Cotton Bowl Practice #2: Notes
December 13, 2017 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
The Trojans are relishing the opportunity to match their talents against No. 5 Ohio State.
The Trojans were padded up again as the physical prep continues.
- The USC injury report remained largely unchanged from yesterday, according to head coach Clay Helton. OLB Porter Gustin is out of a walking boot and "does not feel any pain," Helton reported, but he did not practice. WR Tyler Vaughns will be back in "3 or 4 days time," Helton said, after he suffered a shoulder sprain on Tuesday.
- Outside of the College Football Playoff, USC and Ohio State are squaring off in the marquee matchup of bowl season. "If your blood pressure ain't up and your hair don't stand up, something's wrong with you," said Helton about how motivated his team is to take on the tradition-rich Buckeyes.
- Helton went on to list off the years of football, national championships and Heisman Trophy winners that both programs can boast. "It's going to be a really cool opportunity to play against them and see those two jerseys on the field at the same time," said LB Cameron Smith. "It's really historic and traditional. I'm looking forward to it."
- Senior captain Chris Hawkins echoed those sentiments. "I was excited, because this is a dream matchup," said Hawkins, who referenced the 2008 and 2009 battles between USC and Ohio State. "This is a matchup I've been looking for since I was 10 years old. Grew up watching Ohio State - USC games. It's one of those things where it's not really a rivalry, but there's some kind of tension there where it's USC - Ohio State. It's a big game."
- The Buckeyes and Trojans will come into the game with a similar chip on their respective shoulders as overlooked conference champions. "I think it's the same for us," said Smith. "We both won our conference championships, and two losses. Sucks we're not in the playoff, but this is the next best thing for me. I'm so honored to be able to play in a Rose Bowl and AT&T Stadium again."
- AT&T Stadium was a house of horrors for the Trojans last year. "The last time we were there, we got our butts beat," said Helton, referencing the 2016 season-opening blowout loss to Alabama. The head coach is using that memory to motivate his team to focus on the game plan because Ohio State is "probably the best team that we've played all year," he said.
- With the fall semester over, the Trojans have the luxury of focusing exclusively on bowl game preparations. "You kind of love this time," Hawkins said. "You're off of school, finals ended today, you love this time to really bond with your teammates. Especially since it's going to be my last one, so I like to bond with these guys before I get training or whatever the future holds."
- The Trojans have become avid film watchers over the last two years and Smith is impressed by what he sees on the Buckeyes' tape. "I think they execute really well," he said. "I think they have a great o-line. They have a lot of guys who have had big careers there and are very experienced. I can see it in them, they're pissed off. They're really competitive and they just want to go out there and win."
- The Trojans have one more practice this week and then two next week before a short holiday break. Â "We're going to blink our eyes and we're going to be in Dallas, Texas," Helton said.
- Basketball legend Bill Walton attended practice today.
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