Trojans Back for More

Back to back. Wire to wire.

Most USC players and coaches refuse to use those two short phrases.

But they acknowledge the possibilities.

When defending national champion USC opens its season Saturday against Virginia Tech, the top-ranked Trojans will be positioned for a run at history.

No school has won consecutive national titles since Nebraska in 1994 and 1995.

Florida State in 1999 was the only team to spend every week of the season atop the Associated Press college football poll.

“Hopefully, we keep our minds set that we’re just a normal team and not trying to do something out of the ordinary,” senior linebacker Matt Grootegoed said.

USC’s schedule, however, appears to be set up perfectly for a run at an unbeaten season.

After playing Virginia Tech in the Black Coaches Assn. Football Classic at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., the Trojans have a bye before playing Colorado State at the Coliseum, where they have won 15 consecutive games.

USC then goes on the road to play at Brigham Young and Stanford before another bye that precedes what is generally regarded as their toughest game: an Oct. 9 matchup against California at the Coliseum.

The Trojans play Arizona and Washington at home, then travel to the Northwest on consecutive weekends to play at Washington State and Oregon State.

USC returns home to play Arizona, then has another bye before playing Notre Dame at the Coliseum.

The Trojans finish their schedule against UCLA at the Rose Bowl and hope to conclude their campaign with an appearance in the Orange Bowl, this season’s bowl championship series title game.

“We’re up for the challenge,” sophomore tailback Reggie Bush said. “We can’t look ahead, but we know what’s out there.”

A position-by-position look at the Trojans:

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Quarterback

Matt Leinart passed for 3,556 yards and 38 touchdowns last season en route to a sixth-place finish in balloting for the Heisman Trophy. The junior left-hander seems poised for another outstanding season, as long as his chronically sore left elbow and a young offensive line hold up.

Sophomore John David Booty is No. 2 on the depth chart and Leinart’s heir apparent. In USC’s best-case scenario, Leinart remains sound and Booty takes a redshirt season.

Senior Brandon Hance finally appears to be at full strength and probably will be the first quarterback used if Leinart is injured or unexpectedly falters.

Senior Matt Cassel, junior Billy Hart, redshirt freshman Michael McDonald and freshman Rocky Hinds also are on the roster.

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Running Back

Junior Hershel Dennis, who started every game and gained 661 yards last season, has been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.

That means more opportunities for sophomores LenDale White and Reggie Bush, a one-two punch of power and speed. White rushed for a team-best 754 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Bush, who also will line up as a receiver, ran for 521 yards and three touchdowns and caught four touchdown passes.

Like Bush, redshirt freshman Desmond Reed will be used in multiple ways.

Junior Brandon Hancock is recovering from off-season knee surgery, so senior Lee Webb will start at fullback. Junior David Kirtman, who had several clutch receptions last season, is Webb’s backup.

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Tight End

Senior Alex Holmes and junior Dominique Byrd are a dynamic combination when both are sound.

Holmes started in 2002 and is eager to play after sitting out last season because of a back injury. Byrd is recovering from a broken kneecap but is expected back by the fourth or fifth game.

Sophomore Nick Vanderboom earned a scholarship with hard work during training camp and could play a lot. Freshman Fred Davis recently moved from wide receiver to tight end.

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Wide Receiver

Without Mike Williams, who was ruled ineligible by the NCAA, the receiving corps is largely unproven.

Sophomore Steve Smith, who caught 17 passes last season, replaces Keary Colbert at flanker.

Sophomore Chris McFoy and freshman Dwayne Jarrett will replace Williams. Junior William Buchanon is a deep threat, and junior Greig Carlson is a sure-handed option on shorter routes.

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Offensive Line

The Trojans lost four starters from last season’s unit that helped revitalize the running game and protected Leinart from serious injury.

Junior college transfer Taitusi Lutui will start at right tackle and protect Leinart’s blind side. Sophomore Fred Matua returns at right guard, and sophomore Ryan Kalil is the center. Senior John Drake is the left guard and will play alongside redshirt freshman tackle Sam Baker.

Freshman center Jeff Byers, senior guard Travis Watkins and sophomore tackle Kyle Williams are among those providing depth.

