1998 USC Trojans football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1998
| team = USC Trojans
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Pacific-10 Conference
| short_conf = Pac-10
| record = 8–5
| conf_record = 5–3
| head_coach = Paul Hackett
| hc_year = 1st
| off_coach = Hue Jackson
| oc_year = 2nd
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Bill Young
| dc_year = 1st
| def_scheme =
| captain = Adam Abrams
| captain2 = Chris Claiborne
| captain3 = Billy Miller
| captain4 = Chad Morton
| stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
| bowl = Sun Bowl
| bowl_result = L 19–28 vs. TCU
}}
{{1998 Pacific-10 Conference football standings}}
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.{{cite web|title=Southern California Yearly Results (1995-1999)|publisher=David DeLassus|work=College Football Data Warehouse|access-date=July 20, 2015|url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/s/southern_california/1995-1999_yearly_results.php|archive-date=July 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722130533/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/s/southern_california/1995-1999_yearly_results.php|url-status=dead}}
This was Hackett's 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.{{cite web| url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1998/11/22/clemson-opening/| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120406100036/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1998-11-22/features/9811220352_1_beamer-pellerin-alabama| archive-date = 2012-04-06| title = Clemson Opening - Orlando Sentinel}}
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.{{cite web|title=1998 Southern California Trojans Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=July 21, 2015|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1998.html}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1998
| poll = AP
| timezone = Pacific
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{dow tooltip|August 30, 1998}}
| time = 11:30 a.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Purdue
| site_stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| tv = ABC
| gamename = Pigskin Classic
| score = 27–17
| attend = 56,623
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 12
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 22
| opponent = San Diego State
| site_stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| tv = FSNW2
| score = 35–6
| attend = 49,927
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 19
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 18
| opponent = Oregon State
| site_stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| tv = FSNW2
| score = 40–20
| attend = 45,629
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 26
| time = 12:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 18
| opponent = Florida State
| opprank = 10
| site_stadium = Doak Campbell Stadium
| site_cityst = Tallahassee, FL
| tv = ABC
| score = 10–30
| attend = 79,815
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-usc-learns-the-har/152139460/|work=The Los Angeles Times|title=USC learns the hard way|date=September 27, 1998|accessdate=July 26, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 3
| time = 4:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 21
| opponent = Arizona State
| site_stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| tv = ABC
| score = 35–24
| attend = 56,093
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 10
| time = 3:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| rank = 19
| opponent = California
| site_stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| tv = FSN
| score = 31–32
| attend = 65,678
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 17
| time = 7:15 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Washington State
| site_stadium = Martin Stadium
| site_cityst = Pullman, WA
| tv = FSN
| score = 42–14
| attend = 31,178
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 24
| time = 3:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Oregon
| opprank = 12
| site_stadium = Autzen Stadium
| site_cityst = Eugene, OR
| tv = FSN
| score = 13–17
| attend = 45,807
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 31
| time = 12:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| opponent = Washington
| site_stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| tv = ABC
| score = 33–10
| attend = 62,276
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 7
| time = 3:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Stanford
| site_stadium = Stanford Stadium
| site_cityst = Stanford, CA
| gamename = rivalry
| tv = FSN
| score = 34–9
| attend = 43,250
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 21
| time = 12:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = UCLA
| opprank = 3
| site_stadium = Rose Bowl
| site_cityst = Pasadena, CA
| gamename = Victory Bell
| tv = ABC
| score = 17–34
| attend = 88,080
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 28
| time = 5:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Notre Dame
| opprank = 9
| site_stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename = rivalry
| tv = ABC
| score = 10–0
| attend = 90,069
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{dow tooltip|December 31, 1998}}
| time = 11:00 a.m.
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| opponent = TCU
| site_stadium = Sun Bowl
| site_cityst = El Paso, TX
| gamename = Sun Bowl
| tv = CBS
| score = 19–28
| attend = 46,612
}}
}}
Rankings
{{Ranking movements
| poll1title = AP
| poll1firstweek = 0
| poll1lastweek = 15
| poll1_0=RV
| poll1_1=22
| poll1_2=18
| poll1_3=18
| poll1_4=21
| poll1_5=19
| poll1_6=NR
| poll1_7=NR
| poll1_8=NR
| poll1_9=NR
| poll1_10=NR
| poll1_11=RV
| poll1_12=NR
| poll1_13=NR
| poll1_14=NR
| poll1_15=RV
| poll2title = Coaches Poll
| poll2firstweek = 0
| poll2lastweek =15
| poll2_0=RV
| poll2_1=23
| poll2_2=16
| poll2_3=17
