Cody Kessler Says USC Championship Aspirations 100% Realistic

USC quarterback Cody Kessler says that championship aspirations for his Trojans in 2015 are certainly within reason.

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“[They’re] 100% realistic. I believe that. No doubt it my mind,” said Kessler.

The redshirt senior says that he sees something in the team this year that has him believing they can go all the way.

“I’ve been there with the team in the weight room. I’ve been there with the team on the field. I’ve been there with the team in the practice facilities and the film room,” Kessler said. “These guys just want it so bad.”

The team’s preparations for the coming season have been particularly focused, according to Kessler.

“This is the hardest offseason, working out wise with everything we’ve done. This is insane,” Kessler said, pointing to all the extra work he sees his teammates getting in after player run practices, including staying late for more throwing sessions and watching extra film.

The theme of USC’s day Friday was expectations after the Pac-12 media voted the Trojans as the favorite to win the conference.

Both Kessler and Su’a Cravens downplayed the effect of those expectations in terms of pressure on the team, which has battled through worse with sanctions and depth.

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Sarkisian also reiterated the mentality at USC which welcomes championship talk.

“We all chose to come to USC to win. I didn’t come here to be okay or come here to be mediocre. We came here to win championships,” Sarkisian said.

Last year Sarkisian’s championship talk largely had a general feel to it — in the way that USC is a school which wins championships so of course the football coach aspires to them.

However, with Kessler’s return and a talented squad with greater depth, the distant nature of that kind of talk has become much more solid this offseason.

For Kessler, that is because the prize is so clearly in sight.

“If we take care of business in the Pac-12 and give ourselves a chance to win the Pac-12 championship, hopefully if we do that, that’ll be enough to get us into the playoff.”