USC 1 BCS 0: the real national champs? The Trojans, of course, and we owe them thanks for stripping naked a system that just doesn't work

Sporting News, The, Jan 12, 2004 by Tom Dienhart

Take that, BCS. How does it feel to have trashed by a 12-inch cleat? The Trojans have kicked down the door of the Bowl Championship Series to become top dog, big kahuna, numero uno of the college football world, no matter how the guy behind the BCS curtain slices it.

"Everybody knows who the people's champion is," says defensive end Ornar Nazel. "It's the USC Trojans, baby."

Oh, man, is the big fella right. USC capped a 12-1 season by thumping Michigan, 28-14, in the Rose Bowl, leaving the BCS honchos with their pants around their ankles. Not a pretty sight, but it had to be done. Thank you, USC. We knew this day was coming because the BCS has shown cracks since it was given a Frankenstein birth in 1998.

Nazel and the Trojans stewed for more than a month as many rallied to their defense but others claimed they were unworthy of a spot in the BCS title game in New Orleans. When the final lever was pulled, the BCS formula put USC No. 3, behind No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 2 LSU. The Associated Press poll, like the SPORTING NEWS rankings, had USC on top after the regular season. Heck, even the ESPN/USA Today poll that automatically bequeaths No. 1 status to the winner of the Sugar Bowl had the Trojans on top. It doesn't matter. Because TSN and the AP aren't bound by the BCS bozos; USC will wear a crown.

"As a member of the coaches' association and the BCS, I'm committed to vote the winner of the Sugar Bowl as the national champion," says Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. "If I was a member of the media or the press, you could certainly make a case for Southern Cal. You could make me an honorary member (of the press.)"

The BCS geeks are left furiously pecking at their keyboards, scrambling for yet more ways to tweak the system. But how many facelifts can one endure before looking as bad as loan Rivers? No, any remaining shreds of credibility the BCS has are thinning. Not that there's anything so horribly wrong with a split title. Strong cases can be made for both USC and LSU. In a way, this whacked-out system worked--but the stronger case can be made for the Trojans.

Says quarterback Matt Leinart, USC's Rose Bowl MVP, "There is no doubt in my mind that we are No. 1."

Take that, Pete Carroll How does it feel to have a finger wagged in your face for not believing in Carroll when he was hired three years ago?

They still talk in hallowed Heritage Hall about the first time Carroll met the press as USC head coach. As he answered questions, he rubbed his hands like an expectant father and paced like a caged dog. The excitement and anticipation of the opportunity intoxicated him. Carroll had to be told to stand still because the microphones weren't picking up the sound of his voice. While meeting with reporters in the aftermath of the press conference, Carroll eyed some of his players in another area of the room. He quickly bolted mid-sentence to greet them.

It's all about the players with Carroll. Connecting with youngsters takes a knack, and he has it. His hair says gray but his heart says, "Let's play." His predecessor, Paul Hackett, had the warmth of a shovel. He was better served diagramming plays than motivating. John Robinson's ruinous sequel wasn't blamed on an inability to communicate; rather, he failed to develop a strong staff, letting loyalty blind him. How bad had it gotten? In the five seasons before Carroll, the Trojans went 31-28 overall, 17-23 in the Pac-10.

Carroll is no Tony Robbins wannabe full of buzz phrases. He can coach. He's the defensive coordinator, which is a strange union for a head coach, but it works. And it's the defense that has been the core of the Trojans' rebirth. Still, Carroll's hiring drew yawns and shoulder shrugs across the nation. The guy hadn't worked among ivy-covered walls, mortarboards and marching bands since 1983. And that was at Pacific, which doesn't even have a football program anymore. Carroll had become an NFL guy, but deep down he was miscast. Oh, he could handle the work, but his rah-rah style rubbed million-dollar linebackers the wrong way. Pride? Tradition? Come on, those guys have chrome rims to shop for and portfolios to manage.

Carroll's fist pumping fits the Saturday fight song crowd. Better yet, his style fits the players. You won't find Carroll standing atop a Bear Bryant tower, barking commands into a bullhorn. Nope, this 52-year-old takes an active role in practices. You may see him dive into a pile during a scrimmage or play quarterback during a drill. It makes you wonder what took Carroll and college ball so long to fall in love. Regardless, this is a full-blown, googly-eyed affair that has no end in sight. Knowing that now, it's hard to believe Carroll's hiring was greeted with so little enthusiasm.

But that's what you get when a school ends up with Choice D. Dennis Erickson and Mike Bellotti each rejected the job, using it to sweeten their deals at Oregon State and Oregon, respectively. Athletic director Mike Garrett also courted Mike Riley, a former Trojans assistant, but the San Diego Chargers wouldn't let Riley out of his deal. That's when Carroll's phone rang.