It won’t make anybody forget that eerie list of Abraham Lincoln-John F. Kennedy coincidences, but there are some startling similarities to now and 1979, the previous time USC entered a football season ranked No. 1.
“In 1978, the Trojans won a share of the national title by defeating Michigan in the Rose Bowl,” wrote Chris Dufresne of the Los Angeles Times. “Last season, USC won a share of the national title by defeating Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
“The quarterbacks then and now, (Paul) McDonald and Matt Leinart, are left-handers.
“There was a White in the backfield then, Charles, and a White in the backfield now, LenDale.”
And John Robinson’s secretary was named Carol, and Pete Carroll’s secretary …
Just kidding on that last part.