2005 USC Trojans football team
2005 Los Angeles Coliseum | |
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 2 USC † $ | 8 | – | 0 | 12 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 13 Oregon | 7 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 16 UCLA | 6 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 25 California | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona State | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stanford | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oregon State | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington State | 1 | – | 7 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2005 USC Trojans football team represented the
With many of their
A number of players from the team won national awards, with
On June 10, 2010, USC was forced to vacate two wins from the 2004 season, and all wins from the 2005 season, after an NCAA investigation into the football program (and men's basketball program) declared Bush retroactively ineligible. Additional sanctions included a bowl ban in 2010 and 2011, and the loss of 30 football scholarships (10 per year in 2010, 2011, and 2012).[17] All official NCAA records show the Trojans as having a 0–0 record during the 2005 season, including the loss to Texas in the national championship being vacated.[3]
Before the season
The 2003 Trojans finished the season with a 12–1 record and shared the national title with the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers; USC won the Associated Press championship while LSU played for and won the BCS National Championship.[18] The 2004 Trojans finished with a 13–0 record that included a win in the national championship game. The team became only the second team to be ranked first in the AP Poll from pre-season until the end of the season, and the tenth team to repeat as national champions.[19] Returning fourteen starters from 2004,[6] including Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart,[20] and with a 22-game winning streak, the Trojans were ranked at the top of the polls once again in the pre-season.[8][9]
Coaching changes
After the 2004 season, four Trojan assistant coaches were offered and took jobs elsewhere. The most notable coach lost was
Roster changes
Although returning 14 starters from 2004, the team lost four players to the
Recruiting
The Trojans signed 19 recruits for the new class. Included in the top–10 class (ranked first by one source) were four five–star recruits on defense, two five–star recruits on offense, and another eight four–star recruits. Thomas Herring, who signed with the class, did not qualify for admission and sat out for the season, later enrolling in the school.[28]
US college sports recruiting information for 2005 recruits | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
Walker Ashley DT |
Eden Prairie, MN | Eden Prairie Senior | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 284 lb (129 kg) | 4.89 | Feb 2, 2005 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Charles Brown TE |
Pomona, CA | Diamond Ranch HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 249 lb (113 kg) | 5.01 | Feb 2, 2005 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Luthur Brown LB |
Lakewood, CA | Lakewood HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 227 lb (103 kg) | 4.63 | Feb 2, 2005 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Michael Coleman QB |
San Bernardino, CA | Arroyo Valley Hs | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 222 lb (101 kg) | 4.5 | Oct 14, 2004 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Brian Cushing LB |
Oradell, NJ | Bergen Catholic HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 221 lb (100 kg) | 4.51 | Feb 2, 2005 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Kevin Ellison LB |
Inglewood, CA | Redondo Union HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 214 lb (97 kg) | 4.68 | Dec 8, 2004 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Cary Harris CB |
Sherman Oaks, CA | Notre Dame HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 4.4 | Feb 2, 2005 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Will Harris S |
Covina, CA | Charter Oak HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 4.55 | Dec 11, 2004 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Thomas Herring OT |
Los Angeles, CA | Fremont HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 320 lb (150 kg) | 4.8 | Feb 2, 2005 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Nick Howell OL |
Fresno, CA | Bullard HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 256 lb (116 kg) | 5.13 | Oct 16, 2004 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Kaluka Maiava LB |
Wailuku, HI | Baldwin HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 211 lb (96 kg) | 4.63 | Oct 11, 2004 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Rey Maualuga LB |
Eureka, CA | Eureka Senior HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 244 lb (111 kg) | 4.61 | Jan 15, 2005 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Mozique McCurtis CB |
San Diego, CA | Grossmont | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | 4.37 | Jun 2, 2005 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Kyle Moore DE |
Warner Robins, GA | Houston County HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 248 lb (112 kg) | 4.8 | Feb 2, 2005 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Mark Sanchez QB |
Mission Viejo, CA | Mission Viejo HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 213 lb (97 kg) | 4.77 | Jul 17, 2004 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Averell Spicer DE |
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Rancho Cucamonga HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 262 lb (119 kg) | 4.62 | Dec 11, 2004 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Kevin Thomas CB |
Oxnard, CA | Rio Mesa HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 172 lb (78 kg) | 4.46 | Dec 11, 2004 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Patrick Turner WR |
Nashville, TN | Goodpasture HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.57 | Jan 19, 2005 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Troy Van Blarcom K |
Orange, CA | Lutheran HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.8 | Apr 26, 2004 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: #6 Rivals: #1 | ||||||
Sources:
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Pre-season honors
Seven Trojan players were honored as part of pre-season watch lists for national awards.[6]
- Darnell Bing – Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott Trophy, and Jim Thorpe Award
- Reggie Bush – Maxwell Award
- Dwayne Jarrett – Maxwell Award
- Ryan Kalil – Rimington Trophy
- Matt Leinart – Maxwell Award
- Steve Smith – Maxwell Award
- LenDale White – Maxwell Award
In addition to the awards, six players were honored on various pre-season
Season
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 3, 2005 | 4:00 p.m. | at Hawaii* | No. 1 | ESPN2 | W 63–17 (vacated) | 50,000[29] | |
September 17, 2005 | 7:15 p.m. | Arkansas* | No. 1 | FSN | W 70–17 (vacated) | 90,411[29] | |
September 24, 2005 | 4:00 p.m. | at No. 24 Oregon | No. 1 | ABC | W 45–13 (vacated) | 59,129[29] | |
October 1, 2005 | 12:30 p.m. | at No. 14 College GameDay) | ABC | W 38–28 (vacated) | 71,706[29] | ||
October 8, 2005 | 12:30 p.m. | Arizona | No. 1 |
| FSN | W 42–21 (vacated) | 90,221[29] |
October 15, 2005 | 12:30 p.m. | at No. 9 College GameDay) | NBC | W 34–31 (vacated) | 80,795[29] | ||
October 22, 2005 | 12:30 p.m. | at Washington | No. 1 | ABC | W 51–24 (vacated) | 64,096[29] | |
October 29, 2005 | 12:30 p.m. | Washington State | No. 1 |
| ABC | W 55–13 (vacated) | 92,021[29] |
November 5, 2005 | 7:00 p.m. | TBS | W 51–21 (vacated) | 90,212[29] | |||
November 12, 2005 | 12:30 p.m. | at California | No. 1 | ABC | W 35–10 (vacated) | 72,981[29] | |
November 19, 2005 | 7:15 p.m. | No. 16 Fresno State* | No. 1 |
| FSN | W 50–42 (vacated) | 90,007[29] |
December 3, 2005 | 1:30 p.m. | No. 11 College GameDay) | ABC | W 66–19 (vacated) | 92,000[29] | ||
January 4, 2006 | 5:00 p.m. | vs. No. 2 College GameDay) | ABC | L 38–41‡ | 93,986[29] | ||
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‡The Trojans loss in the Rose Bowl was also officially vacated.[3]
Rankings
Week | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
Harris | Not released | 1 (110) | 1 (108) | 1 (100) | 1 (96) | 1 (95) | 1 (96) | 1 (97) | 1 (94) | 1 (88) | 1 (99) | 1 (99) | Not released | |||
BCS | Not released | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Not released |
Game summaries
Hawaii
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 Trojans | 7 | 14 | 28 | 14 | 63 |
Warriors | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
The Trojans began the season by traveling to Hawaii to face the
Arkansas
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Razorbacks | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
#1 Trojans | 28 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 70 |
In the Trojans' first home game of the season they faced the Arkansas Razorbacks, led by eighth–year head coach Houston Nutt and quarterback Robert Johnson. Bush opened the scoring for the Trojans with a 76-yard rush. The Razorbacks answered with a touchdown pass by Johnson, however, Leinart scored three touchdowns, two passing and one rushing, before the end of the quarter. In the second quarter the Razorbacks were able to kick a field goal before the Trojans scored two more touchdowns on a rush by LenDale White and a third pass by Leinart. Going into the half the Trojans led 42–10. In the third quarter, White rushed for his second touchdown and Leinart threw a fourth before the Trojan starters were taken out of the game. Booty threw his second touchdown of the season in the fourth quarter before backup quarterback Alex Mortensen threw a touchdown for the Razorbacks. Third-string Trojan quarterback Mike McDonald threw a 4-yard touchdown to end the game, giving the Trojans a 70–17 win and a 24-game winning streak.[31]
