Another chapter in USC’s poll story

September 3rd, 2008, 10:00 am · Post a Comment · posted by Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006

I knew the rankings didn’t matter. And I knew USC was going to tell me as much. But with its surprising jump from No. 3 to No. 1 in both major polls, my job was to ask the players and coaches for their thoughts on the move.

It seems USC benefited from going on the road and blowing out an ACC team while No. 2 Georgia and No. 3 Ohio State dominated Division I-AA teams at home.

But let’s not forget, USC has also been on the wrong end of the polls. In 2003 the Trojans were left out of the BCS title game depsite being ranked No. 1 in the final regular season ballot of both major polls.

A year ago, USC began the season No. 1 in both polls but dropped to No. 2 in the AP poll after narrowly beating Washington. That was the fourth game of the season for USC, which was jumped by a then-5-0 LSU team.

I asked Carroll if he remembered that.

“Nope,” he said. “You probably told me when it happened. I sincerely don’t think it matters.”

USC, of course, was upset by Stanford the following weekend. I didn’t ask him if he remembered that.

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