Final Offensive Series Scrutinized

The USC coaches spent Sunday watching videotape of their last-second loss to Stanford and wondering about what might have been. In particular, Coach Paul Hackett mused about USC’s final offensive series.

Leading by four points with 5:22 remaining, the Trojans started with an incomplete pass and a six-yard run by quarterback Carson Palmer. At that point, Hackett and offensive coordinator Hue Jackson had a brief conversation about what to call on third down and four.

“If you run the ball there, you’re going to take a minute off the clock,” Hackett said. “If you pass the ball, you have a better chance to make a first down but if the clock gets stopped, you give them another minute.”

Because Stanford had missed an extra point and needed a touchdown to win, Hackett said he and Jackson agreed to play it conservatively.

Tailback Sultan McCullough was stopped two yards shy of a first down, USC punter Mike MacGillivray shanked a punt to midfield and Stanford had 3:42 to drive for the winning touchdown.

“I kick myself a little bit on that offensive series,” Hackett said Sunday.

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After four consecutive losses, Hackett is still talking about his team putting together a streak to finish the season with a winning record. He is still talking about an invitation to a bowl game.

“We can finish with a flourish,” he said. “We have to get it started right now.”

His players did not sound as optimistic.

“We haven’t bounced back yet,” linebacker Zeke Moreno said. “I don’t have a lot of answers right now. I don’t know what it will take.”

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Darrell Rideaux is considered doubtful for next Saturday’s homecoming game against California. The starting cornerback was injured when he got tangled up with Stanford receiver DeRonnie Pitts.

“My foot landed on his cleats,” Rideaux said. “It hurt the inside of my ankle.”