1988 USC Trojans football team
The 1988 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second year under head coach Larry Smith, the Trojans compiled a 10–2 record (8–0 against conference opponents), won the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) championship, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 370 to 184.[1]
1988 USC Trojans football | |
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Pac-10 champion | |
Conference | Pacific-10 Conference |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 9 |
AP | No. 7 |
1988 record | 10–2 (8–0 Pac-10) |
Head coach | Larry Smith (2nd season) |
Offensive coordinator | Chuck Stobart (2nd season) |
Captain | Rodney Peete |
Home stadium | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (c. 92,516, grass) |
1988 Pacific-10 Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 7 USC $ | 8 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 6 UCLA | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 16 Washington State | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona State | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oregon | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oregon State | 2 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stanford | 1 | – | 5 | – | 2 | 3 | – | 6 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
California | 1 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Trojans won their first 10 games of the season, running the conference table and beating third-ranked Oklahoma at home. They were ranked second in the nation before their match with number-one ranked Notre Dame. After losing to the Fighting Irish in their final regular-season game, they faced Michigan in the Rose Bowl, losing 14–22.
Quarterback Rodney Peete led the team in passing, completing 223 of 359 passes for 2,812 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Aaron Emanuel led the team in rushing with 108 carries for 545 yards and eight touchdowns. Erik Affholter led the team in receiving yards with 68 catches for 952 yards and eight touchdowns.[2]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 1 | 4:30 p.m. | at Boston College* | No. 8 | ESPN | W 34–7 | 32,000 | |
September 10 | 12:30 p.m. | at Stanford | No. 6 | ABC | W 24–20 | 59,000 | |
September 24 | 12:30 p.m. | No. 3 Oklahoma* | No. 4 | ABC | W 23–7 | 86,124 | |
October 1 | 6:30 p.m. | at Arizona | No. 3 | W 38–15 | 52,314 | ||
October 8 | 1:30 p.m. | No. 18 Oregon | No. 3 |
| W 42–14 | 63,452 | |
October 15 | 12:30 p.m. | No. 16 Washington | No. 3 |
| ABC | W 28–27 | 62,974 |
October 29 | 1:00 p.m. | at Oregon State | No. 3 |
| W 41–20 | 31,117 | |
November 5 | 3:30 p.m. | California | No. 2 |
| Prime | W 35–3 | 73,937 |
November 12 | 12:30 p.m. | at Arizona State | No. 2 | ABC | W 50–0 | 72,023 | |
November 19 | 12:30 p.m. | at No. 6 UCLA | No. 2 |
| ABC | W 31–22 | 100,741 |
November 26 | 12:30 p.m. | No. 1 Notre Dame* | No. 2 |
| ABC | L 10–27 | 93,829 |
January 2, 1989 | 2:00 p.m. | vs. No. 11 Michigan* | No. 5 |
| ABC | L 14–22 | 101,688 |
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Roster
1988 USC Trojans football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Rankings
Week | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final | ||||
AP | 6 (3) | 8 (1) | 6 (1) | 5 (1) | 5 (1) | 3 (2) | 3 (2) | 3 (3) | 3 (5) | 3 (5) | 2 (11) | 2 (15) | 2 (18) | 2 (22) | 5 | 5 | 7 | ||||
Coaches | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 (1) | 3 | 3 | 3 (2) | 3 | 2 (16) | 2 (14) | 2 (13) | 2 (16) | 6 | 5 | 9 |
Game summaries
at Arizona
Oregon
at UCLA
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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32–19–6 | 1987 | W 17–13 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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USC | 7 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
UCLA | 3 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 22 |
at Rose Bowl • Pasadena, California
- Date: November 19
- Game attendance: 100,741
- Gainesville Sun. 1988 Nov 20.
Game information | ||
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The Measles Game
Notre Dame
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Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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23–32–4 | 1987 | L 15–26 |
Notre Dame and USC entered the game undefeated and ranked number one and two respectively for the first time ever in their storied series. It was also the 24th time No. 1 faced No. 2 in college football history.[9] The Trojans were having a great season under head coach Larry Smith and standout quarterback Rodney Peete.[9] The Irish came into the game as underdogs, but spectacular play of defensive end Frank Stams and cornerback Stan Smagala aided the Irish offense, led by Tony Rice, to an Irish victory. The sellout crowd of 93,829 was the largest in this rivalry since 1955.[9]
vs. Michigan (Rose Bowl)
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Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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3–3 | 1979 | W 17–10 |
Team players drafted into the NFL
The following players were claimed in the 1989 NFL Draft.
Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
Erik Affholter | Wide receiver | 4 | 110 | Washington Redskins |
Rodney Peete | Quarterback | 6 | 141 | Detroit Lions |
Chris Hale | Defensive back | 7 | 193 | Buffalo Bills |
Paul Green | Tight end | 8 | 208 | Denver Broncos |
Derrell Marshall | Tackle | 12 | 332 | Buffalo Bills |
Awards and honors
- Rodney Peete, Second in Heisman Trophy voting
- Rodney Peete, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[11]
References
- "Southern California Yearly Results (1985-1989)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- "1988 Southern California Trojans Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- "USC 1988 AP Football Rankings". collegepollarchive.com. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- "Peete, Trojans Roll, 34-7, Over Boston College". Los Angeles Times. September 2, 1988. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- "Peete, USC Pass Stanford Near Finish for 24-20 Win". Los Angeles Times. September 11, 1988. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- "Oklahoma Feels Crunch of U.S.C." The New York Times. September 25, 1988. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- "Peete Leads U.S.C. to Rose Bowl Berth". The New York Times. November 20, 1988. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- Telander, Rick (November 28, 1988). "On Top in L.A." Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- "2006 USC Media Guide: USC Football History" (PDF). USC Trojans. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1989.htm
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-12-16. Retrieved 2008-01-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)