Game Day: Southern California Football: The Greatest Games, Players, Coaches and Teams in the Glorious Tradition of Trojan Football

College football season is my favorite time of the year. I can sit down and watch games between teams that I have absolutely no rooting interest in whatsoever and become completely caught up in the action whether it's a major conference like the Big Ten or SEC, or even a game featuring schools from the MAC conference. It's just a wonderful time of year! No one covers the college football scene like Triumph Books and Athlon Sports with one great edition after another in their Game Day series. These beautifully produced hardcover books shine the spotlight on the greatest teams in college football. USC certainly qualifies as one of the most prestigious schools with a rich tradition of great teams, great players, and national championships. While down a bit in the 90's, USC has once again become one of the top powerhouse programs under the guidance of head coach Pete Carroll and a host of fantastic players like Carson Palmer, Reggie Bush, and Matt Leinart. USC's fantastic tradition of playing in the LA Coliseum, filled with fans, their Trojan mascots, and California Girl cheerleaders is one of the boldest in all of sports, pro or college. The book introduces fans to the teams greatest players including Heisman trophy winners Mike Garrett (1965), O.J. Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979), Marcus Allen (1981), Carson Palmer (2002), Matt Leinart (2004), and Reggie Bush (2005). The fact that one school has captured the Heisman trophy three out of the past four years is an astounding feat! In addition to these players the book spotlights other greats like Ricky Bell, Anthony Davis, Frank Gifford, Ronnie Lott, Junior Seau, KeyshawnJohnson, and Lynn Swann. USC boasts an equally impressive lineup of great coaches beginning with Howard Jones who won five national championships from 1925 to 1940. John Mckay is the first USC coach I recall as he resided over the fantastic era of the 60's and 70's, churning out one great tailback after another and winning three national championships. John Robinson had two stints as head coach of the Trojans from 1976 - 1982 and 1993 - 1997. While his run in the 90's is pretty forgettable, he captured two national titles in 1978 and 1979. Finally there is Carroll who restored the program to greatness winning two championships in five years as his teams lost only four games from 2002 through 2005. The book runs down each of USC's national championships and then moves into its greatest games including the victory over Ohio State in the 1975 Rose Bowl, the defeat of Bear Bryant's #1 ranked Alabama team in 1978, and the pasting of Oklahoma in the 2005 Orange Bowl. USC's great rivalries are also covered. There's their legendary games with Notre Dame, one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports, and of course their battles with neighboring UCLA. The book is filled from beginning to end with dynamic black & white and full color photography that truly epitomizes the awesome spectacle and pageantry of USC football. A