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Defensive Line

The Trojans lost ends Kenechi Udeze and Omar Nazel, but seniors Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson might be the best tackles in the country. Last season, Cody had 10 1/2 tackles for losses, Patterson 13 1/2 .

Carroll scrapped a plan to play Cody in Udeze’s spot after seeing redshirt freshman Lawrence Jackson in training camp. Junior end Frostee Rucker started five games in place of Nazel last season.

Sophomore tackle Manuel Wright and freshman end Jeff Schweiger are among those who will play.

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Linebacker

Senior Matt Grootegoed, who starts on the weak side, is back at full strength after recovering from an ankle injury that forced him to sit out all or part of the Trojans’ final eight games last season. Junior Lofa Tatupu starts in the middle, and rangy junior Dallas Sartz is on the strong side.

Junior Collin Ashton also started two games last season.

Freshman Keith Rivers and JC transfer Ryan Powdrell are newcomers who are expected to make an immediate impact.

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Secondary

Sixth-year senior Kevin Arbet and fifth-year senior Ronald Nunn are the most experienced cornerbacks, but junior Justin Wyatt and redshirt freshman Eric Wright also will play.

Senior Jason Leach and sophomore Darnell Bing are returning starters at safety. JC transfer Scott Ware, senior Greg Farr and freshman Josh Pinkard provide depth.

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Special Teams

All-American punter Tom Malone averaged 49 yards a kick last season as a sophomore.

Senior Ryan Killeen made 19 of 24 field-goal attempts and 65 of 67 extra-point kicks.

Bush will return kickoffs and punts, though Carlson also will handle punts in certain situations.

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Coaching

Carroll and offensive coordinator Norm Chow have become one of the country’s best coaching combinations.

Ed Orgeron, who coaches the defensive line, Tim Davis (offensive line), Lane Kiffin (receivers) and Greg Burns (secondary) are returning members of the staff.

Carl Smith (quarterbacks) and Todd McNair (running backs) are in their first seasons with the Trojans.

Rocky Seto and new graduate assistant Ken Norton Jr. coach the linebackers. Graduate assistant Dennis Slutak coaches kickers and Brennan Carroll the tight ends.

Chris Carlisle is in his fourth season as strength coach.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

AT A GLANCE

Coach: Pete Carroll, fourth season, 29-9.

Last season: 12-1 overall, 7-1 in Pacific 10, first in conference.

Key losses: Four players were NFL draft picks, including All-American defensive end Kenechi Udeze, the national co-leader in sacks and a first-round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings. All-American offensive lineman Jacob Rogers and flanker Keary Colbert were second-round picks by the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers, respectively. Cornerback Will Poole went to the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round. Linebacker Melvin Simmons and offensive linemen Norm Katnik and Lenny Vandermade also completed their eligibility, and offensive lineman Winston Justice was suspended for two semesters for an off-field incident. All-American receiver Mike Williams, who would have been a junior, was ruled ineligible Thursday by the NCAA.

Returning starters: Quarterback Matt Leinart was the Pacific 10 Conference offensive player of the year. Fullback Lee Webb again replaces the injured Brandon Hancock. Tailback Hershel Dennis, who started every game last season, is suspended indefinitely for violating team rules and will miss the opener against Virginia Tech. Sophomore Fred Matua and senior John Drake anchor the offensive line. Tight end Alex Holmes has recovered from the back injury that forced him to sit out last season. Defensive linemen Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson, linebackers Matt Grootegoed, Lofa Tatupu and Dallas Sartz, and safeties Jason Leach and Darnell Bing lead the defense.

Top newcomers: Offensive tackle Taitusi Lutui, a transfer from Snow College in Arizona, will protect Leinart’s blind side. Freshman receiver Dwayne Jarrett resembles a young Mike Williams. Freshman center Jeff Byers is expected to challenge for playing time as the season progresses. Freshman linebacker Keith Rivers, freshman end Jeff Schweiger and junior safety Scott Ware, a junior college transfer, also have impressed.

Offense: Leinart is back at the controls of a unit that averaged 41.1 points a game last season. Sophomore Steve Smith will lead a receiving group that also includes sophomore Chris McFoy, Jarrett and junior William Buchanon. Dennis and sophomores LenDale White and Reggie Bush helped the Trojans rush for 155.9 yards a game last season. Coordinator Norm Chow is hoping a young and inexperienced line matures quickly. Sophomore center Ryan Kalil and tackle Sam Baker, a redshirt freshman, will start for the first time.

