Bleacher Report - Articles by Greg Huntoon

Jim Harbaugh Incites Rivalry, Pete Carroll Finds New Enemy

Greg Huntoon — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:24:33 -0500

If you grew up in Ohio, chances are you still reserve a good deal of hatred for Bo Schembechler; it's Woody Hayes if the tables are turned.

These days, the Red River Rivalry brings the collective Oklahoma and Texas blood to a boil hotter than their chilies, with Bob Stoops and Mack Brown hanging over the pot.

This weekend, Pete Carroll and USC fans found a new Public Enemy No. 1: Jim Harbaugh and his Stanford Cardinal.

USC fans will surely have Harbaugh firmly held in a special cold, dark place in their hearts after making the classless decision to embarrass Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans.

With a victory clearly in hand after a fourth-quarter thumping of USC on both sides of the ball, and on the heels of a pick six, Harbaugh sent his Cardinal offense back to the ball for a two-point conversion with the score 48-21.

We knew why. Pete sure as hell knew why.

The only reason for Harbaugh to go for two points in that situation is to throw up 50 points on USC. To be clear, that was not the sportsman-like thing to do.

It's rubbing USC's worst loss in 43 years (and most ever points surrendered) in their face. There's no other conceivable purpose in calling that play.

But it also might be the smartest thing that Harbaugh has ever done.

Harbaugh has never been accused of being brilliant. He was a great high school and college quarterback and was fairly successful in the NFL.

He's a great motivator, a good football mind, and right now he's making the sort of decisions that impress the check-writing alums and inspire new recruits to choose Stanford over other competing powerhouses.

He surely guarantees himself a better recruiting class for this year as a result of that play call, whether you like it or not.

But Pete Carroll does not forget these things. He takes losing personally. He takes it to heart. If you've paid any attention over the better part of the last decade, you know that Pete (and every single person on Earth with Cardinal and Gold in their veins) will be gunning for Harbaugh and the Cardinal next fall.

As USC's rivalries with Notre Dame and UCLA continue to be unimpressive (this year in South Bend was actually fairly interesting), the Stanford Cardinal are responsible for the last three losses at the Coliseum (in 2001, 2007 and 2009).

Even with Oregon's drubbing of USC two weeks ago, and Oregon State's recent successes against the Trojans, Harbaugh's call puts them at the top of the USC "Must Kill" list.

Watch Pete's lips move, and you can even listen to what he says, but I guarantee you it took a great amount of personal restraint for Pete to avoid telling Harbaugh where he can shove that two-point conversion as they shook hands in the middle of the field.

In the end, the two-point conversion didn't matter. In fact, the final score would've been one point worse had they kicked the PAT.

And Harbaugh wasn't running the score up on the Trojans (even the second- and third-string players were running through the Trojan defensive front seven), they scored 55 points by outworking and out-hustling USC to close out the game.

It's the same way Carroll has put up gaudy numbers over the last seven seasons from time to time. Florida consistently puts up north of 50 points, as do Texas, Oklahoma and a slew of other teams with high-powered offenses.

But rarely do you see one of the coaches from those storied programs make a call simply to insult and slap the other team.

It's simply a matter of principles, and this weekend proved that Palo Alto is home to a coach without many.

The gauntlet has been set, and Oct. 9, 2010, all eyes will be on the Stanford campus to see what the next installation of the budding (and bubbling) rivalry between Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll will hold.

One way or another, it's sure to be exciting.

Is Jeremy Bates a Trojan Horse for the USC Offense?

Greg Huntoon — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:07:11 -0400

After years of dominating the Pac-10 with devastating offensive attacks, Jeremy Bates looks like the (other) Trojan Horse which, this weekend, allowed the Washington Huskies in to level the first blow in a conference effort to topple the reigning champs.

USC has by no means lost the Pac-10 with their second post-Ohio State "trap game" loss in as many seasons, but they will not head to Pasadena and the Rose Bowl without a serious shakeup of the shoddy play calling they've showed thus far.

What's baffling to the Trojan Nation is that USC's only question mark on the offensive side of the ball to start the season was supposed to be the quarterback position. Every other offensive starter returned, including the nation's strongest offensive line, a ridiculous embarrassment of riches in the Trojan backfield, and a USC receiving corps as capable of any the Trojans have started in years.

And nothing but amazing things were shouted about Bates and his skills with quarterbacks and offenses. We were told that his vanilla play calling from the first two games were a factor of him trying to be conservative for a young freshman QB, but it's beginning to look like that's the only spice he has in his cabinet.

Hell, after yesterday's horrible showing in Seattle, he might've even used up all of the vanilla.

It was a foregone conclusion that the real dilemma of this team would be shoring up the front-seven on the defensive side of the ball that saw so many of last year's great stars move onto Sunday rosters. In all honesty, the Trojan D's front seven might be the team's strength three games into the season.

The offense has been listless behind abysmal play calling and poor planning. Last night, Pete Carroll stood in front of the team and shouldered all of the blame for not improving the team in the week between the Ohio State and Washington games, which was the right thing to do, but he's protecting his offensive (and special teams) staff that was simply outmatched by Nick Holt and the UW defense.

Bates couldn't figure out how to call a single third-down conversion; the Trojans finished 0-10 on the day. They mismanaged an end of the half quick march down the field, and missed an opportunity to kick a field goal to take a 13-10 lead into the lockers. There were too many 3rd-and-long situations, which, in my estimation, means that the coaching staff wasn't making good adjustments and setting the offense up for success.

