USC vs Utah State Is A Chance At Redemption For The Trojans

Fresh off a defeat, USC vs Utah State is an opportunity for the Trojans to fight back just as the nation seems to be writing them off.

A valiant early defensive effort quickly unraveled in the second half of USC’s 52-6 defeat at the hands of the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide over the Labor Day weekend.

In what was billed as a match up between the current dynasty versus the previous dynasty, the Trojans suffered their worst defeat in the last half century to the most dominant team in the country since the Pete Carroll led USC a decade ago.

And while beauty is certainly in the eyes of the beholder, the final score is in no way a true barometer of how close the Men of Troy are to seeing their goals become realized.

No matter the week, one would be hard pressed to find another team in a veritable slugfest, with a three to zero advantage against the defending champs for a quarter and a half.

An aggressively swarming Trojans defense certainly had the Tide reeling in the early going, yet seemed to come unglued, losing steam with the ejection of redshirt senior linebacker Jabari Ruffin with 3:20 remaining on the clock in the first half.

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The Crimson Tide were able to achieve what they set out to do, win the first game of the season, and until they are defeated, are well deserving of their number one ranking.

On that note, one must never poke the bear. And as the Trojans prepare to take on an optimistic Utah State team, it appears that after only one weekend, the Men of Troy have become an afterthought. Poke.

A spirited week of practice, the most intense in quite some time, will hopefully give way to a more consistent businesslike approach.

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A media firestorm all but denouncing a return of the Trojans to the ranks of respectability, much less relevance. Poke.

A minor scuffle among teammates during practice could help forge a bond among brothers.

Certain others have gone so far as to insinuate that the Trojans gave up in the second half versus the Crimson Tide? Poke.

To relish being the hunter every bit as much as one enjoys being hunted is the epitome of the Fight On spirit in the Land of Troy, a land which has weathered much more turbulent storms in recent years.

Expect nothing less than an angry Trojan squad as they take the field against an upstart Utah State team, the current leading rushing attack in college football after week one.