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The Trojan Marching Band is one of seven bands featured in ESPN’s new “Battle of the Bands and Quest for the Crystal” promotion on ESPN.com. An ESPN crew recorded seven top bands from around the nation as they performed the theme from "Indiana Jones" and is asking viewers to vote on their favorite performance.
The camera crew came to TMB practice on Sept. 5 to record the band's arrangement. The winning band will be announced on "College GameDay Live" on Oct. 11 and will receive a $25,000 prize. Check out the video here, and cast your vote:
http://promo.espn.go.com/espn/contests/indianajones/meetTheBands
-- Ed Carden, Drum Major
 You spoke. We listened.
Last week we ran a poll (seriously) and found out that you wanted live blogging from the legendary 901 Bar and Grill, better known around USC as the Nine-Oh.
Unfortunately for Trojans fans, the game didn't turn out too well, and I scrapped a video project that was in the back of my mind. I also caught a cold this weekend and fell a little behind with posting.
The last few days, incredulous alumni have been asking me if the 9-0 has really changed.
Yes, yes it has. If you can handle the sight of a rhinestone-encrusted Rey Maualuga jersey, check out the photos after the jump.
-- Adam Rose
Continue reading Shots at the Nine-Oh »
Saturday's game between USC and Oregon begins at 5 p.m. It's scheduled to air regionally on ABC. For those without ABC, you can watch it live online with ESPN360.com if you have a provider that supports the service (note: all college campuses are supposed to have free access).
The USC-Arizona State game on Oct. 11 has been scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and will also be shown regionally on ABC.
-- Adam Rose
Rey Maualuga's MRI came back negative according to John Jackson on FSN PrimeTicket. While he did suffer a minor sprain, there isn't much swelling and he's listed as day-to-day.
That's a huge relief for USC. The all-everything middle linebacker was injured during Thursday's upset loss to Oregon State. He was at practice on Monday but did not participate.
On the same show (Lexus Gauntlet Live), Petros Papadakis pointed out a curious stat ... USC had a 27 game winning streak in the Pac-10 before playing Oregon State two years ago. Since then, they've gone 10-5 in conference.
-- Adam Rose
Photo by Wally Skalij/LA Times
I was watching a classic replay of USC vs. Fresno State tonight on FSN Prime Ticket. It was one of the most exhilarating games that the Trojans have played in years, and Reggie Bush put on a performance for the ages. His 513 all-purpose yards practically clinched the Heisman that evening.
Petros Papadakis was calling the game, and after a young freshman named Brian Cushing jumped on a crucial fumble, Papadakis said something that struck me:
"I'm just amazed [by USC's] ability to play within the moment in football games. They don't worry about their streak. They don't worry about the Rose Bowl. They don't worry about their ranking or who they're playing. They find themselves in a tough game, doesn't matter if they're home or away, they make the plays necessary to win the football game."
A lot of e-mails have been pouring in this week about what led to USC's collapse against Oregon State. Of all the explanations, I think most of them boil down to this: USC wasn't playing within the moment.
-- Adam Rose
Photo by Wally Skalij/L.A. Times
 Story and photos by Joe Connor, our eco-friendly road trip correspondent.
Where can you find some of the best game day sports bars in the Pac-10 to throw back a few before kickoff? How about Pullman, Wash. OK, OK, OK, now, I know what you're thinking, "Joe, stinking Washington State, are you kidding? Has the exhaust from the veggie mobile caused you to lose your sensibilities, dude?"
Well, yes, of course, only a freak of nature would drive a car running on cooking oil across the fruited plain to football games all season long. But, no, there truly are a couple of cool (well, there's only two really total) sports bars in Pullman. Yes, Pullman.
"This is Siberia, man," Oregon Ducks fan Jeff Betts exclaims. "We drove six hours to get here. Six hours. But this is one of the best places in the Pac-10 to come in and get a beer before the game."
Betts, and his Duck buddy, Dave Martin, should know. They've been to practically every Oregon away game in the Pac-10. And they also know that in Pullman it's best to tailgate inside – as opposed to among Cougars fans. Two years ago Betts and Martin were walking on campus in their ducky green and yellow when a female student drove up alongside them, rolled down the window of her car and proceeded to say three words to them…
"[Bleep] the Ducks," Betts recalls. "Then she just drove off."
Continue reading When in Wazzu »
 Seems like a lot of teams had bye weeks in the NFL, and a lot of Trojans were dinged up or didn't play (we won't mention the minor injuries). Some had solid performances, and others were as disappointing this weekend as their alma mater.
