Written by Robert Henry
The University of Southern California is set to face off against Penn State University January 2nd in beautiful Pasadena, California. Both teams have battled their way through their respective conferences to get to the Rose Bowl presented by Northwestern Mutual. Number 5 Penn State goes into this bowl game 11-2 overall and 8-1 in the Big Ten, coming away with the Big Ten Conference title. Number 9 USC enters this bowl game with a record of 9-3 overall and 7-2 in the Pac-12 and finished the season on an 8 game winning streak after starting 1-3.
Penn State’s decision to start quarterback Trace McSorley over Tommy Stevens was a choice that was at no means an easy decision. Head coach James Franklin said “It was one of those that you could have made a decision in either direction, really, and justified it”. Given the success this season I would say Franklin and offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead made the right choice. Throughout the season Penn State has come out of the halftime playing better than in the first half. “A lot of times we just had to get the guys in the locker room and settle them down and say, look, these are the things that we're seeing, this is what we need to do to make the corrections and get the guys settled down as much as anything”. Obviously the communication between the coaching staff and the players is extremely good, or the players wouldn't go into the second half playing the way they have.
Coach Helton has over come some quarterback issues this season at USC and with Max Browne’s departure from the team it leaves the back up spot open. “Obviously we'll have Matt Fink that is here. We'll also have two others that are with him in Thomas Fitts and Holden Thomas. And then we’ll have Jalen Greene, also, who has trained at the quarterback position in the past and is prepared to do that if needed”. Its clear that USC is confident in the four kids they have to back up Sam Darnold. The Trojans started off the season at 0-2 in conference and they were able to turn it around to be where they are. “You know, when we started 0-2, we have talked about, we kind of went into playoff football mode. We understood that being able to do something special throughout the season that we were going to have to go on a run and go on a run in conference”. After this grueling season USC was able to get into the Rose Bowl and even Helton wasn’t expecting to be in it. “No. As a coach you’re just trying to put your best foot forward and produce and to win games”.
Since September both teams have gone on a 17-0 run and both teams have dealt with issues to get back on their feet. “USC is a very, very talented team, and once the quarterback started clicking for them, then distributing the ball, the whole team just kind of – they developed around him. So it’s been fun to watch. It’s exciting to watch. They’re a dangerous team”. Helton believes that we’re dealing with “two of the hotter teams in the country” when looking at the recent success both USC and Penn State have been having. “I've just had the opportunity to watch Penn State really on TV and culminating in last night's exceptional win, and the one thing that jumps out at you right off the bat is offensively how talented they are with Barkley and McSorley and the points they're putting up”.
The 103rd Rose Bowl game presented by Northwestern Mutual is scheduled for Monday, January 2nd at 5:00 PM EST on ESPN, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Penn State’s decision to start quarterback Trace McSorley over Tommy Stevens was a choice that was at no means an easy decision. Head coach James Franklin said “It was one of those that you could have made a decision in either direction, really, and justified it”. Given the success this season I would say Franklin and offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead made the right choice. Throughout the season Penn State has come out of the halftime playing better than in the first half. “A lot of times we just had to get the guys in the locker room and settle them down and say, look, these are the things that we're seeing, this is what we need to do to make the corrections and get the guys settled down as much as anything”. Obviously the communication between the coaching staff and the players is extremely good, or the players wouldn't go into the second half playing the way they have.
Coach Helton has over come some quarterback issues this season at USC and with Max Browne’s departure from the team it leaves the back up spot open. “Obviously we'll have Matt Fink that is here. We'll also have two others that are with him in Thomas Fitts and Holden Thomas. And then we’ll have Jalen Greene, also, who has trained at the quarterback position in the past and is prepared to do that if needed”. Its clear that USC is confident in the four kids they have to back up Sam Darnold. The Trojans started off the season at 0-2 in conference and they were able to turn it around to be where they are. “You know, when we started 0-2, we have talked about, we kind of went into playoff football mode. We understood that being able to do something special throughout the season that we were going to have to go on a run and go on a run in conference”. After this grueling season USC was able to get into the Rose Bowl and even Helton wasn’t expecting to be in it. “No. As a coach you’re just trying to put your best foot forward and produce and to win games”.
Since September both teams have gone on a 17-0 run and both teams have dealt with issues to get back on their feet. “USC is a very, very talented team, and once the quarterback started clicking for them, then distributing the ball, the whole team just kind of – they developed around him. So it’s been fun to watch. It’s exciting to watch. They’re a dangerous team”. Helton believes that we’re dealing with “two of the hotter teams in the country” when looking at the recent success both USC and Penn State have been having. “I've just had the opportunity to watch Penn State really on TV and culminating in last night's exceptional win, and the one thing that jumps out at you right off the bat is offensively how talented they are with Barkley and McSorley and the points they're putting up”.
The 103rd Rose Bowl game presented by Northwestern Mutual is scheduled for Monday, January 2nd at 5:00 PM EST on ESPN, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.