O’Dowd thrives under pressure at USC

A Parade All-American at Tucson Salpointe Catholic High School, Kristofer O’Dowd had his pick of scholarships to choose from.

The one he accepted provided him with the most challenging individual situation, the most arduous trip up the depth chart, because most of his teammates were as highly touted as him.

At Southern California under coach Pete Carroll, there are no guarantees of playing — not even close. But for players who thrive on competition, that thirst is definitely quenched, and the day-to-day position battles are the fuel that has driven the Trojans to six straight Pac-10 titles and two national championships.

“That’s what’s so great about the program,” said O’Dowd, USC’s starting center. “You have guys behind you who are so good. You always have to be on your toes. That’s the attitude that coach Carroll has created here: Compete, compete, compete. It’s good to have that pressure.”

Eighth-ranked USC hosts Arizona State on Saturday, and many Trojan players feel that the game will not be the most intense football they will take part in this week. That is not disrespect for the Sun Devils but recognition of how dialed up USC’s practices are.

Each week, the most talented roster in the nation takes part in Competition Tuesday, in which all jobs are up for grabs. That leads to Turnover Wednesday. The contact and passion shown in these workouts has become legendary, a must-see football exhibition.

“The practices that we have over there are as tiring as any game day,” said Arizona Cardinals guard Deuce Lutui, a Mesa native who played at USC in 2004-05.

That culture of competition is just one facet of the football monster that Carroll has created since he took over the Trojans in 2001. Peerless recruiting has stacked each position with NFL-potential talent, and Carroll’s persistent, infectious power of positive thinking would make seminar and infomercial star Anthony Robbins blush.

The result is a 73-9 record since the start of the 2002 season, with the losses by a combined 36 points, and none by double digits. That was a kind of success — and a chance to compete at the highest of levels — that O’Dowd ultimately could not pass up after USC offered him a scholarship before his senior season.

“They told me that they understand that I am a good player, and they were there to recruit the best players,” O’Dowd said. “They said I had an opportunity to prove myself on the field as a freshman, and you’ll have to fight for a spot. When you compete against the very best, the best comes out of you.”

O’Dowd immediately thrived on the competition, winning the center job as a freshman last season and starting three games before suffering a knee injury that required surgery. He had the operation in the spring, rehabilitated and regained the first-string duties during training camp.

“When I got here, I saw all these guys I had been watching on TV right in front of my face, and I’m practicing with them,” O’Dowd said. “It was (intimidating) at first, but after awhile, you don’t think of them as superstars or All-Americans. They are like yourself.”

Despite their talent, the Trojans have not been able to avoid hiccups in Pac-10 play that have kept them from playing for the national title. In 2006, it was at UCLA. Last year, Stanford. And USC is trying to climb back to the top of the polls after being upset at Oregon State two weeks ago.

Against the Beavers, O’Dowd said, USC did not play with a fire in its eyes and made enough little mistakes to add up to a substantial screw-up. After a week of practice fixing — and an inspiring Friday night speech by Carroll that invoked great Trojans teams and Heisman winners of years past — Oregon was the next opponent.

“That speech got us out of our world and into an appreciation of the players that came before us and how this program was built,” O’Dowd said. “Every time we step on the field, we are not playing for ourselves, we are playing for every Trojan. That really got us going and helped us realize what we are out there to do.”

Last week, USC blasted Oregon, 44-10.

“It’s a return to how we felt,” Carroll said. “What you saw was nothing new. We’ll find out how we respond for Arizona State, to have the consistency that we demand of these guys. We played well in three games; everything that we were looking for was there. It wasn’t there (at Oregon State).

“We’re just trying to hold on to this high level and keep practicing well and keep the excitement up, so we can do it again this week.”

How long can USC perform at its level?

Consider that the backup to quarterback Mark Sanchez — questionable this week due to a knee sprain — is Mitch Mustain, who was 8-0 as a starter at Arkansas two years ago. O’Dowd could one day be the best center in the nation. The Trojans boast perhaps four future NFL players at running back and wide receiver, and linebackers Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing and safety Taylor Mays are ranked among the top draft prospects at their positions.

When Lutui was at USC, behind him on the depth chart was Chilo Rachal, a second-round draft pick in 2008.

It all adds up to a well of talent that is not likely to dry up soon, at least not while Carroll is around.

“How long?” Lutui said. “Forever strong, baby.”