Show notes
This week on the Peristyle Podcast Coach Harvey Hyde and Ryan Abraham give their thoughts on a very special game for the USC football team, not just for the young Lincoln Riley era, but for the history of the Trojan football program and the Rose Bowl itself. After falling behind 14-0 early on, Riley and the Trojans fought back thanks to the arm of Caleb Williams, the legs of Austin Jones and the turnovers forced by USC's opportunistic defense, none bigger than former five-star Korey Foreman's interception of Dorian Thompson-Robinson during UCLA's last minute comeback attempt.
The guys also talk about how injuries impacted the game with the loss of one very important player, running back Travis Dye, and the return of what turned into another very important player, wide receiver Jordan Addison. With Dye out for the remainder of the season Jones knew he would have to step up and he used Dye as inspiration, writing the No. 26 on his wrist in tribute to his fallen teammate. Jones didn't disappoint, rushing 21 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns and adding four catches on as many targets for 57 yards. And after a quiet return against Colorado last week Addison broke out big time, catching 11 passes on 13 targets for 178 yards and a 35-yard touchdown that Williams dropped perfectly into his arms down the right sideline.
After the game the rush of emotions from players and coaches out on the field were tangible. The Trojans took the high road during the week and didn't make any comments about their hatred towards UCLA or what they planned to do, unlike DTR, who declared they would put up 60 on USC like they did last year. The guys took all of that in and let their play speak for itself Saturday night and when it was over there was an outpouring of emotion everywhere you looked. Players gathered around the Victory Bell taking their turns to ring it, putting up four's-down hand signals and joining in with the Trojan Marching Band as they played Tusk almost on repeat after the game. There were also long embraces between players and coaches including guys who had difficult journeys in their USC playing career to get to a place this high. Foreman stands out for sure, but guys like Kyle Ford and Tuli Tuipulotu and Calen Bullock who were on this 4-8 squad last year and are enjoying every minute of what Tuipulotu called their "revenge tour."
Somehow in Riley's first campaign at Troy he has his squad in the Pac-12 Championship game after his 10-1 overall start and 8-1 in conference and there is even more to play for beyond a conference title. His Trojans, with a win over Notre Dame next weekend, will likely be playing for the program's first College Football Playoff berth in Las Vegas. If USC wins out and finishes Pac-12 champions at 12-1, it seems highly unlikely that the committee would leave the Trojans out. There is still a long way to go, but for all of this to be on the table in Riley's first campaign is remarkable.
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