The Scene

USC Trojans

Published on Sunday, September 27 2009
Written by Super User

USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university. It's also one of the most selective, matriculating only about 2,900 students of the more than 33,000 who applied in 2007. But the reason most people have heard of USC " at least lately " is their incomparable athletics program. The USC men's teams over the years have won 87 NCAA championships -- the best in the nation. In addition, combining the men's teams with the women's teams, USC has won 347 Individual NCAA Championships " also the best in the nation.

The men's 296 Individual NCAA titles are not only the best in the nation, but a whopping 50 ahead of the school in second place, Michigan. And that brings us to the one sport that everybody thinks of when they think of USC.....FOOTBALL. The USC Football team has been voted National Champions 11 times. A December 1998 magazine called Sport ranked USC as the No. 4 all-time college football program of the 20th century. Since 1959, the Trojans have won the conference championship 17 times and tied for the title on 6 other occasions. USC has the nation's fourth best bowl winning percentage (.643) and its 30 Rose Bowl appearances is an all-time best. USC players have been named first team All-American 129 times, with 44 consensus selections and 22 unanimous choices. USC is also known for its Heisman Trophy winners. USC and Notre Dame are tied for the most Heisman winners at 7. But three of the last four Heisman winners, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and Carson Palmer, have been Trojans. (O.J. Simpson won the coveted prize in 1968) Known just as well as for their infamous rivalries as they are for their game, USC has notorious matches with cross-town rival UCLA, as well as Notre Dame. The Notre Dame rivalry is considered the greatest intersectional rivalry of all college athletics. However, infamous rivalries will be set aside on January 1, 2008, when the University of Southern California Trojans face the Fighting Illini from the University of Illinois at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. This will be the Trojans' 31st Rose Bowl appearance and, given the Trojans amazing athletic record this year and in years past, it is sure to be an exciting game.