USC [4] 23, CAL [14] 9: Crap, crap, crap...for the forty-ninth straight season, CAL has found a way not to go to the Rose Bowl, blowing a second half lead and falling before two fourth quarter touchdown passes by John David Booty. This game was, oddly enough, the first time since their last New Year's Day trip to Pasadena that the Bears found themselves one win away from a title, but the rejuvenated Trojans proved to be too much.

USC now finds itself ranked second in what are now called the "human polls" following Michigan's loss, and will probably pass the Wolverines with victories in their last two games with Notre Dame and UCLA. Possibly joining the Trojans en route to Glendale, Arizona is our Songleader of the Week, Lara, a sophomore BizAd major from Newport Beach, CA. It's her first year on the squad, and her happiest memory to date has been "singing the Beach Boys' “California Girls” at Sweet Caroline’s Karaoke Club." Before attending SC, she spent several years with the American Ballet Theatre in New York City, and she "...continue[s] to train in Newport Beach when I am not practicing with all the girlies at USC." Like every other member of the squad since the late-70's, she hails from Orange County, wants a career in commercial real estate, has long dreamed of being a songgirl and "being part of the Spirit of Troy," and chose USC because "[T]he reason I was so attracted to this campus was that I was looking for a school which was highly academically ranked, had a recognized dance and spirit squad, a lively social scene, and a strong Greek community. I found all that I was looking for here at USC."