The 2003 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California

University of Southern California

The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...

 in the 2003-2004 NCAA Division I-A college football season

2003 NCAA Division I-A football season

The 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with an abundance of controversy, resulting in a split national championship. This was the first split title since the inception of the BCS, something the BCS intended to eliminate....

. They were named the Associated Press

Associated Press

The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...

 and Football Writers Association of America

Football Writers Association of America

The Football Writers Association of America is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA...

 (FWAA) National Champions but were denied a spot in the BCS Championship Game due to controversy with the BCS selections for the national championship game.

The regular season ended with three one-loss teams in BCS contention: Oklahoma, LSU

2003 LSU Tigers football team

The 2003 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the college football season of 2003–2004. Coached by Nick Saban, the Tigers played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After a bit of controversy, LSU won the BCS National Championship, the first...

 and USC. USC ended the regular season ranked #1 and LSU #2 in both the AP Poll

AP Poll

The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...

 and the Coaches' Poll. USC lost one triple-overtime at , which finished 8–6; LSU had a 12-point home loss against a Florida team that went 8–5; Oklahoma, which had been ranked #1 for most of the season, fell to #3 after suffering a 35–7 defeat in the 2003 Big 12 Championship Game

2003 Big 12 Championship Game

The 2003 Big 12 Championship Game was played on December 6, 2003 in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The game determined the 2003 football champion of the Big 12 Conference. The Oklahoma Sooners, winners of the South division of the Big 12, were upset by the Kansas State Wildcats, who...

 to Kansas State

2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team

The 2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the college football season of 2003-2004. The team's head football coach was Bill Snyder. The Wildcats played their home games in KSU Stadium. The team finished the season with a win-loss record of 11 and 4, and a...

, which finished 11–4. Controversy erupted when the BCS computers selected Oklahoma-LSU as the BCS title game; leading to protests from USC supporters. During the bowl games, USC had a convincing 28–14 win over #4 Michigan

2003 Michigan Wolverines football team

The 2003 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2003 college football season. The team's head coach was Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium. The team won the first of its back to back Big Ten Championships...

 in the Rose Bowl

2004 Rose Bowl

The 2004 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game held on January 1, 2004 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. It was the 90th Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans, champions of the Pacific-10 Conference, defeated the Michigan Wolverines, champions of the Big Ten Conference, 28-14...

 while LSU beat Oklahoma 21–14 in the Sugar Bowl

2004 Sugar Bowl

The 2004 Sugar Bowl, the BCS title game for the 2003 college football season, was played on January 4, 2004 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The teams were LSU Tigers and the Oklahoma Sooners...

 (designated the BCS title game

BCS National Championship Game

The BCS National Championship Game, or BCS National Championship, is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series and is intended by the organizers of the BCS to determine the U.S. national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision...

). USC remained #1 in the final AP Poll and LSU was ranked, by contractual obligation, #1 in the final Coaches' Poll, though three coaches did not follow instructions and voted USC #1 in that poll as well.

Recruiting

With the late arrival of highly touted quarterback

Quarterback

Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...

 John David Booty

John David Booty

John David Booty is an American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He last played for the Houston Texans until being cut on September 4, 2010. He played college football at USC.Booty has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans...

, who left high school a year early to attend USC, the Trojan's 2003 recruiting class was considered by some to be the best in the country.

Its legacy included many NFL Draft

NFL Draft

The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...

 picks over several years, including four first round picks.

2004 NFL Draft

2004 NFL Draft

The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...

:

• Will Poole
  Will Poole
  William Starling Poole is an American football defensive back who is currently playing for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
  
   (Round 4, Pick 102)

2006 NFL Draft

2006 NFL Draft

The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...

:

• Reggie Bush
  Reggie Bush
  Reginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
  
   (Round 1, Pick 2)
• LenDale White
  LenDale White
  LenDale Anthony White is an American football running back. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California....
  
   (Round 2, Pick 45),

2007 NFL Draft

2007 NFL Draft

The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...

:

• Steve Smith
  Steve Smith (New York Giants)
  Steve Smith is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
  
   (Round 2, Pick 51)
• Eric Wright
  Eric A. Wright
  Eric Andrew Wright is an American football cornerback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at USC and UNLV.-USC Trojans:Wright attended USC for two years before attending...
  
   (Finished career at UNLV, Round 2, Pick 53)
• Ryan Kalil
  Ryan Kalil
  Ryan Kalil is an American football offensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. Drafted by Carolina in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft, Kalil played college football at the University of Southern California...
  
   (Round 2, Pick 59)

2008 NFL Draft

2008 NFL Draft

The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...

