Customer Reviews

Conquest: Pete Carroll and the Trojans' Climb to the Top of the College Football Mountain

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A "must read" for fans of USC football. The book is an engaging recap of the games from the past few seasons, along with interesting behind-the-scenes information on Pete Carroll and his role in reviving the USC football program. Even a hard-core USC football fan will likely learn something new about the team and its history. For long-time fans like me, who endured mediocre USC teams through the 1990's, it's fun to read this book and relive the excitement of Pete Carroll's Trojans. Check it out.

As an 'SC alum and avid football fan, this was easy reading - brain candy. Not tremendous depth, but the book gave me great insight into how players are recruited and how the coaches approach each game. John McKay's autobiography is much more thorough about the game and leading the team. "Conquest" is a recap of the last several seasons with some behind the scenes stuff thrown in.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Being a life long Trojan fan, this book served justice to not only USC Football but the University itself. From the beginning it had me hooked. I wasn't really willing to read it at first but then my humanities teacher required that we have a Silent Sustained Reading(ssr)book. I forgot to bring a book and it just so happened that I had this book in my backpack. This book includes interviews, quotes and real life stats. My favorite part of the book had to be when USC lost to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl and ever since then Pete Carrol came in and brought change to the program making Trojan football a powerhouse. Unfortunately, it is a little depressing reading the book in 2011 and looking at USC football and the heartbreaking sanctions. The great part about this book is that in the end there are all of the stats and scores of USC's games mentioned in the book. If you are a true USC fan and/or appreciate Trojan football, I recommend that you read this book.

This is more a history of the program than I thought. It's kind of scatter brain but I am too so I follow some of the tangents well. Really motivating and it talks with players and coaches. Great book for any football player.

Anyone who has followed USC football should read this book. I felt that the behind-the-scenes information gave me a glimpse into the development of a college football powerhouse.

David Wharton and Gary Klein know USC and the USC culture (full disclosure: I worked on the Daily Trojan with Wharton but have had virtually no contact with him since I graduated in 1984). "Conquest" will please USC devotees with its summary of the changes from the Trojans' 2002 re-emergence to the 2004 national championship. It contains some insider detail of locker room cheering, reporting on recruiting battles, and even a nice reminder that TV commentator Bob Griese said that Heisman Trophy QB Matt Leinart had "no supporting cast" moments before Leinart and all his teammates crushed Oklahoma in the 2004 National Championship game. I'd venture that even though Griese was a stellar pro football player, he knew a lot less about the Trojans than David Wharton and Gary Klein did. Fortunately, Griese doesn't write books, and equally fortunately, Wharton and Klein do.

When the 2004 season ended, many USC fans were filled with hubris, thinking it was just another step in our march towards replacing Notre Dame as the greatest of all college traditions. Perhaps this march will continue over the next few years, but one nine-yard Vince Evans TD run turned the 2005 team from the best ever to that other list which includes the '79 Trojans, '83 Cornhuskers, '54 Indians. . . Close but no cigar.

SOOOO. . . This book turns into that piece of history to be cherished, and both Gary Klein and David Wharton were with Pete Carroll's juggernaut every step of the way. Upon reflection, this - not the '05 team - is Carroll's best team up to the 2006 season. One is inceasingly thinking we will never see their likes again, not just at Troy but in all college football.

Who is better than the 2004 Trojans? The 1972 Trojans. Maybe the 1995 Nebraska team. Few if any others. This is an inside look at this greatness, and for those who need to research USC and the collegiate game, it is invaluable as a resource.

STEVEN TRAVERS, author of
THE USC TROJANS: COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S ALL-TIME GREATEST DYNASTY
BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN
TROJANS ESSENTIAL: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BE A REAL FAN!
SEPTEMBER 1970: ONE NIGHT, TWO TEAMS, & THE GAME THAT CHANGED A NATION

USCSTEVE1@aol.com