Football Writers Association of America Jan. 5, 2003
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ted Gangi
214-823-7992
Trojans edge LSU in poll to claim fifth FWAA national title
USC WINS 2003 GRANTLAND RICE TROPHY

NEW ORLEANS (FWAA) – The University of Southern California Trojans are the winners of the 2003 Grantland Rice Trophy after finishing atop final Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll.

The Grantland
Rice Trophy

The Football Writers Association of America will present the Trojans (12-1) with the 50th Grantland Rice Trophy, the school's fifth FWAA national title trophy, on a date to be determined later this month in Los Angeles. USC has also been declared the national champion by the FWAA in 1962, 1967, 1972 and 1974.

"It's an extreme honor for the 2003 USC football team to win the Grantland Rice Trophy." said USC head coach Pete Carroll. "We are very appreciative that the Football Writers Association of America has rewarded our successful season by presenting us with a trophy that has such a prestigious history to it. It is the culmination of a lot of hard work, preparation and focus by those involved with our program. On behalf of our players, coaches, staff and the entire Trojan Family, the 2003 Trojans are honored to win USC's fifth-ever Grantland Rice Trophy."

USC edged out LSU for the trophy by virtue of its 11 first-place votes. The Trojans completed their 2003 season with a convincing 28-14 win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl. LSU, which finished the season 13-1 with a 21-14 win over Oklahoma in the Nokia Sugar Bowl, was second in the poll and garnered the remaining five first-place votes. The Tigers were among four Southeastern Conference teams in the final Super 16.

Oklahoma and Ohio State were ranked third and fourth, respectively, leading the Big 12 and Big Ten, which each featured three teams in the final poll.

The Grantland Rice Trophy has been presented to the national champion by the FWAA since 1954. For the past two seasons, the winner has be decided by a season-long poll voted on by 16 regionally-balanced writers. Oklahoma was the FWAA's preseason favorite, while USC was ranked No. 9.

• Click here to see how and why each pollster voted

The complete final poll is as follows:

FINAL 2003 FWAA GRANTLAND RICE SUPER 16 POLL (JAN. 5, 2004)
Rk. School [1st Place] W-L Pts. LW Bowl Result
1. USC [11] 12-1 251 1 def. Michigan, 28-14
2. LSU [5] 13-1 245 2 def. Oklahoma, 21-14
3. Oklahoma 12-2 216 3 lost to LSU, 21-14
4. Ohio State 11-2 204 6 def. Kansas St., 35-28
5. Miami 11-2 181 10 def. Florida St., 16-14
6. Georgia 11-3 165 11 def. Purdue, 34-27 (OT)
7. Michigan 10-3 158 4 lost to USC, 28-14
8. Iowa 10-3 122 14 def. Florida, 37-17
9. Washington State 10-3 121 - def. Texas, 28-20
10. Florida State 10-3 103 8 lost to Miami, 16-14
11. Miami (Ohio) 13-1 71 t12 def. Louisville, 49-28
12. Kansas State 11-4 68 9 lost to Ohio St. 35-28
13. Texas 10-3 67 5 lost to Washington St., 28-20
14. Ole Miss 10-3 60 16 def. Oklahoma St., 31-28
15. Boise State 13-1 41 - def. TCU, 34-31
16. Tennessee 10-3 32 7 lost to Clemson, 27-14
First-place votes: USC 11 (Blaudschun, Condotta, Dodd, Fiutak, Henson, Higgins, Mandel, Moran, Richards, Robbins, Sittler); LSU 5 (Burchette, Coyle, Griffith, Shain, Thompson).
Also receiving votes: Purdue 28, Maryland 15, Utah 12, Clemson 5, Northern Illinois 4, Bowling Green 3, Nebraska 3, Arkansas 1.
By conference: SEC 4; Big Ten 3, Big 12 3, Pac-10 2; Big East 1, ACC 1, MAC 1.
Dropped out: Purdue (t12), Florida (15).

For further information contact Steve Richardson, Executive Director of the FWAA (972-713-6198, tiger@sportswriters.net) or Ted Gangi, FWAA webmaster (214-823-7992, webmaster@sportswriters.net).
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