:

• Sedrick Ellis
  Sedrick Ellis
  -New Orleans Saints:Ellis was drafted by the New Orleans Saints seventh overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. The Saints original draft spot was 10th, but they traded up with the New England Patriots. The teams swapped first round picks, the Saints gave up their third round selection and the Pats gave...
  
   (Round 1, Pick 7)
• Sam Baker (Round 1, Pick 21)
• Lawrence Jackson
  Lawrence Jackson
  -Seattle Seahawks:Jackson was selected with the 28th pick in the 2008 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He was the fourth defensive end taken in the first round ....
  
   (Round 1, Pick 28)
• Terrell Thomas
  Terrell Thomas
  -New York Giants:Thomas was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft, after projecting to be a third round pick. Thomas was the 63rd overall pick of the draft and the final pick of the second round...
  
   (Round 2, Pick 63)
• John David Booty
  John David Booty
  John David Booty is an American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He last played for the Houston Texans until being cut on September 4, 2010. He played college football at USC.Booty has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans...
  
   (Round 5, Pick 137)
• Thomas Williams
  Thomas Williams (American football)
  Thomas Washington Williams is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
  
   (Round 5, Pick 155)
• Chauncey Washington
  Chauncey Washington
  -Jacksonville Jaguars:Washington was selected in the 7th round pick 213 of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. On June 26, 2008 Washington signed a contract of four years worth $1.6 million.-Dallas Cowboys:...
  
   (Round 7, Pick 213)

Schedule

The Trojans finished the season with a 12–1 record, 7–1 in the Pac-10.http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/012604aaa.html

Auburn

USC opened the season visiting Auburn University

Auburn University

Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...

: the Tigers were also ranked in the top-10 and had been named a pre-season favorite to be the national champion by at least one major news organization. In his first start, quarterback Matt Leinart

Matt Leinart

Matthew Stephen Leinart , is an American professional football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League...

 led the Trojans on a domineering 23–0 performance.

2003 Team Players in the NFL

• Marcell Allmond
  Marcell Allmond
  -Professional career:Allmond played for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005. He was on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad in 2004.-College career:Allmond played college football at the University of Southern California. He was a three year starter at cornerback and wide receiver.-External links:**...
  
  
• Kevin Arbet
  Kevin Arbet
  Kevin Arbet is an American football cornerback most recently playing for the Arena Football League's San Jose SaberCats. His uncle, Darren Arbet is the head coach.-Professional career:...
  
  
• Collin Ashton
  Collin Ashton
  Collin Ashton is an American football linebacker.-College Football:Ashton played college football at the University of Southern California where he graduated in 2006. He was a walk-on player who earned a scholarship...
  
  
• Sam Baker
• Darnell Bing
  Darnell Bing
  Darnell Bing is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
  
  
• John David Booty
  John David Booty
  John David Booty is an American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He last played for the Houston Texans until being cut on September 4, 2010. He played college football at USC.Booty has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans...
  
  
• William Buchanon
• Reggie Bush
  Reggie Bush
  Reginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
  
  
• Dominique Byrd
  Dominique Byrd
  Dominique Montiel Byrd is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
  
  
• Matt Cassel
  Matt Cassel
  Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
  
  
• Shaun Cody
  Shaun Cody
  Shaun Michael Cody is an American football defensive tackle for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California.-Early years:Cody attended Los Altos High School in...
  
  
• Keary Colbert
  Keary Colbert
  Patrick Keary Jerel Colbert is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
  
  
• Sedrick Ellis
  Sedrick Ellis
  -New Orleans Saints:Ellis was drafted by the New Orleans Saints seventh overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. The Saints original draft spot was 10th, but they traded up with the New England Patriots. The teams swapped first round picks, the Saints gave up their third round selection and the Pats gave...
  
  
• Matt Grootegoed
  Matt Grootegoed
  Matt Grootegoed is a professional gridiron football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
  
  
• Gregg Guenther
  Gregg Guenther
  Gregg Guenther, Jr. was a National Football League tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals.-College career:...
  
  
• Alex Holmes
  Alex Holmes
  Alex Holmes was a National Football League tight end.-Professional career:Holmes played for the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and signed as a free agent with the Saint Louis Rams for 2006...
  
  
• Ryan Kalil
  Ryan Kalil
  Ryan Kalil is an American football offensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. Drafted by Carolina in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft, Kalil played college football at the University of Southern California...
  
  
• Norm Katnik
  Norm Katnik
  Norm Katnik is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
  
  
• Ryan Killeen
  Ryan Killeen
  Ryan Killeen is an american football placekicker for the National Football League Seattle Seahawks' NFL Europe affiliate Amsterdam Admirals.-Professional career:...
  
  
• David Kirtman
  David Kirtman
  David Kirtman is an American football fullback free agent of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
  
  
• Lawrence Jackson
  Lawrence Jackson
  -Seattle Seahawks:Jackson was selected with the 28th pick in the 2008 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He was the fourth defensive end taken in the first round ....
  