| poll2_4=22
| poll2_5=20
| poll2_6=NR
| poll2_7=NR
| poll2_8=NR
| poll2_9=NR
| poll2_10=NR
| poll2_11=RV
| poll2_12=NR
| poll2_13=NR
| poll2_14=RV
| poll2_15=NR
| poll3title = BCS
| poll3firstweek =8
| poll3lastweek =14
| poll3_8=NR
| poll3_9=NR
| poll3_10=NR
| poll3_11=20
| poll3_12=NR
| poll3_13=NR
| poll3_14=NR
}}
Game summaries
=vs Purdue=
{{see also|Pigskin Classic}}
{{see also|1998 Purdue Boilermakers football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Boilermakers
|R1=14 |R2=3 |R3=0 |R4=0
|Home=Trojans
|H1=7 |H2=3 |H3=7 |H4=10
}}
{{Clear}}
=vs San Diego State=
{{see also|1998 San Diego State Aztecs football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Aztecs
|R1=0 |R2=6 |R3=0 |R4=0
|Home=No. 22 Trojans
|H1=7 |H2=14 |H3=0 |H4=14
}}
{{Clear}}
=vs Oregon State=
{{see also|1998 Oregon State Beavers football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Beavers
|R1=7 |R2=3 |R3=7 |R4=3
|Home=No. 18 Trojans
|H1=7 |H2=10 |H3=3 |H4=20
}}
{{Clear}}
=at No. 10 Florida State=
{{see also|1998 Florida State Seminoles football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=No. 18 Trojans
|R1=3 |R2=0 |R3=7 |R4=0
|Home=No. 10 Seminoles
|H1=3 |H2=10 |H3=7 |H4=10
}}
{{Clear}}
=vs Arizona State=
{{see also|1998 Arizona State Sun Devils football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Sun Devils
|R1=7 |R2=10 |R3=7 |R4=0
|Home=No. 21 Trojans
|H1=0 |H2=7 |H3=6 |H4=22
}}
{{Clear}}
=vs California=
{{see also|1998 California Golden Bears football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Golden Bears
|R1=7 |R2=3 |R3=8 |R4=14
|Home=No. 19 Trojans
|H1=7 |H2=17 |H3=7 |H4=0
}}
{{Clear}}
=at Washington State=
{{see also|1998 Washington State Cougars football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Trojans
|R1=7 |R2=14 |R3=14 |R4=7
|Home=Cougars
|H1=7 |H2=7 |H3=0 |H4=0
}}
{{Clear}}
=at No. 12 Oregon=
{{see also|1998 Oregon Ducks football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Trojans
|R1=0 |R2=10 |R3=0 |R4=3
|Home= No. 12 Ducks
|H1=0 |H2=3 |H3=7 |H4=7
}}
{{Clear}}
=vs Washington=
{{see also|1998 Washington Huskies football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Huskies
|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=10 |R4=0
|Home=Trojans
|H1=7 |H2=7 |H3=0 |H4=19
}}
{{Clear}}
=at Stanford=
{{see also|Stanford–USC football rivalry}}
{{see also|1998 Stanford Cardinal football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Trojans
|R1=10 |R2=7 |R3=3 |R4=14
|Home=Cardinal
|H1=7 |H2=0 |H3=0 |H4=2
}}
{{Clear}}
=at No. 3 UCLA=
{{see also|Victory Bell (UCLA–USC)}}
{{see also|1998 UCLA Bruins football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Trojans
|R1=3 |R2=7 |R3=7 |R4=0
|Home=No. 3 Bruins
|H1=14 |H2=13 |H3=0 |H4=7
}}
{{Clear}}
=vs No. 9 Notre Dame=
{{see also|Notre Dame–USC football rivalry}}
{{see also|1998 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=No. 9 Fighting Irish
|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=0 |R4=0
|Home=Trojans
|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=10 |H4=0
}}
{{Clear}}
=Sun Bowl (vs TCU)=
{{see also|1998 Sun Bowl}}
{{see also|1998 TCU Horned Frogs football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Trojans
|R1=0 |R2=3 |R3=13 |R4=3
|Home=Horned Frogs
|H1=14 |H2=7 |H3=7 |H4=0
}}
{{Clear}}
Personnel
=Coaching staff=
| class="toccolours" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center"
! colspan="5" style="background:#990000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #FFCC00" | 1998 USC Trojans coaching staff |
| width="120" | Name
! width="240" | Position ! width="80" | Year at USC ! width="180" | Alma mater (year) |
|---|
| bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| Head coach | 1st | UC Davis (1969) |
| Steve Greatwood
| Offensive line | 1st | Oregon (1981) |
| bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| Offensive coordinator/running backs | 2nd | Pacific (1987) |
| Ken O'Brien
| Quarterbacks | 1st | UC Davis (1983) |
| bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| Defensive line | 1st | Northwestern State (1984) |
| Larry Petroff
| Tight ends/recruiting coordinator | 1st | Ashland College (1973) |
| bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| Linebackers | 1st | Texas A&M (1987) |
| Dennis Thurman
| Secondary | 6th | USC (1978) |
| bgcolor=#EEEEEE
| Wide receivers | 2nd | Washington State (1981) |
| Bill Young
| Defensive coordinator | 1st | Oklahoma State (1967) |
=Roster=
{{American football roster/Header
| year = 1998
| team = USC Trojans
| teamcolors = f
| offensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=71|class=Jr|first=Travis|last=Claridge|pos=T|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=3|class=Sr|first=Billy|last=Miller|dab=Billy Miller (American football)|pos=WR|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=7|class=Jr|first=Chad|last=Morton|pos=TB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=80|class=Sr|first=Larry|last=Parker|dab=Larry Parker (American football)|pos=WR|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=18|class=Jr|first=R. Jay|last=Soward|pos=WR|link=y}}
| defensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=55|class=Jr|first=Chris|last=Claiborne|pos=LB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=27|class=Jr|first=David|last=Gibson|dab=David Gibson (American football)|pos=DB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=1|class=Sr|first=Daylon|last=McCutcheon|pos=CB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=34|class=So|first=Zeke|last=Moreno|pos=LB|link=y}}
| special_teams_players=
}}
{{American football roster/Footer|roster_url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981205050124/http://www.fansonly.com/schools/usc/sports/m-footbl/mtt/players/usc-m-fb-num.html
| head_coach = *Paul Hackett
| asst_coach =
| accessdate=
}}
Awards
- All-Pac-10: OL Travis Claridge, DL Ennis Davis, LB Chris Claiborne, DB Daylon McCutcheon, DB Rashard Cook 2011 USC football media guide