New 30 For 30 Doc Shows The Best And Worst Of Trojan Football

ESPN was looking for someone to pair executive producer Keyshawn Johnson with to direct Trojan War, the latest installment of ESPN’s Emmy-award winning series 30 for 30. They wanted someone who could tell the story in an interesting way. 

That person was Aaron Rashaan Thomas, a screenwriter, director and producer who attended USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. As a grad student he witnessed one of the most publicized times in college football: the Pete Carroll era and the rebirth of winning football in Troy. 

"When I received the offer, I was excited and I knew that I could do it. I was such a fan of the series that I was excited they were going to continue to do more,” Thomas said. “It’s something I would have watched no matter what. To actually be a part of it is a real blessing.”

Trojan War documents the Trojans 34-game win streak, their two national titles and the chance to win a third. However, the film isn’t all puppy dogs and rainbows. With the good, comes the bad, and the bad resulted in the NCAA launching an investigation. In their findings the NCAA cited USC for lack of institutional control, stripping the program of wins, scholarships and Reggie Bush’s 2005 Heisman Trophy. 

His aim in the film was to take the audience on an engaging journey. The film is chalked full of interviews. Thomas used a blend of subjects from the cinema school, combined with members of the football team, and "controversial figures" to create a unique mix for the film. 

“At the end of the day it was a great era, it was a fun era. It was entertaining and it gives me great memories,” Thomas said. “I just hope the audience can take away even a little bit of what I felt experiencing that era.”