USC Removes the Doubt in This Numbers Game

Co-champions? With whom? The New England Patriots?

A great debate? About what? Whether Michigan was crumpled like paper or plastic?

The controversy over college football’s national championship ended Thursday, it’s exclamation point stained by grass, caked in dirt, and completely Sugar free.

USC’s petal-whipping of Michigan in the Rose Bowl -- 28-14, but not that close -- should provide irrefutable proof to anyone with eyes, ears and sansabelt shorts.

The Trojans are the nation’s best team, and you can say it with a Cajun accent.

The Trojans would be at least a touchdown favorite against any other team in the country, and you can stick that in your Boomer Sooner and smoke it.

Late in Thursday’s game, the thousands of Trojan fans suddenly put down the traditional two fingers and held up only one.

They were giddy from 25 years of waiting. They were dizzy from three hours of pounding. But they were absolutely right.

And they were not alone.

“We know we’re national champs,” said Matt Leinart, the Trojan quarterback who ended a Carson season while beginning a Heisman campaign.

He threw three touchdown passes. He caught one touchdown pass. He directed the Trojan band with a sword. He ran off the field, legs wobbly and eyes glazed, as if in a dream.

“We don’t care what happens in a few days,” he said.

Oh yeah, that.

On Sunday night, the bowl championship series will hold its national championship game in the Sugar Bowl, where Louisiana State plays Oklahoma. The winner will be declared co-national champions with USC.

But -- let’s face it -- there is now a name for what they will be doing in New Orleans.

It’s called calisthenics.

After watching the Trojans systematically dismantle arguably the nation’s hottest team, the oft-translated BCS has earned one more interpretation.

Bridesmaids Coming in Second.

Darnell Bing, Trojan safety with plenty of time on his hands, spoke for many when asked if he was going to watch the Sugar Bowl.

“What for?” he said. “It doesn’t matter.”

A shared title? The only thing USC shared Thursday was the ball, with passes to nine different players and touchdowns involving five different players.

“It’s so hard to defend us because you never know where we’re coming from,” said tight end Gregg Guenther, who typified the attack with only one catch, but it came on a third-and-long play that helped protect the lead.

A split championship? The only thing USC split Thursday was Michigan helmets, as the Trojans recorded nine sacks against a team that had given up only 15 all season.

There were sacks by a cornerback. Linebacker. Safety. Defensive end. Defensive tackle.

The players came from so many places at just the right times, it was as if they knew what play Michigan was calling.

“We did,” said Ed Orgeron, defensive line coach.

You did?

“We were off a bit on that first drive, but then Pete Carroll just took over,” he said, referring to his head coach who makes the defensive calls. “It was the best game Pete has called all year. It was amazing.”

The game may have ended on that game’s first drive, and USC never touched the ball.

The Wolverines drove 50 yards in 15 plays, converted two third downs and one fourth down, and still did not score after Shaun Cody blocked a field-goal attempt.

Welcome to USC’s world. It was the first kick the Wolverines have had blocked this season. The Trojans have blocked seven.

Welcome to USC’s coronation. The Wolverines used up 6 minutes 15 seconds for absolutely nothing. Thirty-seven seconds and four Leinart completions later, the Trojans led, 7-0, and that was that.

The Trojans later benefited when a Michigan pass bounced off Braylon Edwards’ heel and into the hands of Lofa Tatupu. But the Trojans also missed a field-goal attempt and Keary Colbert dropped a potential touchdown pass and an offsides penalty killed a drive, so the breaks were even.

This game was not.

“They must have studied a lot of tape,” said Chris Perry, the Michigan running back, shaking his head.

In the end, they needed only to look at their sideline.

There was Marcus Allen, flashing the “Fight On” sign. There was Ronnie Lott, raising both fists. There was Sam “Bam” Cunningham, spreading his giant arms toward the thousands of cheering, chanting fans, embracing this sea of red that would not part until long after the Trojans had left the field.

“This is USC, doing what it’s supposed to do,” Cunningham said. “This is why it’s an amazing place to be.”

There was nonetheless a bit of wonder in his smile, and who could blame him?

Not so long ago, it wasn’t this way. The glory days were gone. The misdirection plays were being run at Heritage Hall.

Jacob Rogers, who arrived in 1999, just after the Trojans lost to Texas Christian in the Sun Bowl, remembers.

“The program was in shambles when I got here,” he said.

Then Pete Carroll showed up in the winter of 2001. Norm Chow, the wacky offensive coordinator, followed. Orgeron, the team’s tough guy, was given increased responsibilities.

Suddenly, they were recruiting a kid from Florida named Mike Williams. Retaining kids from Southern California such as Shaun Cody. Digging up speed, emphasizing smarts. Giving hot-shot freshmen such as Reggie Bush and LenDale White a chance to play.

“After all we’ve been through ... “ said Rogers, pausing on the field Thursday, speaking above an endless roar. “For me to be able to walk off a field for the last time as a national champion, there’s nothing I can say.”

No need. The debate is over. The Trojans can share this championship with the thousands of nutty, whooping, finger-waving Southern Californians who for years have considered them family. They need to share it with no others.

Bill Plaschke can be reached at bill.plaschke@latimes.com. To read previous columns by Plaschke, go to Latimes.com/plaschke.