Oregon
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 Trojans | 0 | 10 | 21 | 14 | 45 |
Ducks | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
The Trojans next traveled to Eugene, Oregon to face the Ducks in both teams' conference opener. The Ducks, led by eleventh–year head coach Mike Bellotti and quarterback Kellen Clemens, came into the game undefeated, and started quickly with an early field goal. Later in the quarter, Clemens threw a touchdown and early in the second quarter another field goal gave the Ducks a 13–0 lead. Before the end of the half, Leinart threw a touchdown to Bush and a Mario Danelo field goal gave the Trojans a 13–10 deficit at the half. In the second half, the Trojans began an onslaught with two more Leinart touchdown passes, two LenDale White touchdown rushes, and a Bush rush for a touchdown. Scoring 45 straight points, the Trojans won the game 45–13 and extended their winning streak to 25 games and improved to 3–0 on the season as the Ducks fell to 2–1.[32]
Arizona State
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 Trojans | 0 | 3 | 14 | 21 | 38 |
#15 Sun Devils | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
The Trojans next stayed on the road and faced the fifteenth–ranked
Arizona
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wildcats | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
#1 Trojans | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
The Trojans next went home to face the Arizona Wildcats, led by second–year head coach Mike Stoops and quarterback Richard Kovalcheck. Though the Trojans were a 38.5 point favorite and took an early lead on a LenDale White rushing touchdown, the Wildcats answered after Kovalcheck threw his own touchdown and the game was tied at the end of the first quarter. Though both teams struggled in the second quarter, Leinart was able to complete a 22-yard touchdown to Dwayne Jarrett late in the half to take a 14–7 lead. In the third quarter, White rushed for two more touchdowns, however, Kovalcheck answered both times to keep the Wildcats within a touchdown going into the fourth quarter. Early in the fourth, Leinart threw his second touchdown to Jarrett and White rushed for a fourth touchdown to give the Trojans a 42–21 win. Both White and Bush rushed for over 100 yards for the third straight game, which was a school record, and the win increased the Trojan winning streak to 27 games.[35]
Notre Dame
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 Trojans | 14 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 34 |
#9 Irish | 7 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 31 |
In a game that looked to be overshadowed by pre-game hype and assertions of being the newest "
In a surprise move, after Weis insisted it would not happen,
Washington
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 Trojans | 14 | 23 | 7 | 7 | 51 |
Huskies | 10 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
The Trojans next visited the
Washington State
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cougars | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
#2 Trojans | 28 | 10 | 3 | 14 | 55 |
The Trojans next faced the Washington State Cougars, led by third–year head coach Bill Doba and quarterback Alex Brink. The Trojans took an early lead on a Leinart touchdown pass to Dwayne Jarrett, but the Cougars answered two minutes later on a Jerome Harrison rush for a touchdown. After the Cougars missed the extra point, the Trojans scored three more touchdowns in the first quarter, with a fumble recovery in the end zone and two more Leinart touchdown passes, to take a 28–6 lead. Late in the second quarter the Trojans scored again on a LenDale White touchdown rush, and a Mario Danelo field goal as time was expiring gave them a 38–6 half-time lead. The Trojans would get another Danelo field goal and a second White touchdown rush before the Cougars would rush for their second touchdown. With a final rushing touchdown after the starters had been taken out of the game, the Trojans won 55–13 and increased their winning streak to 30 games.[42]
Stanford
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinal | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
#1 Trojans | 24 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 51 |
The Trojans next faced the
California
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 Trojans | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
Golden Bears | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