  
• Winston Justice
  Winston Justice
  Winston Frederick Justice is an American football offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
  
  
• Jason Leach
  Jason Leach
  -College career:Leach played college football at the University of Southern California. He started in 2003 and 2004.-Professional Football Career:Leach played for the National Football League San Diego Chargers in 2005....
  
  
• Matt Leinart
  Matt Leinart
  Matthew Stephen Leinart , is an American professional football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League...
  
  
• Oscar Lua
  Oscar Lua
  Oscar Lua is former American football linebacker. He was originally drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California.-Early years:...
  
  
• Tom Malone
  Tom Malone (American football)
  Thomas Malone is an American football punter for the Sacramento Mountain Lions. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
  
  
• Fred Matua
  Fred Matua
  Fred Matua is an American football guard that is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
  
  
• Chris McFoy
  Chris McFoy
  Chris McFoy is an American football wide receiver who played for the Oakland Raiders. He is now a free agent.-Pro career:...
  
  
• Jason Mitchell
  Jason Mitchell
  Jason Mitchell is a wide receiver who was formerly with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.-Professional career:Previously, he was with the Jacksonville Jaguars organization....
  
  
• Mike Patterson
• Will Poole
  Will Poole
  William Starling Poole is an American football defensive back who is currently playing for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
  
  
• Drew Radovich
  Drew Radovich
  Drew Radovich is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Southern California....
  
  
• LaJuan Ramsey
  LaJuan Ramsey
  LaJuan Ramsey is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California....
  
  
• Jacob Rogers
  Jacob Rogers
  Jacob Rogers is a retired American football offensive tackle in the National Football League who is currently working in private business in Ventura, Ca.-Early years:...
  
  
• Frostee Rucker
  Frostee Rucker
  Rucker was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He was placed on the injured reserve list his rookie year in 2006.In 2007, Rucker contributed on special teams and situational opportunities on defense...
  
  
• Dallas Sartz
  Dallas Sartz
  Dallas Sartz is a former American football linebacker who is currently an assistant coach for the UC Davis football team. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
  
  
• Steve Smith
  Steve Smith (New York Giants)
  Steve Smith is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
  
  
• Matt Spanos
  Matt Spanos
  Matt Spanos is an Canadian and American football guard for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League...
  
  
• Lofa Tatupu
  Lofa Tatupu
  -Seattle Seahawks:Tatupu quickly established himself as one of the top defensive players in the league as a rookie in 2005, in which he was named to the Pro Bowl, while leading the NFC Champion Seahawks in tackles, with 104, en route to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history...
  
  
• Terrell Thomas
  Terrell Thomas
  -New York Giants:Thomas was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft, after projecting to be a third round pick. Thomas was the 63rd overall pick of the draft and the final pick of the second round...
  
  
• Kenechi Udeze
  Kenechi Udeze
  Kenechi Nduka Udeze [] is an assistant coach of University of Washington Huskies football team and a former American football defensive end of the National Football League....
  
  
• Lenny Vandermade
  Lenny Vandermade
  Lenny Vandermade is an American football coach.-High school career:Vandermade prepped at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California.-College career:Vandermade played college football at the University of Southern California....
  
  
• John Walker
• Chauncey Washington
  Chauncey Washington
  -Jacksonville Jaguars:Washington was selected in the 7th round pick 213 of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. On June 26, 2008 Washington signed a contract of four years worth $1.6 million.-Dallas Cowboys:...
  
  
• Lee Webb
  Lee Webb
  Lee Webb is a free agent National Football League fullback formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars.-Coaching career:...
  
  
• LenDale White
  LenDale White
  LenDale Anthony White is an American football running back. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California....
  
  
• Kyle Williams
  Kyle Williams (offensive tackle)
  Kyle A. Williams is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Southern California....
  
  
• Mike Williams
• Thomas Williams
  Thomas Williams (American football)
  Thomas Washington Williams is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
  
  
• Eric Wright
  Eric A. Wright
  Eric Andrew Wright is an American football cornerback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at USC and UNLV.-USC Trojans:Wright attended USC for two years before attending...
  
  
• Manuel Wright
  Manuel Wright
  Manuel "Manny" Wright is an Arena football Offensive lineman / Defensive lineman for the Stockton Lightning of af2. He was originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2005 supplemental draft. He played college football at USC.Wright has also briefly been signed to the...
  
  
• Justin Wyatt
  Justin Wyatt
  Justin Wyatt is an American football cornerback who was expected to be drafted in the 2006 NFL Draft but went undrafted.-Professional career:The National Football League Arizona Cardinals picked him up as a free agent....