable Player) - Natalie Hagglund

Emily Adams Award (Best Blocker) - Alexis Olgard

Keao Burdine Award (Most Points Scored) - Samantha Bricio

Sue Woodstra Award (Best Attacker) - Katie Fuller

Debbie Landreth Award (Best Passer) - Sara Shaw

Patti Bright Award (Spirit of Troy) - Hannah Schraer

April Ross Award (Best Server) - Samantha Bricio

Nicole Davis Award (Best Digger) - Natalie Hagglund

Debbie Green Award (Best Setter) - Hayley Crone

Coaches Award - Erin Yoder

Cantu Introduced

By Jordan Moore on January 14, 2013 6:00 PM | No Comments

Bob Cantu has seen this before. In fact, in his 12 years as an assistant at USC under four different head coaches, he has seen just about everything.

Now, he will take those experiences and put them to use as the interim head coach of Trojan basketball. In his introductory press conference, he expressed the need to bring leadership and energy to the program.

Click here for the full story on Kevin O'Neill being released.

Strategically, he will create a game plan combining his knowledge gained from Kevin O'Neill, Tim Floyd and Henry Bibby. While O'Neill was a strict believer in man-to-man defense, Cantu is considering a zone to protect his seven-footers.

For this particular team, Cantu expressed the need to find more scoring and create easy buckets. To that end, he plans to play faster and implement a press. By using an uptempo system, he can utilize the Trojans depth and loosen up the rims.

The entire men's basketball team showed up to Cantu's press conference in support, while seniors Jio Fontan and Eric Wise sat alongside the interim head coach. Here is the presser in its entirety...

Drama Queens

By Jordan Moore on January 7, 2013 10:53 AM | No Comments

USC women's basketball started the Pac-12 season with a sweep of the Oregon schools, but the Women of Troy hardly made it look easy.

Thanks to an Alexyz Vaioletama's buzzer beater, USC chopped down the Beavers in Corvallis. With some positive momentum behind them, Michael Cooper's team followed it up by outlasting Oregon 67-62.

Click here for the weekend recap.

Cassie Harberts led the Trojans in scoring in both games with 27 against Oregon State and 16 versus the Ducks, but Vaioletama was the hero.

Clutching Up

By Jordan Moore on January 4, 2013 3:44 PM | No Comments

USC men's basketball has had solid front court play all season, but the guards stepped up last night to deliver a Pac-12 opening win over Stanford. Reserve PG Chass Bryan made 5/6 field goals en route to a career-high 10 points, while captain Jio Fontan closed out the victory with solid defense and game-winning free throws.

Next up: USC vs. Cal at Galen Center on Saturday night at 8 p.m.

Friday Night Video: Sun Bowl

By Jordan Moore on December 31, 2012 8:13 AM | No Comments

The final Friday Night Video of 2012. The Trojans want to ring in 2013 as Sun Bowl champions.

Trojans Visit Children's Hospital

By Jordan Moore on December 30, 2012 3:22 PM | No Comments

The USC football players have really enjoyed interacting with the community in El Paso, including a trip to the children's hospital Saturday. Here is a look at the Trojans visit...

Hypnotized

By Jordan Moore on December 28, 2012 6:32 PM | No Comments

As part of the Sun Bowl celebration and dinner with the troops at Fort Bliss, USC and Georgia Tech players were hypnotized last night. Hilarity ensued...

2012 Football Highlight Video

By Jordan Moore on December 17, 2012 4:49 PM | 1 Comment

With only a Sun Bowl game to go, here is the 2012 USC football season in highlights...

Drive for Five Complete

By Jordan Moore on December 2, 2012 6:19 PM | No Comments

"What a game," Jovan Vavic exhaled.

The now 11-time national champion head coach never doubted his men of Troy. Despite a large early deficit (5-2 start for UCLA) and late drama, the wisdom of four consecutive NCAA titles paid off in a 5-peat.

In fact, Vavic deferred to senior Tobias Preuss who called the game-winning play during the final timeout with the match tied 10-10 and only 46 seconds to go. "That last play was the play for the ages," said the head coach.

The Trojans call it "Candy," and it basically set a screen for Kostas Genidounias who took it from there. "Kostas is the man," said Matt Burton, who delivered the assist. "That kid just doesn't feel pressure. He lives for that moment."

The Greek's goal gave USC an 11-10 lead and set-off a Trojan celebration inside the soon-to-be Uytengsu Aquatics Center. Senior Michael Rosenthal, who had a hat trick, was named the NCAA Final Four MVP.

Click here for the complete match recap.

The perfect Trojans finished the season 29-0, but determination not dominance will be this team's trademark. USC defeated national runner-up UCLA three times this season by a single goal.

Vavic has so much faith in his Trojans' ability to handle pressure that he has already thrown down the gauntlet for next season. "We're going to win it again next year. Write it down."

Click here for the complete press conference.

A wet and wild look at the 5-peat celebration...

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