The representative of the University of Southern California to the Pacific-10 Conference is the USC Trojans. They are members of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. Ever since the NCAA was created, this team has figured prominently in the highlights of the NCAA’s history. So far, the team has had 11 national championships to its name.
The team was organized in 1888. They were not then known as the Trojans but were called the Methodists or the Wesleyans at various times in that early period. Its first game against the Alliance Athletic club ended with a 16-0 victory for them. The following year, 1889, it played its first collegiate game against St. Vincent’s College, likewise winning with a score of 40-0.
In their early years, their games were limited within Southern California. Their first game outside was played against Stanford University on Nov. 4, 1905. Although they lost that match 16-0 that marked the beginning of the lasting rivalry between the two colleges. In 1912, the team was named the Trojans by a news writer in reference to the fact that they seemed to be largely unprepared for playing against their more experienced and better trained rivals.
From 1920 to 1930, things improved for the team. Under the guidance of coach Gus Henderson, they began to attract the attention of football fans. Henderson was replaced by coach Howard Jones who stayed with them from 1925 to 1940. They won their first four national championships at this time and came to be known as the ‘Thundering Herd.’
After the term of Jones was over the team maintained its position but its performance was unimproved. However, in that period they gained three Rose Bowl trophies. The first two were won under coach Jeff Cravath in 1943 and 1945 while the last one was in 1953 under coach Jess Hill.
It was during the tenure of coach John McKay that the team experienced another resurgence of power. Between 1960 to 1975 two of the team members had received Heisman Trophies. In the years following McKay’s departure for the NFL, the team continued to enjoy success, garnering two more Heisman Trophies as well as another national championship in 1978.
From 1980 to 1990, the team maintained its standing but did not experience major successes. This was apparently not enough for staunch USC fans and in 2001 Coach Hackett was replaced by Pete Caroll. During his tenure, the team won two BCS championships, the 2003 and 2004 national championship. It was also at this time that they dominated the Pacific-10 Conference from 2003 to 2008.
A sour note on the team is the way they have been involved in issues. They were placed on probation 6 times all in all. The last case, that of 2010, resulted in a four-year probationary period and a ban from Bowl games for 2 years.
Among the many rivalry trophies that USC regularly competes for, the most prominent is that of the Jewelled Shillelagh which the team contends for annually with Notre Dame. In these series, Notre Dame is leading 42-34.
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