A Proud Program
The University of Southern California Football Program has been active since 1888 and since its inception has acquired 11 national titles, 38 conference titles, and produced 7 Heisman Trophy winners. The nickname "Trojans" was given to USC when USC dropped football for rugby in 1911, in which they were soundly beaten by more experienced programs. Owen R. Bird, a sportswriter at the time, gave the team the nickname because it was "owing to the terrific handicaps under which the athletes, coaches and managers of the university were laboring and against the overwhelming odds of larger and better equipped rivals, the name 'Trojan' suitably fitted the players."
In 1922, the Trojans joined the Pacific Coast Conference (nowadays referred to as the Pacific 12) and won 4 National Titles in the 20s and 30s under Howard Jones and the "Thundering Herd". Troy also won 4 National Titles under coach John McKay and produced 2 Heisman winners in Mike Garret and O.J. Simpson. When the program was taken over by John Robinson, they won an additional National Championship and produced 2 more Heisman winners under his tenure. During Robinson's tenure, the Trojans participated in one of the most influential games of the history of the game. Troy played an all white Alabama team headed by legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, they won the game with African-American players on the team and convinced Alabama to recruit African-American players to join their team. While Troy did not win any national titles in the 80s or 90s, the Trojans returned to the top of the mountain when they hired Pete Carrol, who lead the team to 3 national titles (One is vacated due to NCAA sanctions) and produced two Heisman winners in Matt Lienart and Reggie Bush (later vacated). The Trojans haven't reached the same level of success under coaches Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian, the latter admitting that he has had a drinking problem and the former getting fired at LAX. The Trojans also have won the most Rose Bowls out of any team, ever. They have gone to the "Grandaddy of Them All" a grand total of 32 times since the conception of the Rose Bowl. They have won the Rose Bowl 24 times with a 75% winning percentage. The Trojans have been to the sixth most bowl games with 49 appearance, only behind teams like Alabama and Texas.
I have gone to every USC game since I was bored and was raised on Cardinal and Gold. I strive to bring you the best articles on the Trojans as well as breaking news and live scores. You can contact me at [email protected] and on twitter as @trojanscribe. Go to the blog HERE. FIGHT ON!
In 1922, the Trojans joined the Pacific Coast Conference (nowadays referred to as the Pacific 12) and won 4 National Titles in the 20s and 30s under Howard Jones and the "Thundering Herd". Troy also won 4 National Titles under coach John McKay and produced 2 Heisman winners in Mike Garret and O.J. Simpson. When the program was taken over by John Robinson, they won an additional National Championship and produced 2 more Heisman winners under his tenure. During Robinson's tenure, the Trojans participated in one of the most influential games of the history of the game. Troy played an all white Alabama team headed by legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, they won the game with African-American players on the team and convinced Alabama to recruit African-American players to join their team. While Troy did not win any national titles in the 80s or 90s, the Trojans returned to the top of the mountain when they hired Pete Carrol, who lead the team to 3 national titles (One is vacated due to NCAA sanctions) and produced two Heisman winners in Matt Lienart and Reggie Bush (later vacated). The Trojans haven't reached the same level of success under coaches Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian, the latter admitting that he has had a drinking problem and the former getting fired at LAX. The Trojans also have won the most Rose Bowls out of any team, ever. They have gone to the "Grandaddy of Them All" a grand total of 32 times since the conception of the Rose Bowl. They have won the Rose Bowl 24 times with a 75% winning percentage. The Trojans have been to the sixth most bowl games with 49 appearance, only behind teams like Alabama and Texas.
I have gone to every USC game since I was bored and was raised on Cardinal and Gold. I strive to bring you the best articles on the Trojans as well as breaking news and live scores. You can contact me at [email protected] and on twitter as @trojanscribe. Go to the blog HERE. FIGHT ON!