- Messages
- 44,584
- Reaction score
- 20,035
USC football had shortage of victories, but plenty of frustration
By Scott Wolf, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/01/2013 09:21:04 PM PST
Updated: 01/01/2013 09:29:56 PM PST
USC wide receiver Robert Woods left the Sun Bowl on Monday unable to explain the mess he and every other Trojan experienced the past 13 games.
"I never could have imagined this," Woods said. "All year, it was frustrating at the end of games, with frustrating losses."
Sources said the season ended with more drama after the Sun Bowl as a group of players became engaged in a locker-room altercation, one more sign of the frustration that surrounded a lost season.
But everyone knew before the Trojans' 21-7 loss to Georgia Tech in the Sun Bowl the season was a disaster. The question is whether USC coach Lane Kiffin can return the program to glory or if 13 losses in three years is the new normal.
"We are a young team. We started one senior on offense (in the Sun Bowl), so we've got to continue to recruit, continue to get better and obviously coach better," Kiffin said.
The words come easy, but results are what drive USC fans crazy. Kiffin's recruiting prowess is unquestioned, but he could not win this year with Woods, wide receiver Marqise Lee and quarterback Matt Barkley as his marquee players. Not to mention being gifted a top tailback in Silas Redd, who transferred in just before the season.
USC (7-6) did not lack talent. It lacked belief, leadership, energy and organization.
"We had too many close games where we didn't come through," defensive end Wes Horton said.
There was a sense in El Paso that Kiffin lost the locker room as the season progressed. Woods was obviously frustrated over a reduced role - he caught 35 fewer passes than a year ago - with little explanation.
He was unmoved by Kiffin's pleas that he return and be the top senior wide receiver in the country. Why risk returning and spend another season as an afterthought to Lee? When the diplomatic Barkley said in a radio interview the offense focused too much on Lee, it revealed that even the most outwardly loyal Trojans were unhappy.
"Based on the talent we had coming into this season, I didn't see it coming," Horton said.
Whether Kiffin can regain the Trojans' trust is a major issue for 2013. He will start by hiring a new defensive coordinator. Kiffin interviewed former Cal defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast. The Trojans will play more 3-4 formations next season to combat spread offenses.
But will X's and O's be enough?
It was almost embarrassing how lifeless USC's sideline often looked during games. It is one thing to cite Pete Carroll's enthusiasm that flowed through the team during games, but it's another to mention Georgia Tech's sideline was lively throughout the Sun Bowl.
USC featured Kiffin, looking like a Witness Protection Program member in sunglasses and hooded jacket, staring at his play chart that some compare to a Cheesecake Factory menu. No one consoled freshman quarterback Max Wittek when he came off the field during his poor Sun Bowl performance.
A defensive coordinator might improve things, but will Kiffin manage a game properly as long as he is calling plays? USC hired him to be head coach, not the nation's highest-paid offensive coordinator.
"We'll sign the No. 1 class in the country and go back to work," Kiffin said.
Recruiting promises make fans happy. But what happens if you cannot coach that talent to win games? Or they grow tired of your act?
If Kiffin cannot answer these questions in a positive manner, he might not be wearing a visor on the sidelines after next season.
Also ...
Barkley will be represented by CAA Sports, which has also represented Kiffin.
