USC-Nebraska

I didn’t have any noteworthy thoughts about the state of the program after the Idaho game, which showed us nothing about the team. After the following two-week wait to finally see the team in real action, I was definitely tense when Saturday arrived. Obviously, I liked what I saw on Saturday night.

Things I love about the USC Trojans right now:

• Offensive play-calling – Steve Sarkisian is showing willingness and an ability to effectively adjust his play-calling mid-game. In the 2007 Rose Bowl, USC abandoned their balanced attack in favor of passing nearly exclusively in the second half (26 of 28 plays at one point; the two runs were quarterback sneaks for first downs) to blow open the game. On Saturday against Nebraska, the Trojans turned to the running game after two stalled drives weighted toward passing and Nebraska took a 10-7 lead. They finished with 313 yards rushing vs. 144 yards passing. Best of all, the feel of the Nebraska game was reminiscent of Norm Chow-called games in 2002-2004. Many opponents during those years were allowed to hang around well into the second quarter, perhaps drawing fans of those teams into a false sense of hope. However, once Chow ran through his script, deciphered the opponent’s defensive scheme, and made his adjustments, the offense became virtually unstoppable. This game felt like that.

• Rushing defense – The defensive script for the Trojans is the same as always: stuff the run and keep everything in front of the secondary. Once the opponent’s attack becomes one-dimensional, the offense as a whole usually suffers. That’s exactly what happened in Lincoln on Saturday night. Yes, Nebraska moved the ball with lots of short passes underneath for 1 ½ quarters, but the USC defense made them earn every yard. More importantly, Sam Keller started the second half with interceptions on Nebraska’s first two drives and was mostly ineffective until the Trojans started playing their reserves.

• New guys stepping up – This is also nothing new, but the depth of talent on this team and the readiness of back-ups to excel in critical roles when needed still amazes me. Freshman David Ausberry has emerged as the Trojans’ most reliable WR. Stanley Havili is back from his medical redshirt year performing exactly as everyone hoped. Sophomore Stafon Johnson, who had all of three carries in 2006, was the offensive player of the game at Nebraska (144 yards on 11 carries). Clay Matthews did a fine job filling in for Brian Cushing. Freshman Kristofer O’Dowd’s performance at center in place of Matt Spanos has been exceptional.

The Trojans’ next 5 games, with the possible exception of Washington in Seattle, look like absolute gimmes, especially considering the atrocious play of Arizona and Notre Dame so far. Unless USC sleepwalks through one of these games (which has been a problem in recent years), it looks like the Trojans now have a five-game season starting at Oregon on October 27, with a bunch of dress-rehearsal scrimmages until then.

The nervous anticipation I was feeling last week has turned into eager excitement for the rest of the season to unfold.

Effin' Hilarious

I missed this while watching the game live, but laughed my ass off when I saw it on YouTube. Keep an eye on Henne as he is rapidly removed from the scrum.



HT: RCollier27 at Conquest Chronicles

Roses!

Forget all the BCS rankings nonsense. You can't control that shit. The Trojans, however, took care of everything in their control and clinched the Pac-10 title. In doing so, they became the first team in the Pac-10 to win five straight conference championships, and I couldn't be happier. Congratulations!

Michigan is still second in the BCS rankings after losing to Ohio State yesterday. Big deal. I don't think it'll stay that way if USC beats Notre Dame and UCLA. Michigan has finished their regular season. USC has two games left and their computer rankings will only improve if they keep winning. Of course, it would definitely help matters if Arkansas and Nebraska win their conference championships. Like I said above, none of that is worth worrying about. It's out of our control. In the meantime, we'll enjoy our record-setting championship and kick some ass in the Rose Bowl if it comes down to that.

One thing I will guarantee is that you won't see Pete Carroll whining to the media and campaigning to the pollsters à la Mack Brown, Tommy Tuberville, or Charlie Weis.

I Miss Norm

Do any other Trojan football fans miss Norm Chow?

I wrote multiple times during the 2005 season that, even though the USC offense continued to put up monster numbers after the departure of Chow as offensive coordinator, it was too early to reach a verdict on whether the Trojan offense would ultimately suffer without Chow.

First, I wrote that with the players returning in 2005 (Bush, Byrd, Jarrett, Leinart, Smith, White, and four past starters on the offensive line), the offense would be extremely prolific no matter who was running the show. My concern was the loss of Chow’s play-calling genius.

