Trojans ... Could ... Go ... All ... the ... Way

Who says we don’t have a pro football team here in L.A.? We certainly do -- they’re called the USC Trojans! Leinart, Williams, Bush, White, Colbert and Dennis are great young players behind an awesome offensive line, and the entire defense is just plain terrific. Kudos to Coaches Carroll and Chow who have put together a pro-style powerhouse that I predict will run roughshod over Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.

Joel Rapp

Los Angeles

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As a longtime Trojan fan, I am dismayed by the hype for a team that is still a year away from “The Big One.”

A suspect secondary and an erratic (at best) kicker are glaring weaknesses. The Washington State game, badly officiated with key Cougar injuries, produced a distorted result.

Oklahoma would embarrass USC. Calm the troops, enjoy the run and continue working.

Thomas F. Reynolds

Los Angeles

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Amid the cacophony of USC’s second-half rout of Washington State, was there any voice, besides the polite observations of the announcers, noting the two fumbles from the USC quarterback, both of which should have resulted in a switch of possession? Yet another pivotal fumble, this one by Washington State’s quarterback, was a result of encroachment by USC’s Mike Patterson, which probably cost the Cougars another scoring opportunity.

The missed calls were not all in favor of USC. I saw one blatant gang-hold near the end of the game ignored by the back judge. By that time, however, the momentum had switched inexorably in favor of USC.

But the officials did manage to call 15 penalties against WSU, most of which were for defensive encroachment. Pity that that same line judge missed an obvious game-turner, one that was clearly captured on replay.

And I thought Homer was a philosopher.

Rick Myers

La Canada