COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : USC : Cal Gives Trojans Poor Report Card

Before Saturday, when California accumulated 601 yards in a record-breaking 52-30 victory at Berkeley, USC had given up more than 600 yards to an opponent only once. The Trojans had never given up more than 51 points.

But at least one Cal player wasn’t ready to rejoice.

Chidi Ahanotu, a junior defensive tackle from Berkeley, acted as if he felt sorry for the Trojans, saying they were “overmatched” against the seventh-ranked Golden Bears, who built a 35-7 halftime lead and led in the fourth quarter, 52-14.

“It was kind of like picking on somebody,” Ahanotu told reporters. “After the first quarter, it really wasn’t that much fun.”

Cal players weren’t the only ones who belittled USC.

Steve Mariucci, Cal’s offensive coordinator and a former USC assistant, told the San Francisco Examiner that the Trojan program was “in disarray.”

USC is 3-5 overall, 2-3 in the Pac-10 and in danger of finishing with a losing record for only the second time in 30 years. The Trojans have played in a bowl game every year they have been eligible since 1971 but won’t this year unless they win their last three games--against Washington, Arizona and UCLA.