Then, I questioned Michael Ventre’s assertion on MSNBC that USC lost nothing offensively when they lost Chow. Finally, I reiterated my feeling that USC was worse off for losing Chow’s play-calling ability and we would have to wait until at least 2006 before passing judgment on the performance of his replacements, Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian. To repeat a quote from a December 2005 Pat Forde article on ESPN.com (insider):

"Norm had an uncanny ability to call plays," Sarkisian said. "We may not have always known what was coming, but it worked. Especially in big games, he was willing to make calls nobody else would make.

"I think we're a little bit more on the structured side. We know what calls are coming. We know by the play sheet what to call, depending on the situation. The quarterback knows what's being called by the specific situation."

That sounds great from the perspective of an opposing defensive coordinator.

Personally, I think with Norm Chow calling the plays, Lendale White does not get stopped on 4th & 2 to turn the ball over to Texas with just over two minutes remaining in the Rose Bowl, and we are defending national champs; the Trojans do not go four games in a row without scoring 30 points or more in 2006; and USC does not settle for four field goals against Washington.

Yes, I miss Norm.

My Thoughts Exactly

by Mr. Two Cents via EDSBS

After winning 34 straight, this is a relatively accurate representation of my, and I assume many other Trojans', gut reaction to losing to Texas in the Rose Bowl. I laughed out loud at this.

Fight On!

My previous post notwithstanding, I’m proud of how the USC players approached the Rose Bowl game and the way they played, especially in the final moments; they truly fought like Trojans! I’m also proud of the Trojans’ reaction to losing the game and their future outlook.

"This is what it's all about, 41-38 in the final game," said Leinart . . . . "You couldn't ask for anything better. This was a great football game. We gave our hearts, they gave their hearts and they came out on top."

"It's been a great run. We've done some special things," Bush said. "I don't think we should be ashamed about anything."


"We played hard," said Trojan senior defensive end Frostee Rucker. "You got to credit Vince Young."

Rucker tried to explain the mistakes, the missed tackles, the failed fourth-and-2 play, the lost opportunities. Rather than continue, he simply said, "The rest is history."


The sometimes combustible White was calm as he recounted the play and the way USC's 34-game winning streak was halted. He seemed at peace with the how the game went down. He knew there was no shame in losing when the other team just rises up and makes a play. "I tried to leave it all out there, man," he said with a smile. "I really did."

"This is really what we wanted," said guard Fred Matua. "We want to be out there and play it to the fullest. We don't play to just stay on top. We play to win, man. We're not about putting the game in our defense's hands. We want to take it from them on our terms. If we go down, we're going down fighting, not just hopin' and wishin'. This is how we play at SC, and any high schooler that wants to play like this, man, come on through. We don't play scared."

Said Pat Ruel, USC's O-line coach, "I'm disgusted because this team has given so much and it came down to this play, but hey, I guess it's time for us to start a new streak. That's all."

With a collective attitude like that, I have no doubt the excellence and dominance of USC football will continue uninterrupted.

Congratulations . . .

to the Texas Longhorns for a great Rose Bowl win and an outstanding season.

Obviously, I'm not completely satisfied with the Trojans' performance. Overall, they played a solid game against the best team they faced this season. Unfortunately, they made several critical mistakes and missed multiple opportunities of the type on which they usually capitalize. In the first half, they missed chances to extend their lead and in the second half, they could have put the game away with a final fourth down conversion.

I can't help myself from mentioning that Texas benefited from some bad calls by the officials. However, by no means did the refs determine the outcome of the game. Texas deserves credit for coming through in the clutch to win a hard fought battle between two elite teams.

This was a very exciting bowl season; indeed, the entire 2005 college football season was one of the most exciting and entertaining seasons I can remember. I can't wait for next year!

The Gods of Football

Nothing would please me more this evening than to see the outcome of the Rose Bowl virtually decided in the first quarter, à la this pious post by Orson at EDSBS, who has clearly seen the light of Trojan football, so that I can enjoy the rest of the game in joyful celebration.

Not Nervous

I'm at a loss. I haven't really felt nervous the past month and today is no different. Last year at this time I could hardly contain my anxiety. This is especially strange when contrasted with how I felt before some of this season's regular season games, especially Oregon, Cal, and especially Notre Dame and fUCLA. Like I said, I can't explain it.

I'm wearing the same shirt I wore last year, just in case.

Bottom Line?

The question is what you like better - the chances of a Pete Carroll defense stopping Vince Young, or the chances of the Texas defense stopping Leinart, Dwayne Jarrett, Steve Smith, LenDale White and, oh, right, the Heisman winner, Reggie Bush.

I'll take Carroll.

So will I.

Don't mess with Texas . . . I mean . . . the Bushes!

