Keary Colbert removed the rose from between his clenched teeth and paused a beat before answering the question.
“We are the national champions,” the Southern Cal senior wide receiver said. “I don’t know what else to say about that. We were No. 1 before the game and we won, so we’re still No. 1. Nobody can take that away from us.”
The college football world may award dual title belts this year in the manner of warring boxing associations, but Colbert and the Trojans always will see the championship finery as the property of the USC athletic department.
USC dominated Michigan in a 28-14 victory before 93,849 at the Rose Bowl on Thursday, holding the Wolverines to a season-low point total, containing stellar running back Chris Perry and keeping quarterback John Navarre under pressure–and frequently on his backside–from the very first series.
Trojans sophomore quarterback Matt Leinart was named the game’s most valuable player as he passed for 327 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught one pass in the end zone on a trick play pulled off with a con man’s aplomb.
Colbert, whose stylish play was eclipsed often this season by fellow receiver and All-American Mike Williams, collected six passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns and established a school record for career receptions with 207.
Another frequently overlooked entity, the Trojans’ defense, shattered Michigan’s confidence and rhythm early by swarming for nine sacks, three by junior end Kenechi Udeze.
“[Coach] Pete Carroll is a genius–he brought the heat all day,” said defensive tackle Shaun Cody, who made a highlight-reel memory of his own when he blocked Michigan’s first-half field-goal attempt.
“I don’t think they were ready for our defensive speed. We kind of overwhelmed them.”
An obviously emotional Navarre spoke with red and watering eyes after the game.
“They brought a little more pressure than we expected, but you have to be able to handle it,” said the fifth-year senior from the Milwaukee suburb of Cudahy. “We should have been able to adjust.
“We had to play our best game, and we didn’t. It just didn’t work out the way we planned. . . . You never want to lose your last game, but it was a 10-win season, we’re Big Ten champions and I’m proud of this team.”
The game’s early pace swung between Michigan’s methodical marches downfield and the speed chess of USC. A blur of moving pieces, a quick score and the Trojans would invert the egg timer one more time. The Wolverines moved the ball for long stretches but mostly wound up nowhere. Michigan opened the game with a patchy six-minute possession that included four first-down conversions, two sacks of Navarre and the thwarted field-goal attempt. USC followed that with a four-play, 37-second scoring drive that ended with a 25-yard touchdown reception by Colbert.
With the Wolverines on their own 5-yard line late in the first half, a Navarre pass took a freak bounce off the back of receiver Braylon Edwards’ left heel and ricocheted into the arms of linebacker Lofa Tatupu.
The son of former Trojans fullback and 14-year pro Mosi Tatupu returned the ball 26 yards to set up USC’s second touchdown, a 6-yard catch by stellar freshman running back LenDale White. Tatupu also contributed seven tackles and assisted on five others.
The Trojans put up a third unanswered touchdown a little more than a minute into the third quarter as Colbert collected a pass with Michigan cornerback Jeremy LeSueur hanging off his left arm. LeSueur was called for pass interference.
The Wolverines finally broke through with 5:49 left in the third quarter when tight end Tim Massaquoi gathered in Navarre’s 5-yard touchdown pass–the 72nd of Navarre’s career, breaking Elvis Grbac’s school record.
Perry punched his way into the end zone with a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter and finished with 85 net yards rushing on 23 carries.
Michigan had a late chance to narrow the score when Leinart fumbled on the Wolverines’ 10-yard line late in the fourth quarter. But the relentless Trojans ended Navarre’s evening and college career with two sacks.
