By MICHAEL LEV / THE REGISTER
USC's resounding 50-0 victory over rival UCLA in the season finale Saturday night didn't clinch a berth in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
But the 2011 Trojans secured a spot in Lane Kiffin's heart.
The second-year coach was unusually emotional while discussing his team after the triumph that capped a 10-2 season and lifted USC into a tie for ninth in the latest AP Top 25.
The following afternoon, his feelings for a squad that overcame NCAA sanctions hadn't changed. Kiffin was especially appreciative of the way the Trojans finished off the Bruins.
"It's the last memory our fans will have of this unique group of guys," Kiffin said Sunday, "guys who had a chance to leave the program, like others did, but they stayed.
"To lead the team through these dark clouds and come out of it like this, put us back in the top 10, it's very special."
Skeptics wondered where USC would find motivation without a bowl berth in play for the second consecutive season. Junior quarterback Matt Barkley said there was plenty at stake.
"Oh, man, we were playing for a lot," Barkley said. "Playing for each other. ... Playing for this university. Playing for the history of this program. Playing for personal pride."
The Trojans also badly wanted to beat the Bruins, especially after word got around Heritage Hall that UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said his program had "closed the gap" on USC.
"They were really insulted by that," Kiffin said. "I didn't care, but they took it very personal. It was almost like they were playing against him."
NOTES
Kiffin said several players will require offseason surgeries, including star receiver Robert Woods (ankle) and promising tailback Amir Carlisle (knee). ...
Kiffin said senior cornerback T.J. Bryant, who did not play this season, is on track to graduate and transfer. ... Kiffin confirmed, as first reported by the Register, that tailback Dillon Baxter is no longer with the program. ... Kiffin said he hoped to bring in 5-6 midyear enrollees come January.
Contact the writer: mlev@ocregister.com
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