Defense: Senior tackles Cody and Patterson helped the Trojans limit opponents to a nation-low 60.2 rushing yards a game last season. They are among nine defensive players who have started during their USC careers. Redshirt freshman Lawrence Jackson and redshirt junior Frostee Rucker will start at end, and linebackers Grootegoed, Tatupu and Sartz complete one of the best front sevens in the country. Fifth-year senior Ronald Nunn and sixth-year senior Kevin Arbet are the most experienced cornerbacks. Safeties Leach and Bing are opportunistic and fierce.

Intangibles: Carroll’s system and philosophy are now ingrained. The Trojans believe practices are tougher than games. That translates to quiet confidence on Saturdays.

Key to the season: Leinart. The offensive line must protect the Trojan quarterback from harm and the coaching and medical staffs must manage Leinart’s chronically sore left elbow. If Leinart is fit, the Trojans, who start the season ranked No. 1, will be in good shape as well.

-- Gary Klein

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2004 SCHEDULE

Saturday, vs. Virginia Tech, 4:45 p.m. PDT, ESPN

The Trojans travel to FedEx Field in Landover, Md., hoping to deliver a special performance that justifies their preseason No. 1 ranking in both major polls. USC is 7-6 against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents.

Sept. 11, Colorado State, 5 p.m., Channel 7

USC has won 15 consecutive games at the Coliseum, where it drew a record 77,804 a game last season. The Trojans’ home winning streak will almost surely grow against the undermanned Rams.

Sept. 18, at Brigham Young, 7 p.m. PDT, ESPN

Norm Chow spent more than 25 years as an assistant at BYU. Look for USC’s offensive coordinator to show the Cougar faithful what might have been if the school had hired him to succeed LaVell Edwards as head coach.

Sept. 25, at Stanford, 4 p.m., TBS

The Trojans open their Pacific 10 Conference schedule against a Cardinal team that is coming off a 4-7 season. But Stanford can do damage: USC linebacker Matt Grootegoed and tight end Dominique Byrd were injured last year against the Cardinal.

Oct. 9, California, Time and TV TBA

The Golden Bears stunned USC last season with a triple-overtime victory. Cal has nine defensive starters returning. The offense features quarterback Aaron Rodgers and, of more concern to Trojan fans, Jeff Tedford’s game plan.

Oct. 16, Arizona State, Time and TV TBA

The underachieving Sun Devils were 5-7 overall and 2-6 in the Pac-10 last season. Quarterback Andrew Walter is still the most dangerous weapon for Arizona State, which has not defeated the Trojans since 1999.

Oct. 23, Washington, Time and TV TBA

No Cody Pickett. No Reggie Williams. So there’s not much chance the Huskies can stay with the Trojans. Receiver Charles Frederick is an exciting player for a program that is rebuilding under Coach Keith Gilbertson.

Oct. 30, at Washington State, 4 p.m., Channel 7

The Cougars beat USC in overtime at Martin Stadium in 2002 on their way to the Rose Bowl. This year’s team must replace seven starters on offense and nine on defense from a team that fell apart last season against USC and finished 10-3.

Nov. 6, at Oregon State, Time and TV TBA

The Beavers could use a rainstorm while the Trojans are in Corvallis, Ore. Slippery turf might be the only thing that keeps USC’s defensive linemen from unloading on quarterback Derek Anderson for the third consecutive year.

Nov. 13, Arizona, 7:15 p.m., Fox Sports Net

Former Oklahoma assistant Mike Stoops brought winning experience to Tucson. Unfortunately for Arizona fans, he did not bring any key Sooner players. Few doubt Stoops will revive the Wildcats, but not against USC. Not this year.

Nov. 27, Notre Dame, 5 p.m., Channel 7

USC has outscored Notre Dame, 89-27, the last two years. The Fighting Irish helped Carson Palmer win the Heisman Trophy in 2002. Trojan fans are hoping they do the same for Matt Leinart this season.

Dec. 4, at UCLA, 1:30 p.m., Channel 7

The Trojans, who have been making themselves at home in the Rose Bowl, will be going for their sixth consecutive victory against the Bruins. They also might be looking to cap their first perfect regular season since 1972.