USC seniors went 'through hell and back' during college career

USC's senior class will play its last game for the Trojans on Wednesday in the Holiday Bowl against Wisconsin. The class has been through almost too much to document. Four coaching changes, NCAA sanctions, no bowl games, scholarship limits and tons of off-the-field drama paints a picture of what this class went through.

"We went through hell and back," said Soma Vainuku, via the Los Angeles Times. "That's how you can explain us seniors."

The 2011 and 2012 classes signed with Lane Kiffin, then were coached by Ed Orgeron, Steve Sarkisian and Clay Helton along the way. It's been too much for some players. Some left for the NFL, some transferred, others quit. However, 12 players made it through. 

"There's been a lot of drama since I've been here," said USC QB Cody Kessler.

Despite the drama, the Trojans senior class went out with a Pac-12 South title and a win over UCLA. Coach Clay Helton says this group is extremely special to him and they should be remembered fondly.

"It's been one of those first-class bunches that over my 21 years you don't come around," Helton said. "What they committed to this team and to this university over a four-to-five-year period is ultra special. It's a group I'll never forget."