Friday August 25 Sheet

USC (+2) vs Penn State - Sunday - 11:30am Pacific - Giants Stadium, NJ
Despite an unimpressive record thus far, we still like and respect Paul Hackett as a head coach. Last year Hackett (rightfully so) put all of his eggs into the "Carson Palmer" basket, and got burned when the star QB went down in just the third game of the season. At the time the Trojans were on their way to a 3-0 start and were a favorite to reach the Rose Bowl. Their offense could never find consistency thereafter and the team went on to lose 5 of their next 6 games finishing 6-6 overall. All six losses were by 10 points or less including two games in which they blew 21 point leads. Now Hackett heads into his third season here, which often can be a coaches best. The Trojans return 10 starters (minus CB Antuan Simmons who will redshirt) on a star studded defense that includes two Butkus award candidates in senior's Zeke Moreno and Markus Steele as well as a healthy Ennis Davis (senior lineman) who at his peak has been compared favorably with former Trojan great Darrell Russell (now with Raiders). The experienced USC defense will undoubtedly be a strength, but the offense has great potential as well. The Trojans are loaded at the skill positions. Coverboy QB Carson Palmer is back healthy and reportedly is better than ever. Sophomore receiver Kareem Kelly (Pac-10 freshman of the year) has already shown signs of brilliance and is being touted as the best receiver to ever play here! He will be joined by highly touted fellow sophomore Marcell Almond along with 4 year starter Antione Harris at tight end to give USC what Hackett calls the best receiving corps in the Pac-10. A stiff competition has developed for the starting tailback job between speedster Sultan McCullough (out to prove he is more than just a track star) and power runner Malaefou MacKenzie (as healthy as he has ever been). Both are very capable backs who are determined and poised for big years. The real difference maker may be the Trojan offensive line. The unit has taken heat for being underachievers in recent years, but they rededicated themselves in the offseason and pushed each other hard in spring and summer workouts. A new o-line coach has been brought in, a few changes have been implemented, and noticeable improvement is promised. Keep in mind that Hackett was an offensive coordinator in the NFL so he should finally be able to get this offense in high gear. Penn State comes into this game with several question marks. They must replace no less than 9 starters on defense! Including three 1st team all-Americans and the 1st & 2nd overall picks in the NFL draft! They also lose longtime defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. New coaching and inexperienced players spell trouble for this defense, particularly in the early going. The Penn State offense loses a pair of lineman who received conference honors as well as leading big play receiver Chafie Fields (2nd team Big 10), but otherwise remains in tact from last year. However, all eyes will be on starting QB Rashard Casey who has been a distraction extraordinaire to Joe Paterno and this football team since he received felony charges for assaulting a police officer in the offseason. PSU has a pair of cupcake opponents waiting for them at home following this game and they may need them to get their act together before Big 10 play begins. Head coach Paterno did not want to play USC in the season opener and only agreed to the game after his players voted for it. It is important to note that this game is not in Happy Valley where Arizona had to play last year. This is such a huge game not just for coach Hackett & QB Palmer, not just for the entire USC football program, but for the entire pride of the Pac-10 conference and west coast football. The Trojans have been well focused on this game since last November while PSU has had to deal with severe personnel losses and off the field issues. Reports from USC's fall camp have been superb. There has been a sense of urgency since day one. It has been said that USC has its best overall team speed ever and that they are doing everything in the necessary frame of mind to win on Sunday. Weather is expected to be warm and humid and the field has been converted to real grass which both should be to the Trojan's advantage. Nittany Lion players started their fall classes on Monday, meanwhile USC does not start until after Sunday's game, enabling them to be all business for this. This game also serves as an opportunity to revenge Penn State's thumping of the Trojans in this game 5 years ago that a few 5th year seniors still remember vividly. If a few things played out differently last year, the Trojans could have easily finished 10-1 or even 11-0, this year they are even better and have a much greater hunger to win. Take the points. Trojans win straight up. USC  1 UNIT 

Weekly Recap

USC dominated throughout in this one.  Great start to the 2000 college football season!