Sedrick Ellis (DT, New Orleans) notched the first sack of his career in a 31-17 victory over San Francisco. It's nice to see the No Fun League lets him celebrate, unlike some misguided Pac-10 officials from last season.
Reggie Bush (RB, New Orleans) had a poor performance, coinciding with the return of Deuce McAllister. He managed just 31 yards in 10 carries and seven yards in five receptions in the win over the Niners.
Billy Miller (TE, New Orleans) has been battling for playing time. Thanks to injuries in his position group, he got some opportunities and capitalized with three receptions for 30 yards in the victory over SF.
LenDale White (RB, Tennessee) reached the end zone for the fourth straight week but didn't have a single run longer than three yards and managed just 13 total yards in 11 carries.
Continue reading Trojans in the NFL: Week 4 »
A lot of the same questions keep coming up in conversation today, so I boiled it down to a simple FAQ:
Does Oregon State have USC's number?
Looks like it, at least lately. Throw out historic records because they have no bearing on the modern rivalry. Specifically, ignore USC's series lead of 58-10-4 and ignore the Beavers' upset of the No. 1 Trojans in 1967 (that OSU team was 7-2-1 and was 2-0-1 against top 5 teams). It's fun trivia, but irrelevent today. Since 2004, the Beavers have two wins over the Trojans in Corvallis and almost got a third. USC won the only recent matchup in the Coliseum. Oregon State and Mike Riley have supplanted Cal and Jeff Tedford in USC's nightmares.
Was USC overrated ranked?
Based on what voters saw on the field in the first two games, no. To say this was Pete Carroll's best team ever -- yeah, that was a bit much. Especially this soon. Now we know. Obviously USC will drop in the polls. How far? Let's see what happens Saturday.
Is the Pac-10 "ridiculously difficult" like Pete Carroll says?
Yes, in the context he was saying it. It was "coach speak" and he wasn't comparing the Pac-10 with the SEC or Big 12 (which are obviously superior this year). He lives in his world, where opponents usually see USC as their biggest game of the year -- sometimes even bigger than a bowl game. Consider this: The other nine teams in the Pac-10 have combined for ZERO Rose Bowl appearances in the last five years and only one of the last seven. USC has ended the season in Pasadena four of the last five years, missing its fifth because it was busy dominating the BCS National Championship game. Pac-10 teams are eager to knock-off the Trojans.
Continue reading USC-Oregon State FAQ »
Some irreverent and/or irrelevant stuff to laugh about today ...
- Non-sports link: FAIL Blog is the best non-leprechaun humor I've seen this week. It's also your best bet to procrastinate the pain away. If anybody wants to submit USC-related "FAIL" items to this blog, we'd be happy to post them. Originally I was thinking Davon Jefferson and the NBA draft, but at this point anything related to Corvallis seems appropriate. (Too soon?)
- A new website, Pete's on the Hot Seat, is "demanding more from our savior" and has a petition for those under the age of 3 who haven't seen USC win a national championship. Even the comments are hilarious. Somebody pointed out that because Carroll has had only one undefeated year, "his SEASONAL record is 1-6. And for our overly optimistic readers out there ... What matters more, games or whole seasons?" Obviously that was a few days ago ... Carroll's down to 1-7.
- After talking about Zack Morris phones a couple of days ago, it was great to see somebody muse that Mark Sanchez is what A.C. Slater would have become if Slater weren't fictional. Don't ask me why I know this, but in "Saved by the Bell: The College Years" it's revealed that Slater's family name was originally Sanchez. Um, yeah. Go Bayside! [Deadspin]
-- Adam Rose
- Rey Maualuga -- Official word is that he has a knee sprain. What does that mean? Good question. About.com says that's "not a terribly useful diagnosis" because it tells you nothing about which ligament is hurt and how badly it's hurt. Worst case? UCLA fullback Trevor Theriot suffered a "knee sprain" in practice this week and his season is over. Maualuga will be evaluated further and we'll know more in a few days.
- Brian Cushing -- USC's other All-American linebacker broke a bone in his hand. This guy can't catch a break, so to speak.
- Zack Heberer -- Another reason for Trojans to hate Corvallis ... turf toe.
- Taylor Mays -- Suffered from a bruised chest, causing him to cough up blood during the game.
- Mark Sanchez -- You saw him limping. I saw him limping. But he kept playing after that scramble and didn't show any ill effects. A USC spokesman says he's fine.
-- Adam Rose
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