One of my 'SC friends sent me this link today. Highly amusing.

USC Sideline Place to Be Seen in L.A.

With all the celebrities crowding the USC sideline these days, it's a wonder there's room for the players and coaches. A sampling of some of the coolest celebrity USC football fans: Henry Winkler (defined cool as "The Fonz"), Andre 3000, Kirsten Dunst, Will Ferrell, Flea, George Lucas, Snoop Dogg, and Wilmer Valderrama ("Fez" in That '70s Show).

Texas has some pretty cool fans of its own, especially alumnus Matthew McConaughey and the peerless Lance Armstrong.

Says Outkast's Andre 3000, "If you talk to anybody, tell them Andre 3000 wants tickets, and I'll pay for them."

Maybe he should talk to George Wendt (Norm!) who apparently has four tickets to the Rose Bowl.

Future Vince Young Quote

Will be overheard in the Texas locker-room during halftime of the 2006 Rose Bowl:

"I can't beat it," Young said. "It's the Reggie show."

[see second section of linked article]

It's in the Bag

I hear the Texas football team arrives in Los Angeles today. They will enjoy a week of festivities leading up to the Rose Bowl game against USC on January 4. Texas definitely deserves to be rewarded for winning the Big 12 championship and finishing the season undefeated and ranked #2, so I hope the Longhorns’ southern California vacation is not ruined by delusional hopes of actually winning the game. The outcome of the Rose Bowl, you see, is preordained. As proof, I offer:

• USC has never lost a bowl game when ranked No. 1.
• USC has never lost to Texas in 4 meetings. The teams’ most recent encounter was nearly 40 years ago in the Trojans’ 1967 national championship campaign.
• USC has never lost in a bowl game against a Big 12 opponent.
• USC has never lost a BCS game, having currently won three in a row.

(Source: USC Rose Bowl press release)

The Weakest Link?

I don't necessarily disagree with Matthew Zemek's analysis of the receiving corps as potentially the Trojans' weakest link in the Rose Bowl, as opposed to the defense or the special teams, but I don't see the receivers as an area of particular concern going into the big game. In fact, I can't think of any aspect of the team that really worries me at this point, which I'd say is quite a luxurious position in which to be. Perhaps that attitude will change over the next two weeks if my anxiety level rises as game-time approaches.

Three Reasons . . .

This seams to be a popular format for analyzing the USC-Texas Rose Bowl match-up:

• Stewart Mandel's three reasons (each) why the 2006 Rose Bowl will and will not be different than the 2005 Orange Bowl blowout.
• Heismanpundit addresses the same question.
• Burnt Orange Nation gives three reasons why USC will win and three reasons why Texas will win.

Rose Bowl Debating

For some fun Rose Bowl debate, check out the Texas blog Burnt Orange Nation. Unsurprisingly, there's a strong pro-Texas bias in the comments, which makes it all the more entertaining. The administrators of the blog have shown admirable balance in their postings, especially since December 4. This, of course, was the day it suddenly became a reality that their beloved Longhorns would actually have to back up Texas fans' smack talk on the field. Don't look for any USC victory predictions here.

ESPN Rose Bowl Poll

ESPN SportsNation's Rose Bowl poll results, with my answers in bold.

Some points of clarification:

Question 2) Who will be the game's biggest star?
Reggie Bush could have a huge game – he has in all of USC's big games this year. However, Bush had a relatively quiet game in the 2005 Orange Bowl. I think Texas will game-plan for Bush, and if the Trojans' versatile and balanced offense takes what the defense gives them, someone else will have a huge game. It could be Dwayne Jarrett; it could be Steve Smith or Dominique Byrd, like last year; it could be LenDale White. Obviously, Matt Leinart will play a huge role in whatever happens.

Question 3) What was USC's best win of the season?
If “best” means best overall performance on offense and defense in a big game, then it was the UCLA game. If “best” means most exciting, historically significant win, then it was the Notre Dame game.

The most noteworthy poll results relate to questions 10 and 11, “Which coach would you want on the recruiting trail?” and “Which coach would you want preparing a team for a national title game?” Pete Carroll holds commanding leads over Mack Brown on those two questions.

Rose Bowl Hype

As a USC fan, it's going to be hard to take the massive Rose Bowl hype that is coming too seriously. I guess I'm jaded from last year, when the latest so-called "Game of the Century" turned into a 55-19 rout. I'm not saying I expect another blowout; on the contrary, I expect Texas to be a very challenging opponent. Hopefully, the players' experience from last year in dealing with the buildup to a game of this magnitude will serve as an advantage in game preparation.