On Halloween, Trojans' identity is well-masked

FROM EUGENE, ORE. — So you think you gave out the good stuff at your house? You should have seen what was happening at USC's house.

On a chilly, misty Halloween night, Oregon loudly knocked on the gaudy door dressed in green and black and bold.

The Trojans opened up, took one look, and meekly handed them their season.

Trick or beating.

"We just got destroyed," said linebacker Michael Morgan.

Pumpkin rinds on the lawn and egg yolk on the windows.

"I've never been in nothing like this," said safety Taylor Mays.

From holiday loss to Holiday Bowl?

"These guys feel horrible, we all feel terrible," said Coach Pete Carroll.

Around 5 p.m. Saturday, the self-assured Trojans danced into quaint Autzen Stadium with dreams of another Rose Bowl and perhaps even another national championship.

Nearly four ear-splitting hours later, they sprinted out through howling vampires and goblins and other costumed creatures that stormed the field after Oregon's 47-20 victory.

"I never thought this could happen," said quarterback Matt Barkley.

In giving up 391 yards rushing and 613 total yards in the worst loss in Carroll's nine years, the Trojans didn't just get beat.

"We got beat up," Mays said.

In allowing Oregon to average nearly eight yards per play, they did more than just roll over.

"It really wasn't that hard for [Oregon]," Carroll said.

It was the most points that USC has given up in a non-overtime game in 18 years, but it was more deflating than that. It was the most yards USC has given up in 63 years, but it was even more crushing than that.

Like the dude who struts into the office Halloween party in a Frankenstein outfit before someone steals his mask to reveal a rookie from the mail room, the Trojans were exposed.

Pete Carroll coaches world-class defense? Not this year, not after the Trojans have given up an average of 487 yards in their last three games.

"You never expect something like that," Carroll said.

Pete Carroll coaches teams to meet difficult moments? Not this year, not after they have lost twice amid the Pacific Northwest's lousy weather and screaming fans.

"We haven't seen something like this in a long time," said defensive end Wes Horton.

Seven straight Pac-10 championships? Seven straight BCS bowls? Both streaks probably ended on a night that ended in a cacophony of despair.