University of Southern California Department of Intercollegiate Athletics • Her 103 • Los Angeles, California 90089-0601 Telephone: (213) 740-8480 Fax: (213) 740-7584
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS • HER 103 • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90089-0601 TELEPHONE: (213) 740-8480 FAX: (213) 740-7584 SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE FOR RELEASE: Aug. 25, 2002 TIM TESSALONE, DIRECTOR 2003 USC FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (0-0) USC FOOTBALL OPENS 2003 SEASON AT AUBURN IN MATCHUP OF TOP 8 TEAMS DATE OPPONENT TIME THE FACTS Aug. 30 at Auburn 5 p.m. (CBS) Sept. 6 BYU 5 p.m. (ABC) USC (0-0 overall) vs. Auburn (0-0), Saturday, Aug. 30, 5 p.m. CDT/3 p.m. PDT, Jordan-Hare Sept. 13 Hawaii 1 p.m. (FSN) Stadium, Auburn, Ala. Sept. 27 at California TBA Oct. 4 at Arizona State TBA THEMES Oct. 11 Stanford 7 p.m. (FSN) How’s this for an opener: a pair of Top 8-ranked teams, both with national championship Oct. 18 at Notre Dame 1:30 p.m. (NBC) aspirations, meet in steamy, sold-out (86,063) Jordan-Hare Stadium in a CBS nationally- Oct. 25 at Washington 12:30 p.m. (ABC) televised contest. No. 8 USC carries over an 8-game winning streak from 2002, while No. 6 Nov. 1 Washington State 4 p.m. (ABC) Auburn is looking to avenge last year’s loss to the Trojans. The last time USC played an Nov. 15 at Arizona TBA opener when both teams were ranked this high was in its national championship season of Nov. 22 UCLA TBA Dec. 6 Oregon State 1:30 p.m. (ABC) 1972. It’s USC’s first-ever visit to Auburn (and only Troy’s third trip to the state of Alabama), as well as its first journey to a Southeastern Conference stadium since 1982. It’s also RADIO-TV—Live national TV: 3 p.m. (PDT), CBS- USC’s third consecutive game against a Top 7 opponent. The Trojans are trying to continue TV, Verne Lundquist, Todd Blackledge, Jill the momentum of their magical 2002 campaign, when they finished with an 11-2 record, a Arrington. No. 4 final ranking, a share of the Pac-10 championship, decisive wins over traditional rivals Live local radio: 2 p.m. (PDT), KMPC-AM UCLA and Notre Dame and an impressive victory in the BCS’ Orange Bowl. But USC, under (1540 The Ticket), Pete Arbogast, Paul third-year coach Pete Carroll, will have to do it without the likes of Heisman Trophy-winning McDonald, Petros Papadakis and Mark Carrier quarterback Carson Palmer and 2-time All-American first team safety Troy Polamalu. In- (includes 1-hour pre-game and 2-hour post- stead, it’ll rely on a strong defense, led by the “Wild Bunch II” line, and some talented game shows). Five other stations are included on the USC radio network: KPLS-AM 830 in Or- offensive skill position players (including 2002 Freshman All-American wide receiver Mike ange, XEMM-AM 800 in San Diego, KXPS-AM Williams). Auburn also is coming off a stellar season, having gone 9-4 in 2002 while 1010 in Palm Springs, KGEO-AM 1230 in Bakers- winning a share of the SEC Western Division title and beating Penn State in the Capital One field and KVEN-AM 1540 in Ventura. Fans also Bowl to earn a No. 14 final ranking. The Tigers feature a fierce defense and a loaded running can hear the live KMPC broadcast on the Internet attack. The 2003 season marks the 25th anniversary of USC’s last national championship as a “cybercast” on www.usctrojans.com or (1978). can pay to listen to it live by dialing 1-800-846- 4675 ext. 5933. (NOTE: Armed Forces Radio RANKINGS will broadcast this game overseas to military USC is ranked eighth by AP and USA Today/ESPN. Auburn is sixth in both polls. personnel.) Live local Spanish-language radio: 3 p.m. (PDT), KWKW-AM (1330), Jorge Villanueva, SERIES Efren Dominguez, Victor Duarte. USC and Auburn have played only twice before, with both teams winning once. Last year, the USC Insider Show : 7 p.m. (PDT), Tues- teams opened their 2002 campaigns in the Coliseum as No. 18 USC won, 24-17, on QB days during football season, KMPC-AM (1540) Carson Palmer’s 1-yard sneak with 1:26 to play. USC shut down the Tigers in the second and KPLS-AM (830), Pete Arbogast, Petros half. After allowing 246 total yards, including 142 on the ground, and 14 first downs in the first Papadakis. half, the Trojan defense held Auburn to just 35 total yards—including minus 2 yards rush- USC Trojan Talk: 7 p.m. (PDT), Sundays ing—and 5 first downs in the second half. The Tigers held the ball just 8:25 after halftime during football season, KDWN-AM (720), Harvey and scored only 3 points. Palmer, who was 23-of-32 (71.9%) for 302 yards overall, was 11- Hyde, Chuck Hayes. Fans also can hear the live KDWN broadcast on the Internet as a of-13 in the second half. TB Malaefou MacKenzie, playing in his first game since the 2000 cybercast” (type http://www.usctrojans.com). season, had 6 catches for 117 yards (the first 100-yard receiving game by a Trojan running back since Mike Garrett had 122 yards against California in 1964) and added 33 yards on 10 USC ONLINE—The USC athletic department has carries. WR Kareem Kelly also had 6 grabs (for 66 yards), while WR Mike Williams made an official “home page” on the World Wide Web, his Trojan debut with 4 catches for 56 yards. USC had 386 total yards to Auburn’s 281 and featuring current and historical information about held the ball 34:28 overall. The teams traded scores throughout the game. USC scored on Trojan sports. For access, type http:// its first possession following a fumble recovery by LB Mike Pollard as Palmer hit Kelly for a www.usctrojans.com. 14-yard TD. The Tigers responded when TB Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, who rushed for 94 yards on 21 tries overall, ran 23 yards for a score just one play after an interception. In the IT’S NOT SOUTHERN CAL—Note to the media: In editorial references to athletic teams of the second quarter, DE Omar Nazel picked off a pass, which led to a 3-yard TD run by TB Sultan University of Southern California, the following McCullough. But Auburn came back near the end of the half; after intercepting another are preferred: USC, Southern California, So. Palmer pass, TB Ronnie Brown recovered a fumble by QB Daniel Cobb in the end zone. Troy California, Troy, Trojans and (for women’s opened the second half with a 37-yard field goal by PK David Davis, but Auburn PK Damon teams) Women of Troy. PLEASE do not use Duval matched that with a 39-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. Cobb was 11-of-22 for Southern Cal. 141 yards. DT Mike Patterson, in his first career start, had a team-best 8 tackles (1.5 for losses), while S Troy Polamalu added 7 stops and Nazel had 6. Auburn LB Dontarrious PAC-10 ONLINE—Pac-10 information, press Thomas had 13 tackles (2 for losses), including 10 solo stops. It was Auburn’s first visit to releases, statistics and links to all league schools California since 1936 and USC’s first win over an SEC foe since 1981. are available online at http://www.pac-10.org. The teams’ first meeting was a 16-7 Tigers win in the 1987 Citrus Bowl (following the 1986 season) in chilly Orlando, Fla. In Ted Tollner’s final game as USC’s head coach, the PAC-10 SATELLITE FEED—The Pac-10 pro- Trojan defense held down a high-powered Auburn offense (led by Brent Fullwood, one of the vides a weekly satellite feed featuring interviews nation’s top runners). But Troy’s offense was ineffective. Behind DT Aundray Bruce (the with coaches and selected players regarding game’s MVP; he had 3 sacks), Auburn limited USC to only 10 first downs and 157 total yards upcoming games along with highlight footage. while forcing 5 turnovers. OLB Marcus Cotton provided USC with its only score on a spec- The half-hour feed airs every Wednesday (Sept. tacular 24-yard scoring interception return early in the game. Two long second-quarter 3 through Nov. 26) at 11:30 a.m. (PDT). Coordi- nates are Telestar 6C, Transponder 24 (C- drives by Auburn, plus a safety late in the game, gave Auburn its only points. USC made it Band). Trouble numbers: 310-779-3467, (805) interesting at the end after Louis Brock blocked a Tiger punt, but the Trojans couldn’t score 231-3229 (888-451-5861 pager) or 925-932- on fourth-and-inches at the goal line. Fullwood had 152 yards rushing and one TD for 4411. Auburn, which had just 290 total yards on the day (the Tigers coughed up 4 turnovers). PAC-10 COACHES TELECONFERENCE—Pac- VERSUS SEC 10 football coaches are available for 10 minutes USC is 14-10-1 against teams from the Southeastern Conference, but has beaten an SEC each on a media teleconference beginning at 10 foe just once in its last 7 meetings (going 1-5-1, with the win coming last season over a.m. (PDT) every Tuesday (Sept. 2 through Nov. Auburn). The last time USC played at an SEC site was 1982, losing at Florida, 17-9 (Troy lost 18) during the season. USC coach Pete Carroll comes on at 10:40 a.m. (PDT). Be- at South Carolina in 1983, but the Gamecocks hadn’t joined the SEC yet).