LOS ANGELES-Another game in the books for the Stanford-USC rivalry. USC prevailed 44-21, but the quick scoring of the first half dissipated into a lifeless lull for the last 30 minutes. So, I thought back to the more exciting games in the series I have attended.

1991 Stanford 24-21 The game took an ugly turn when Traveler, the Trojans’ white horse mascot, hits a Stanford Dolly on his gallop around the Coliseum track. On the field, freshman Steve Stenstrom rallies the Cardinal, and  he passes to Chris Welsh with  1:16 left for the winning score. When future Raider Cole Ford’s 45 yarder at the gun falls short of the cross bar, Stanford has its first win against the Trojans since 1975.

1992 Stanford 23-9 Despite having future NFL players Tony Boselli, Johnny Morton and Rob Johnson (a high school teammate of Stenstrom), USC cannot move the ball. John Lynch’s interception return for a TD is the big play as Bill Walsh gets his first (and only) win against the Trojans. After the game, USC Athletic Director Mike McGee goes looking for a coach that can teach offense.

1994 USC 27-20 Bill Walsh is “nabbed” by USC players after spying on old rival John Robinson’s Friday workout. Something during halftime about a White Ford Bronco and losing your money to lawyers. I didn’t hear it well because Half the stadium was booing and half the stadium was laughing hysterically. An exciting game ends with Stenstrom’s last pass falling incomplete. Stenstrom goes 27-44 with 344 yards. He finishes with a 2-2 record ( and 1,147 career yards)vs. USC.

1995 USC 31-30 Tyrone Willingham’s first team and John Robinson’s best team produce by far the most exciting game of the series. Keyshawn Johnson caps a big comeback from a 16 point deficit by catching a pass from Kyle Wacholtz with 40 seconds left, and he runs over an exuberant USC booster.

1999 Stanford 35-31 An almost exact re-creation of the 1995 game. USC jumps out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter only to watch it disappear against the Rose Bowl Bound Cardinal. Stanford quickly retakes the lead after halftime on a Todd Husak TD pass and an interception return. The back and forth shootout ends with  Mike Van Raaphorst throwing an interception to Stanford’s Tim Smith at the 7 yard line. The Trojans blow a 21 point lead for the second consecutive week.

2000 Stanford 32-30 The game that made Chris Lewis a hero: he throws a fourth down pass with 0:00 left to Jamal McCallum for the dramatic win. I get into a yelling match with a bitchy USC Band trombone player, and after the game USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett goes looking for a coach that can teach defense.

Embele Awipi is a host on KNRY 1240AM. His column appears every Monday. He can be reached at embo1240@yahoo.com

Originally published Monday, October 13, 2003