The Trojans next traveled to face rivals, the California Golden Bears, led by fourth–year head coach Jeff Tedford and quarterback Joe Ayoob. Although the Bears handed the Trojans their last loss in 2003, they were struggling in the season, having lost three out of the last four games and dropping out of the rankings for the first time since 2003.[44] The Trojans scored first after Ayoob's first of four interceptions in the game, on a LenDale White rush. Ayoob recovered after the interception, and led the Bears to a field goal to cut their deficit to four at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Leinart rushed for a pair of touchdowns to give the Trojans a 21–3 lead at half-time. After a pair of White rushing touchdowns, the Bears scored again on a Chris Manerino rush that ended scoring in the game, with the Trojans winning 35–10. With the win, the Trojans clinched at least a share of the Pac-10 title and increased their winning streak to 32 games, tied for the sixth longest in history.[45]
Fresno State
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#16 Bulldogs | 7 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
#1 Trojans | 7 | 6 | 28 | 9 | 50 |
The Trojans next faced the sixteenth–ranked Fresno State Bulldogs, led by ninth–year head coach Pat Hill and quarterback Paul Pinegar. The Bulldogs took an early lead on a Pinegar touchdown pass that was answered by LenDale White's rushing touchdown for the Trojans to leave the game tied at the end of the first quarter. After a rushing touchdown for the Bulldogs, the Trojans could only answer with a Mario Danelo field goal. A second passing touchdown by Pinegar and another Danelo field goal closed out the half with the Bulldogs leading 21–13. The Trojans seemed to take control of the game in the third quarter with a Leinart touchdown run, a Reggie Bush touchdown run, and a Leinart touchdown pass that gave the Trojans a 13-point lead. Pinegar answered for the Bulldogs with his third touchdown pass of the game, but a 50-yard touchdown rush by Bush allowed the Trojans to keep the same lead, Two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Pinegar's fourth touchdown pass and a second rushing touchdown for the Bulldogs, gave them a 1-point lead with nine minutes left in the game. After a 65-yard run by Bush, White scored for the Trojans, who missed on a two–point conversion attempt. A Danelo field goal gave the Trojans a 50–42 lead, and the Trojans won after intercepting Pinegar with a minute left in the game. Bush set a Pac-10 record with 513 total yards in the game, including almost 300 yards rushing, and the Trojans increased their winning streak to 33 games.[46]
UCLA
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UCLA | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 19 |
USC | 10 | 21 | 21 | 14 | 66 |
at
- Date: December 3
- Game time: 1:40 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: Fair • 67 °F (19 °C) • Wind N/NW 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn)
- Game attendance: 92,000
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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For their final regular season game the Trojans faced their cross-town rivals, the eleventh–ranked
Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rose Bowl
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#2 Longhorns | 0 | 16 | 7 | 18 | 41 |
#1 Trojans | 7 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 38 |
The Rose Bowl Game served as the
Less than three weeks before the game, USC's Reggie Bush won the
In the game, coach Mack Brown and his Texas Longhorns beat USC by the score of 41–38 and ended USC's 34 game win streak. The game's outcome was still in doubt late in the fourth quarter, when the Trojans tried to convert a fourth down play that would win the game for them. After they were stopped Young led the Longhorns on a touchdown drive that was capped by his fourth down rush for the twelve yard touchdown.[11]
Since the game, the media, coaches, and other commentators have praised the game as one of the greatest ever.[54][55][56][57]
Roster
Sources: Scout.com 2005 USC Roster |
Coaching staff
The Trojan team was coached by Pete Carroll and his staff. Much of the staff from 2004 remained, however, Carroll had to replace three offensive assistants and one defensive assistant.[6]
Name | Position | Year at USC |
Alma Mater (year) |
---|---|---|---|
Pete Carroll | Head coach Defensive coordinator |
5th | Pacific (1973) |
Steve Sarkisian | Quarterbacks Assistant head coach |
4th | Brigham Young (1996) |
Ken Norton Jr. | Linebackers | 2nd | UCLA (1988) |
Jethro Franklin | Defensive line | 1st | Fresno State (1988)
|
Brennan Carroll | Tight ends | 4th | Pittsburgh (2001) |
Lane Kiffin | Offensive coordinator Wide receivers Recruiting coordinator |
5th | Fresno State (1998) |
Pat Ruel | Offensive line | 1st | Miami (1972) |
Todd McNair | Running backs | 2nd | Temple (1988) |
Greg Burns | Secondary | 4th | Washington State (1995) |
After the season
Legacy
Throughout the season and especially after the win over UCLA, commentators had postulated that the Trojans were one of the "greatest teams of all-time".[10][58][59] ESPN analysts were virtually unanimous in their declaration of the 2005 USC Trojans as the best offense in the history of college football.[58][60] ESPN analysts Mark May and Kirk Herbstreit declared, before the 2005 Rose Bowl had even been played, that the 2005 USC Trojans were the 2nd best college football team of the past 50 years (May placed them behind only the 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers; Herbstreit behind only the 2001 Miami Hurricanes). Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated later observed that, although the team "may have had the greatest set of skill players in history," "ESPN spent the better part of Christmas season comparing that Trojans squad to some of the most acclaimed teams of all time only to find out that they weren’t even the best team that season."[61]
NCAA investigation and sanctions
In June 2010, the NCAA imposed sanctions on USC as a result of an investigation into the football program. One of the major focuses was improper gifts given to Reggie Bush.[62]
The NCAA found that Bush had received gifts from two sports agents from at least December 2004, including a limousine ride to the 2005 Heisman Trophy presentation and a rent-free home. As a result, USC was placed on four years' probation and forced to vacate its last two wins of the 2004 season (including the 2005 Orange Bowl) as well as all of its wins in the 2005 season. It was also banned from bowl games in 2010 and 2011 and lost 30 scholarships over three years. Running backs coach Todd McNair was banned from off-campus recruiting for one year after the NCAA determined he'd known about Bush's dealings with the agents. The NCAA also forced USC to permanently disassociate itself from Bush.[63][64] These sanctions have been criticized by some NCAA football writers, including ESPN’s Ted Miller, who wrote, “It's become an accepted fact among informed college football observers that the NCAA sanctions against USC were a travesty of justice, and the NCAA’s refusal to revisit that travesty are a massive act of cowardice on the part of the organization. That's the take of all clear-thinking people.”[65]
Bush would eventually manage to get his USC career statistics reinstated.[13] On April 24, 2024, it was announced that Bush would have his Heisman Trophy reinstated because of what the Heisman Trust calls "enormous changes in the college football landscape."[66] However, this did not change what the NCAA imposed against USC.[14]
Awards
Conference
Near the end of the season, the Pac-10 Conference named its award winners. Reggie Bush was named as the conference player of the year and Pete Carroll was named as the conference coach of the year. In addition, twelve players were named to the All-Conference team. Bush, Matt Leinart, Dwayne Jarrett, Taitusi Latui, Sam Baker, Ryan Kalil, Darnell Bing, Lawrence Jackson, and Frostee Rucker were named to the first team while LenDale White, Fred Matua, and Scott Ware were named to the second team. Nine others were also named as honorable mentions.[67]
National
After the season, a number of Trojans were named as national award winners and finalists. Reggie Bush became USC's seventh Heisman Trophy winner with the second largest margin of victory ever. However, after the aforementioned NCAA investigation, USC would return its copy of Bush's Heisman Trophy, considering that Bush was determined to be ineligible to play by the NCAA.
In addition to the individual awards, ten players were named to All-America teams. On first teams, Bush was named by nine different publications, Leinart was named by two, Jarrett was named by seven, Lutui was named by six, Bing was named by two, and Blake was named by one publication. Besides the first teams, Kalil was named to a second team along with White and Matua, while Lawrence Jackson was named to a third team.[76]
Roster changes
A week after the loss in the Rose Bowl,
Staff
Name | Position |
---|---|
Pete Carroll | Head coach/defensive coordinator |
Lane Kiffin | Offensive coordinator / recruiting coordinator/wide receivers coach |
Brennan Carroll | Tight ends coach |
Rocky Seto | Linebackers coach |
Ken Norton Jr. | Linebackers coach |
Todd McNair | Running backs coach |
Steve Sarkisian | Quarterbacks coach/assistant head coach |
Jethro Franklin | Defensive line coach |
Pat Ruel | Offensive line coach |
Greg Burns | Secondary coach |
Dennis Slutak | Special teams coordinator |
Sam Anno | Graduate assistant |
References
- ^ a b "2005 NCAA Football Rankings – Final (Dec. 12) (USA Today Coaches Poll)". ESPN. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
- ^ a b "2005 NCAA Football Rankings – Final (Dec. 12) (AP Poll)". ESPN. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
- ^ a b c "USC says 4-0 mark vs. Texas is correct as NCAA voided Trojans' participation in 2005 season". ESPN.com. September 12, 2017.
- ^ a b "Trojans blast Bruins, punch ticket for Rose Bowl". ESPN. December 3, 2005. Retrieved August 20, 2007.
- ^ a b "Matt Leinart Of The University Of Southern California Selected As The 2004 Heisman Winner". Heisman.com. December 11, 2004. Archived from the original on February 19, 2006. Retrieved July 30, 2006.
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