USC Trojans Celebrate 10-1 Football Season

In a ballroom that has hosted fundraisers for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and galas with Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton, never has history been re-written as it was Thursday at the USC football awards dinner. In what was a surreal denial of actual events on the football field, the organizers of the annual team celebration at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles acted as if the season had ended with USC's blowout win over Notre Dame and Pac Ten Championship against California.

The complete denial that USC even played UCLA in 2006--let alone the outcome--was apparent when guests sat at their tables and thumbed through the evening's program. Notably missing was the annual Marv Goux Award, given to the most outstanding player in the crosstown rivalry. As dessert was served, fans and football players were treated to video-highlights of the season--well most of it. After featuring the first nine games of the season, the highlight reel showed the best plays from the November 25 USC-Notre Dame rivalry game, set to U2's "Saints Are Coming," followed by the greatest hits from the November 18 "Pac Ten Championship" game against California...then it ended.

When Head coach Pete Carroll recognized the Service Team and Special Team game captains, he only awarded plaques to honorees from eleven games--even though we're pretty sure there were game captains for the UCLA game on December 2.

However it is not like denial over a big loss is nothing new at Heritage Hall. USC has yet to update its banner of Rose Bowl appearances to include their 2006 loss to Texas in last year's BCS Title Game.Nonetheless, for what would have been a rebuilding year anywhere else, the Trojans had reason to celebrate their unprecedented fifth consecutive conference title and honored a number of their players for performances over the season:

Most Valuable Player: wide receiver Steve Smith
Co-Most Inspirational Players: center Ryan Kalil
Linemen of the Year: center Ryan Kalil and offensive tackle Sam Baker (offense), defensive end Lawrence Jackson (defense)
Co-Special Teams Players of the Year: linebackers Kaluka Maiava and Clay Matthews
Service Team Players of the Year: wide receiver David Ausberrry (offense), defensive tackle Alex Parsons (defense)
Player of the Game versus Notre Dame: wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett
Jack Oakie "Rise and Shine" Award (best hit of the year): safety Kevin Ellison (on California's DeSean Jackson)
Howard Jones/Football Alumni Club Academic Award (for overall academic achievement): tight end Nick Vanderboom
Bob Chandler Award (for the underclassman with outstanding athletic ability, academic achievement and character): linebacker Keith Rivers
John McKay Award (for the underclassman with the most competitive spirit): linebacker Brian Cushing (pictured, center, with yours truly and former Yell Leader Scott Lewallen, right)
Courage Award: tailback Desmond Reed
Co-Lifters Award: offensive tackle Sam Baker, linebacker Oscar Lua
Team Captains: quarterback John David Booty, center Ryan Kalil, linebackers Dallas Sartz and Oscar Lua