When Patrick Turner and Rey Maualuga directed the Spirit of Troy (USC Marching Band) after a 38-3 blowout of Notre Dame, fellow USC seniors responded with their own display of emotion.
Although the Coliseum seemed joyful at the days events -- Oregon State had lost, and USC beat their longtime rival -- the excitement was tempered.
Yet again, the Trojans go to Pasadena for a Rose Bowl.
This is unlike the 2005 Rose Bowl, where the National Championship game took place, and USC lost a heartbreaker to a competitive Texas team.
This looks to be another version of more recent Rose Bowls: The Trojans' 32-18 demolition of the Michigan Wolverines, or their 49-17 blowout of the Illini.
"What? How can this be?" you may ask, "Penn State is only ranked one below USC in the BCS...this looks to be a fair matchup and a hell of a bowl game."
My friend, you are dead wrong. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal sports section says it best: USC: Best Team, Not Most Deserving (and yes, I am citing the Wall Street Journal, for all you commenters that like to take cheap shots).
By the end of the year, I promise that the media will be asking "Should USC have been in the BCS Championship after all?" It happened last year, and the year before. The question will arise again.
Defense wins championships.
We hear this again and again in football stories of old, and it seems to be pretty true. The most prolific offense in NFL history, the 2008 Patriots, did not win a Super Bowl. It was the fierce defense of the New York Giants that took home the Lombardi trophy.
Following this logic, USC would be well fit for the championship. They do have the #1 defense in the country, after all. For those who didn't know, the Trojans didn't allow the Fighting Irish a single first down until the last seconds of the third quarter.
Even though the Irish aren't up to normal standards, they're not that bad. USC deserves all the credit for their fine defensive work this season.
The USC Trojans have a championship caliber defense, the likes of which will rarely be seen in the future. 10 out of 11 starters are seniors, and the experience shows.
Yet the NCAA's best defense won't be in the championship that could immortalize them in history. They will be in the Rose Bowl, facing off against an overrated Penn State team.
Joe Paterno is an amazing fellow, and I have nothing against him. But the Big Ten is even worse than the Pac-10. USC thumped Ohio State, who finished the season 10-2, by 32 points.
When USC beat Illinois, it was a #8 vs #15 matchup. Not the closest, but the difference in quality surely showed.
When #2 USC somehow gave up a BCS spot to LSU, and played #3 Michigan instead, it was bound to be a great matchup...but expectations were far too great. USC again was undermatched.
Every year, the question is asked. This year, it is bound to be asked again.
10 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
JIM MURRAY 7 months ago
USC is not playing for the National CHAMPIONSHIP because it could not beat Oregan State --Oh which by the way lost to Penn State by 40 points -- mmmmmmmmmmmm-- Usc might not get what they wish for !!!!!!!!!!!
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Mitchell Golden 7 months ago
Yet Florida couldn't beat Ole Miss, and Penn State couldn't beat Iowa...those teams never even saw the top 25,,,Oregon State made it all the way up to 17. USC played an awful game, and yet they still almost beat OSU. It is scary when they play at their best, and they have yet to disappoint against a top 25 opponent that doesn't have a RB named Jacquizz.
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JIMPSU 7 months ago
USC is without a doubt the most arrogant 1 loss team in America. They make SEC fans seem sane.
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Mitchell Golden 7 months ago
Arrogant? No. Bitter? Yes. Imagine going to Rose Bowl year after year and decimating your opponent, and yet people (and pollsters) still don't understand that USC is more than just a Rose-Bowl-worthy team. Even with a number one defense, the coaches and computers don't like USC because they are held to higher expectations every year.
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JIMPSU 7 months ago
Thats because the Big 10 sent its conference champ to the MNC the past few years. This year its 1 vs. 1. mano y mano. Not a #2 mich. or #3 Ill.
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Mitchell Golden 7 months ago
And look what happened to its conference champ in the BCS championship games....they got wrecked
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JIMPSU 7 months ago
At least they got there, and didn't lose to STANFORD!
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Mitchell Golden 7 months ago
Yet Florida, considered a BCS contender, lost to Ole Miss this year...one loss should not define a team. It is football, a game meant to have some level of parody. All the Ohio State proved in the last two years is that the Big Ten is overhyped because of their historical value, and that USC is held to a tougher standard than most because everyone hates a team that wins consistently. Look at their one loss this year -- it was a close loss to a team that ended up reaching no.17 overall, and still they have no chance in hell at making the championship.
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JIMPSU 6 months ago
The Big 10 has 4 teams in the Top 25 and 2 going to BCS games. Surely you aren't suggesting that the PAC 10 is tougher than the Big 10. What makes you think your 1 loss team is any greater than those in the SEC, Big 12 or the Big 10. History is just that, history. The Big 10 overhyped??? What planet have you been on recently. Our entire conference has been unfairly maligned because of OSU's failure in the MNC. If any team is held to a higher standard it is anyone from the Big 10. Did you know that we are 3-3 vs. the SEC the past 3 years. No. Because the folks at ESPN don't want you to know that. It doesn't fit the story they are selling now that they signed a gazillion dollar contract with the SEC.
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Mitchell Golden 6 months ago
Yet OSU also lost 35-3 against the Trojans this year, and the Big Ten has not been strong overall. Penn State did not play a tough schedule, and almost lost to that same OSU that was obliterated by the Trojans.
Either way, it's just more fuel for the argument that using conference strength to measure a team is inaccurate and inefficient.
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