As Amory Blaine, the main character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s debut novel “This Side of Paradise” said “the only business people are interested in reading about is crooked business.” The best college football 30 for 30s, and some of the best overall in the series, revolve around the cesspool that engulfs college football.
“Pony Exce$$” was phenomenal, and it was exceeded only by “The U.” and “The U Part 2.” The USC Trojans have certainly partaken in their share of fetid skullduggery over the years, and that will be chronicled by the ESPN 30 for 30 series this fall.
It sounds like something both USC Trojans fans and USC Trojans haters will enjoy. Here’s the promotional hype write-up that ESPN PR came up with regarding it:
“Trojan War,” directed by Aaron Rahsaan Thomas
When Pete Carroll took over the football program at USC after the 2000 season, the once-great Trojans were under siege. But thanks to his football knowledge, upbeat personality and recruiting skills, Southern Cal was soon back atop the college football world as home attendance skyrocketed, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush won Heismans and the USC Trojans put together a 34-game winning streak. As it would be later discovered, though, the program was committing sins that would result in lost scholarships, victories and one of those Heismans. But those revelations didn’t come until after the national championship game in the 2006 Rose Bowl between USC and the University of Texas. Featuring interviews with Carroll, Leinart and others inside the USC program at the time, “Trojan War” looks at Carroll’s nine-year USC Trojans reign through the prism of that game, considered one of the greatest in college football history. It was also the beginning of the end.
30 for 30 films will debut on ESPN as follows (all times ET):
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 9 p.m. – “Trojan War”
The feature is Executive Produced by USC Trojans legend and #1 overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft Keyshawn Johnson. Reggie Bush was asked 40 times, over a two and half year span, Johnson claims, to be interviewed for “Trojan War,” but he declined the opportunity each and every time. We’ve obtained a screener copy of the film, and our review, which is something all USC Trojans fans will want to read, will be posted here Sunday night.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 the Zone.
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