USC
(8-4 record; Paul Hackett, 1st year) |
TCU
(6-5 record; Dennis Franchione, 1st year) |
School's Bowl Record: 24-13
Coach's Bowl Record: 0-0
Last Bowl Appearance: January 1, 1996 (Beat Northwestern 41-32 in Rose Bowl)
Record in Sun Bowl: First appearance |
School's Bowl Record: 4-10-1
Coach's Bowl Record: 0-1
Last Bowl Appearance: December 28, 1994 (Lost to Virginia 20-10 in Independence Bowl)
Record in Sun Bowl: 0-1 (Lost to Texas-El Paso 13-12 in 1965)
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Offensive Stud |
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Chad Morton, RB, Jr. (188 carries, 967 yards, 6 TDs): Tiny (5' 8", 185 pounds) speedster starred when put on offense full time; brother of Detroit Lions' Johnnie Morton.
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Basil Mitchell, RB, Sr. (166 carries, 1,111 yards, 6 TDs): Explosive (6.7-yard average) runner is also fine receiver, though he stayed mostly ground-bound this year.
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Defensive Stud |
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Chris Claiborne, LB, Jr. (107 tackles, 5 sacks, 6 INTs): Superb athlete can do it all -- stop the run, rush the passer, drop into coverage. National defensive player of the year by Football News. Butkus Award winner.
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Joseph Phipps, LB, Sr. (153 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 INTs): Small (215 pounds) but fantastic athlete had 63 more tackles than last year, when he was second on team.
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Player to Watch |
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R. Jay Soward, WR, Jr. (38 catches, 615 yards, 6 TDs): With the shuffle at quarterback, having a dependable deep threat has been key. Also a great punt (2 TDs) and kickoff returner.
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Royce Huffman, P/PR/WR, Jr. (63 punts for 40.8-yard average; 21 PR, 130 yards; 10 catches, 177 yards): Barefoot kicker does plenty of other things -- including play baseball. |
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Key Stats |
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No. 3 nationally in pass-efficiency defense (90.3 opp. rating), playing in the best passing conference in country.
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The Horned Frogs rushed for 2,630 yards this season, their most in 10 years and more than double 1997's total (1,212). That resulted in five more wins. |
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Surprise Stat |
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Trojans lead the nation with 24 INTs. Maybe not so big a surprise given above.
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No. 109 nationally in passing offense (97.2 ypg). |
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1998 Turning Point |
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October 10 -- Trojans blew a 31-10 third-quarter lead in a 32-31 loss to California; a win would've kept them in the Rose Bowl chase.
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November 21 -- After starting 4-1, the Frogs needed a win in their season finale against UNLV to become bowl eligible. They got it, 41-18.
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Key to Victory |
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Make sure the team isn't overconfident. And then take the field.
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Despite handing Air Force it's only loss, the only way TCU beats USC is by an act of God.
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Outlook |
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Trojans have way too much firepower on both sides of the ball for H-Frogs.
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The Frogs were lucky to get a bowl bid after losing four in a row in the middle of the season. Three WAC teams with better records were bypassed, likely because they are among the eight leaving the league. TCU is happy just to be here.
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