ROSY OUTLOOK FOR TROJANS USC CLINCHES ROSE BOWL BERTH, STILL IS BCS PICTURE USC 23, CAL 9.

Byline: SCOTT WOLF  Staff Writer

Emotions ran high everywhere at the Coliseum, especially after No. 4- ranked USC defeated No. 17-ranked California, 23-9, for the Pacific-10 Conference title.

USC usually plays for much more than that, but offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin admitted he never felt more ``fired up'' in six years than after this victory.

``Me too,'' USC coach Pete Carroll admitted. ``I'm probably the most proud of this victory because of the staying power it demonstrates.''

Carroll referred to the fact USC won its fifth straight Pac-10 title, the first time it's ever happened.

``I've never felt that excited,'' Kiffin added. ``With all the injuries and people leaving early, we were underdogs to Cal before the season, you guys know that. Nobody has ever won five straight before.

``It was the most excited I've been in the press box after a game since I've been here.''

But that was not the only emotion. There was also an extraordinary display on the field after the game, as Cal wide receiver DeSean Jackson and USC cornerback Terrell Thomas started yelling at each other.

Thomas was part of the USC defense that limited Jackson to two catches, a fact that he reminded the talented receiver of after the game.

``There was nothing good being said at all,'' Jackson said. ``He was telling me I only had two catches but he had a linebacker and safety helping him on me. He can't talk. I had two catches when they played zone.''

Jackson waved to taunting USC fans as he went up the tunnel to prove he was not deterred in his feelings. He then went to USC linebacker Brian Cushing in the tunnel and said, ``Tell (Thomas) to shut up.''

Thomas offered a different view.

``He was talking the whole game and I didn't say a word the whole game,'' Thomas said. ``I voiced my opinion at the end of the game because he was talking every play. Plain and simple, he had two catches. All week, he's been talking.''

Thomas added that if USC advanced to the BCS title game, he did not think Cal deserved to replace the Trojans in the Rose Bowl.

``Cal would be lucky to go to the Rose Bowl,'' he said.

It looked like either team might make the Rose Bowl, as the Golden Bears (8-3, 6-2) held a 9-6 lead midway through the third quarter over the struggling Trojans (9-1, 7-1).

But never-used kicker David Buehler made a 49-yard field goal in his first college attempt to give USC momentum and tie the game.

``In practice, I probably kicked one field goal a day,'' Buehler said. ``I didn't have much time to think about this because Pete called my name as I was on the bench. I was confident and it felt good. Kickers have a knack for knowing when they hit it if it's good.''

There was considerable discussion among the coaches before Buehler's kick, because USC faced a fourth-and-15 situation at the Bears' 32-yard line. Carroll said he was persudaded to go for the field goal and Kiffin said it was too far to go for the first down, despite USC's penchant for going for it.

``They were right,'' Carroll said. But the second debate was whether to use Buehler or Mario Danelo. Carroll made that decision.

``Coach made that call,'' Kiffin said.

USC took a 16-9 lead on a 25-yard touchdown pass from John David Booty to Dwayne Jarrett, with the All-American hit so hard by two Cal defenders he lay motionless in the end zone for several seconds.

Then came the play everyone will focus on after the season. In the fourth quarter, USC faced a fourth-and-2 at Cal's 37. After thinking about punting, Carroll decided to go for it.

``I felt good about our chances,'' Carroll said. ``This wasn't the Rose Bowl. It's different. It's not Texas. We were killing these guys.''

Instead of running, USC called a pass. Booty had three options, and he looked to fullback Thomas Williams, who was covered.

He looked at wide receiver Patrick Turner, who was covered. He then looked to Steve Smith, who was wide open.

So open that Booty almost pushed the ball to Smith, who was standing behind the Cal defense.

Smith caught the pass and went 37 yards for a touchdown.

``It totally surprised me he was so open,'' Booty said. ``I did try to just get it to him somehow. I wanted to just get it in there.''

Kiffin said he cheered like never before.

``I knew it was the game,'' he said.

Smith said he acted like he would block and then sprung open.

``It was a simple play and Booty just put it there,'' he said.

The victory caused a longer-than-usual celebration in the locker room. Carroll said he wanted it even though he tries to prevent such parties until the end of the season.

``This one I wanted us to celebrate a little bit farther,'' Carroll said. ``We need to recognize it. It's worth the extra time.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) USC defenders walk away as Cal receiver DeSean Jackson lies on the turf after taking a hard hit during Saturday's game.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

(2) Cal quarterback Nate Longshore (Canyon) scrambles away from USC's Alex Morrow.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer