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Coach Holmoe looks forward to playing USC.
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Sept. 23, 1997
Cal has Words for USC
Coach Tom Holmoe on the USC Game
"This is a week we've been looking forward to for a long time. To this point we've played two non-conference opponents, and yes those games count toward your record, but you really look forward to the Pac-10. Our first opponent is USC, who has been one of Cal's arch rivals. Obviously, Stanford and the Big Game is huge, but whenever you play the Los Angeles teams, it means a lot to our Cal family. Many of our kids are from L.A. We recruit down there. It's just a big game for us and everyone understands that.
"When it comes down to playing football, you've got to take away the names and the faces and just get ready to play a good solid game. The emotions are going to take care of themselves. As the game gets closer and closer they will steadily grow and hopefully come to a peak during the game. Until then, we are going to try to maintain a good work ethic in practice throughout the week just like we have up to this point. It's important that we don't get emotionally frayed because we have to have our wits about us for a game like this.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for (USC Coach) John Robinson. I competed against him when he was with the Rams and I'm sure he'll have his team ready to go. Their an 0-2 team right now, but they're good and they've played some very good teams. They're going to be ready to come up here and try to get their season back on track."
Question and answer with coach Holmoe
Q: "Are you surprised that USC has struggled so much with their running game so much this season?"
A: "I'm not really surprised, maybe the numbers are low, but last year they had a very young offensive line. This year with a new offensive coordinator in Hugh Jackson, they are going through a transition period as they try to change their offensive style. But I think its going to take them a little time to put it all together, hopefully more than three weeks. But I don't think there is a question that the line is talented and they have the skill people to produce, is just a matter of time before they get the job done.
Q: "Can you talk a little about the match-up between the Cal wide receivers and the USC cornerbacks?"
A: "USC has a fine corner combination with Kelley and McCutcheon. They're fast, athletic and competitive. I not sure there's a better combination of corners around, but with what Bobby (Shaw) has done in the first two games, it makes for a nice match-up."
Q: "Are you surprised that opponents have tried to cover Bobby one-on-one so far this season?"
A: "One of the problems of facing somebody who's hot, whether its a tailback or a wide receiver, is you don't want to depart too far from what you do. Most people might look at the situation and say 'my goodness, why don't you put two people on him?' But, that would really detract from the rest of your defense. So if it fits in their scheme to do that (double-cover Shaw) than we'll see that. But if it's too much a departure from what you do, then you are taking a significant risk to do that. Just like last week, we spent a lot of time focusing in on Oklahoma's tailback (De'Mond Parker). Because of that we came out of some of the things that we do quite frequently and it hurt us when they went to the passing game. So, you take risks when you change your defense."
Q: "Are you happy with the way your defense is defending the run?"
A: "Yes, although Parker's first run (54 yards) was a little disconcerting. But, overall I was very pleased with the way the defense rallied and especially after that. The run defense has been very good, it's been one of the strengths in the two games we've played so far."
Q: "How is USC's offense different now that Hugh Jackson is the offensive coordinator?"
A: "It's different in that they've implemented the west coast offense. Their passing game is very similar to ours. They traditionally have run out of the I-backs and now the run a lot of split backs or off-set backs. They also run a lot of one back sets, which they some last year. But they've gotten away from the traditional SC attack.
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Deltha O'Neil is excited about being undefeated.
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Jerry DeLoach - Defensive End
On USC
"They're a good team. They fought hard against Florida State and Washington State. You can't count them out just because they lost twice."
"This is the Pac-10. Anybody can beat anybody."
On last year's win
"It gives you confidence. We expected to win that game. But, this is another game that you have to prepare for."
Justin Flagg - Linebacker
On USC's offense
"From what I've seen this year, they try to go deep and pick on the corners. It is pretty similar to our offense. We have the same coordinators."
"USC is a good challenge, but I think we are ready for it."
Deltha O'Neil- Tailback
On playing USC
"This game is exciting to us because we're 2-0 and we have a chance to be 3-0. Not because it's USC. Even though they're ranked, we see them as the same as us."
On the keys to the wining the game
"From what we've seen, USC has an excellent defense. So, the running backs must have a good day in order to relieve some of the pressure on Bobby (Shaw)."
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Kato Serwanga has confidence going into the game.
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A.J. Kunkle - Tight End
On playing the Trojans
"After finally getting on the field last week, and scoring a touchdown too, I'm really excited just to be back on the field. But I'm really up for playing USC. Especially because we beat them last year at their place."
Yauger Williams - Guard
On Cal's team attitude heading into the USC game
"I think our team is really concentrating on Cal. We're more concerned with our own performance and game plan than anything else. If it feels like we are up more than we were for Houston or Oklahoma, that might be because this is a conference game, plus the fact that we beat them last year. But last year is last year. We are different teams now."
Kato Serwanga - Cornerback
On playing USC
"We can't live off of last year's game. But, beating them down there does give us some confidence going into the game."
Justin Vedder - Quarterback
On facing the Trojans
"It's going to be fun. I have a lot of friends on that team. It's going to be an honor to play against a team with such a great tradition. Next to Stanford, this is a very big game for us."
