1998 USC Trojans football team
The 1998 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first year under head coach Paul Hackett, the Trojans compiled an 8-5 record (5–3 against conference opponents), finished in a tie for third place in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10), and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 346 to 241.[1]
This was Paul Hackett's inaugural year as head coach as the Trojans head coach as well as his only winning season and bowl appearance with the team. It was also the Trojans' 75th anniversary playing at the Coliseum.
After three wins, including an opener against Purdue in the Pigskin Classic, USC was ranked as high as 18 in the AP Poll, but lost two of its next three and dropped out of the rankings permanently.
During halftime of the game against UCLA, 91-year-old USC "Super Fan" Giles Pellerin died while watching his 797th consecutive USC football game.[2]
Quarterback Carson Palmer led the team in passing, completing 130 of 235 passes for 1,755 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. Chad Morton led the team in rushing with 199 carries for 985 yards and six touchdowns. R. Jay Soward led the team in receiving yards with 44 catches for 679 yards and six touchdowns; Billy Miller also had 49 catches for 623 yards and six touchdowns.[3]
Schedule
Date |
Time |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
August 30 |
11:30 AM |
Purdue* |
|
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA (Pigskin Classic IX) |
ABC |
W 27–17 |
56,623 |
September 12 |
7:30 PM |
San Diego State* |
#22 |
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA |
FSNW2 |
W 35–6 |
49,927 |
September 19 |
7:00 PM |
Oregon State |
#18 |
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA |
FSNW2 |
W 40–20 |
45,629 |
September 26 |
12:30 PM |
at #10 Florida State* |
#18 |
Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, FL |
ABC |
L 10–30 |
79,815 |
October 3 |
4:00 PM |
Arizona State |
#21 |
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA |
ABC |
W 35–24 |
56,093 |
October 10 |
3:30 PM |
California |
#19 |
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA |
FSN |
L 31–32 |
65,678 |
October 17 |
7:15 PM |
at Washington State |
|
Martin Stadium • Pullman, WA |
FSN |
W 42–14 |
31,178 |
October 24 |
3:30 PM |
at #12 Oregon |
|
Autzen Stadium • Eugene, OR |
FSN |
L 13–17 |
45,807 |
October 31 |
12:30 PM |
Washington |
|
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA |
ABC |
W 33–10 |
62,276 |
November 7 |
3:30 PM |
at Stanford |
|
Stanford Stadium • Stanford, CA |
FSN |
W 34–9 |
43,250 |
November 21 |
12:30 PM |
at #3 UCLA |
|
Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA (Battle for the Victory Bell) |
ABC |
L 17–34 |
88,080 |
November 28 |
5:00 PM |
#9 Notre Dame* |
|
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA (Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh) |
ABC |
W 10–0 |
90,069 |
December 31 |
11:00 AM |
vs. TCU* |
|
Sun Bowl Stadium • El Paso, TX (Sun Bowl) |
CBS |
L 19–28 |
46,612 |
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Pacific Time. |
Coaching staff
1998 USC Trojans coaching staff |
Name |
Position |
Year at USC |
Alma mater (Year) |
Paul Hackett |
Head Coach |
1st |
UC Davis (1969) |
Steve Greatwood |
Offensive Line |
1st |
Oregon (1981) |
Hue Jackson |
Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs |
2nd |
Pacific (1987) |
Ken O'Brien |
Quarterbacks |
1st |
UC Davis (1983) |
Ed Orgeron |
Defensive Line |
1st |
Northwestern State (1984) |
Larry Petroff |
Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator |
1st |
Ashland College (1973) |
Shawn Slocum |
Linebackers |
1st |
Texas A&M (1987) |
Dennis Thurman |
Secondary |
6th |
USC (1978) |
Mike Wilson |
Wide Receivers |
2nd |
Washington State (1981) |
Bill Young |
Defensive Coordinator |
1st |
Oklahoma State (1967) |
Awards
References
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