Always Compete

September 1, 2009
The titular descriptive juggernaut doesnt really do the recent history of Southern Cal football justice. The Trojans are 88-15 since Pete Carroll became head coach in 2000, had a 34-game winning streak, and produced seven consecutive Pac 10 titles, three Heisman Trophy winners, and 14 first-round picks in the NFL draft. Bisheff, a USC grad who has covered the team for years, was granted virtually complete access to the players and coaches for the 2008 season. Carroll is, of course, the focal point, but Bisheff also includes interviews with players and assistant coaches as well as an overview of USC football history and detailed game accounts. He also captures much of the team dynamic as freshmen square off with upperclassmen in the timeless pursuit of playing time. The stakes are high, since being a starter at USC will almost certainly place one on the radar of NFL scouts. Every high-profile college football program has some warts, but Bisheff leaves those for other authors. This is a best-face-forward insiders chronicle of an exciting and successful program.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)