Reign of Troy
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Trojans Must Give Alabama a Game and More USC Football News

By Alicia de Artola

Oct 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Southern California Trojans helmet with letter Z in memory of Louis Zamperini (not pictured) before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Southern California Trojans helmet with letter Z in memory of Louis Zamperini (not pictured) before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s put up or shut up time for the Trojans, who can prove their toughness by sticking with Alabama. Plus our daily round up of USC football news from around the web.

Can’t get enough USC football and basketball news? We’ve got your morning dose of all the best content from around the web concerning the men of Troy.

1st & 10:

First Word… Earlier this year, former Alabama and current San Diego Chargers offensive lineman DJ Fluker predicted the Tide would “steamroll” USC.

His reasoning? “West Coast boys do not want none of that Down South football.”

“Down South football” is just what the Trojans have been preaching throughout this offseason. Not necessarily the brand played in the southeast, but the one made famous by Southern California teams of the past.

Physicality was a product sold by John McKay and Pete Carroll. It’s one Clay Helton emphasizes now.

But it’s not enough to talk about being physical and tough. Standing up to the toughest of the tough is the only way to let actions argue the point.

Beating Alabama is the ultimate goal, but in the end the result matters less than the performance.

More from Reign of Troy

If the Trojans win it will be an announcement to the rest of the college football world that USC is indeed on the way back.

But even if the Trojans lose they can make a statement.

The best of the best lost to the Tide last year on their national title run. It’s up to USC to prove that they are worthy of stepping on the same field as the national champions.

If USC fights Alabama tooth and nail, Helton’s approach will be validated,  win or lose.

If the Trojans capitulate and are overrun by Nick Saban’s squad, then it is back to square one. Back to questions about top level recruiting classes and unfulfilled potential.

Countless USC players have referred to Saturday’s game as “the biggest game of my career,” but bigger games await if the Trojans live up to their vast potential.

Step one, give Alabama a game.

And Ten USC Football and Basketball News Links…

  1. “For USC’s Max Browne, the waiting is the hardest part” (Daily News)Joey Kauffman details Max Browne’s path to the starting job, one that didn’t fall in line with fellow recruits Jared Goff and Christian Hackenberg.
  2. “LT Chad Wheeler In Doubt For Season Opener” (Reign of Troy)Chad Wheeler needs to prove that he can get over his plantar fasciitis by Tuesday or Clay Helton will go ahead with Chuma Edoga at left tackle against Alabama.
  3. “USC confronts a generation that asks: Reggie who?” (LA Times)As each year goes by, USC’s era of dominance gets further in the rear view mirror. For the newest generation of recruits, most of them seven or eight at the time, Reggie Bush is a childhood memory.
  4. “WhatIfSports 2016 Pac-12 preview: Standings, predictions” (Fox Sports)WhatIfSports predicts USC will finish second in the Pac-12 South with a 7-5 record, behind UCLA at 8-4.
  5. “IMHO Sunday: Bring it on!” (WeAreSC.com)In the latest edition of IMHO Sunday, Greg Katz tackles the anticipation level for Alabama.
  6. “Winning, or losing, in 2016” (USCFootball.com)Dan Weber runs through the Trojans 2016 schedule laying out how USC could win, or lose, each game.
  7. “USC Football 2016 Preview: Breaking Down the Coaches” (Reign of Troy)USC’s 2016 coaching staff features a mix-and-match of new coaches, old coaches and former coaches.
  8. “Interview with Sam “Bam” Cunningham on playing Alabama” (Bama Mag)Alabama’s Scout site sat down with Sam “Bam” Cunningham and other players who took part in the legendary game between the Trojans and the Tide in 1970 to get their perspective.
  9. “3-Star ATH, Ex-UCLA Commit Jeffrey Manning Releases Top 6” (College Spun)Three-star athlete Jeffery Manning’s new Top 6 included USC, Utah, Cal, Washington State, San Diego State and Oregon State. He doesn’t have an offer from the Trojans though.
  10. “Trojans Thriving On NFL Stage In The Big Apple” (Reign of Troy)Leonard Williams and Devon Kennard represent the latest crop of Trojans to find success in New York.

Stat of the Day:

USC has beaten the No. 1 team in the country seven times, which is the most of any school in history. However, they haven’t accomplished that feat since 1984, falling to Washington, Oregon and Notre Dame three times.

Social Media Snapshot:

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