Most importantly though, with the game on the line, starting at the Husky 44-yard-line, the Trojan offense ran the ball five times in a row, didn't convert on a 3rd-and-long from the Washington seven-yard-line, and settled for a game-losing field goal.

The first two runs, a nice 34-yard scamper by Joe McKnight, which ended with David Ausberry recovering Joe's second fumble of the day, and a great 11-yard rush by Stafon Johnson, got the Trojans down to the 11-yard-line.

But Stafon Johnson was stopped on first down, and Aaron Corp was forced out of the pocket and made a four-yard scramble to set up a 3rd-and-6 from the Husky seven-yard-line.

The Husky defense loaded the box, again, with eight men. And somehow, Bates thought that running the ball out to the short side of the field would be the best bet. This is the play call that made me wonder if Jeremy Bates is the fabled Trojan Horse.

Why not hit Havili out to the flat, or put a touch pass up in the back of the end zone for any of the play making Trojan receivers?

Running Johnson around the end was probably the last call that should have been made, especially considering that Nick Holt has been touting the linebackers as the strength of his rebuilt defense. They, and every other Husky player it seemed, were there to receive Johnson.

Without a single third-down conversion on the day, to run the ball on a must-have 3rd-and-6 is just simply poor play calling. That call ensured the Trojan loss, in my opinion.

Granted, the Trojan players didn't really inspire a whole lot of faith with the way they played on Saturday in Seattle, but the coaching staff is to blame for this loss. Four fumbles, an interception, and eight penalties for a total of 75 yards was a horrendous showing for the touted Trojan offense and for the special teams.

It seemed every single time the Trojans dropped back for a kick, there was another penalty tacked onto the end of the play pushing the Trojans further into their own corner. While Corp looked scared and unsure of himself nearly the entire game, he wasn't helped out with dropped passes, fumbles, and poor starting field position. But something tells me his younger, injured counterpart wouldn't have crumbled under pressure.

With freshman phenom Matt Barkley out, this was Corp's chance to show the world that the coaches had made a mistake. This was his lone opportunity to shine and force a difficult decision once Barkley is game-ready. Instead, Corp drove a nail in his own coffin. He will not start another game while a healthy Barkley is on campus.

Every chance the ABC cameramen had for a close-up, they took, and you could see something different in his eyes than the look you saw in Barkley's a week ago. Corp looked hesitant in his feet, distrusting of his arm, and plain scared in his eyes. Simply, he looked scared as he gathered plays and returned to the huddle.

Without both of the Trojans' emotional leaders (Matt Barkley and All-American safety Taylor Mays), USC needed Corp. They needed a QB yesterday who had the moxie to reassure his teammates that everything was fine, that it was just business as usual for the Trojans who have a depth of talent at every position.

They needed Bates to borrow from Sarkissian's emotional playbook. They needed someone to lead them.

But Corp didn't have that poise. Bates couldn't pave a road to success for Aaron's first start. And the Trojan offense sputtered, fumbled, dropped passes and buckled under pressure to a Husky team that couldn't match up to the Trojans on paper.

No one decided to step into the leadership role, and it cost them the game and most probably a shot at the national championship. Hopefully, this will make it clear that a big shake up is needed, if the Trojans plan to win key road games this year and run the table.

We'll have to see if the Trojans can find the spark on offense and fix all of the fundamentals problems that have plagued them in the first three games of the season. Hopefully they caught the problems early enough in the season, and can shore up the walls to keep the rest of the Pac-10 from bringing down the reign of Troy.

Barkley / McKnight Is a Winning Ticket For USC Trojans In 2009

Greg Huntoon — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 03:37:10 -0400

Joe McKnight has arrived. And standing right beside him is a 19-year-old that became the starting quarterback a little over three weeks ago, Matt Barkley. The two piled all of their teammates, the 5,000 USC fans in attendance, and the rest of the Trojan nation on their shoulders Saturday night for the best fourth quarter game-winning drive since Leinart and Jarret deflated the Irish hopeful in the 2005 South Bend thriller.

But what separates this drive from all others is the fact that it was led by a true freshman in front of the largest crowd to ever fill the storied Horseshoe in Columbus, Ohio. Over 105,000 rabid Buckeye fans turned stunned as on 2nd and 19 and backed up in their own territory, McKnight ran between the Trojan tackles for a 10-yard gain.

Then Barkley hit him on the run to convert the 3rd and 9 play.

The very next play, Barkley put the Trojans on the Buckeye 38 with a perfect pass to tight end Anthony McCoy, who took sandwich hits from two Ohio State DB's and still hung on for a great gain.

The drive chewed up the clock, with McKnight carrying the ball with speed, style, grace, and power. Showing why people have drawn comparisons to Reggie Bush, he dodged, dipped, and juked his way in off-tackle runs. But twice on the final drive, McKnight ran between the tackles heavy over Buckeye backers, dropping his head and leveling huge hits of his own.

And let's not forget that Barkley had two fourth down QB sneaks to keep the drive moving.

The drive was finally capped by a 2-yard touchdown by Stafon Johnson, his second of the game. With only 1:05 left on the clock, the Buckeyes just didn't have enough gas left in the tank to rally a comeback drive, and the game ended as the Trojans' defense forced a turnover on downs with 0:24 left to play.

This game was far from perfect, from any angle, for either team. There were two interceptions, the first coming on Ohio State's first drive of the game, and also a bad snap over first year punter Brian O'Malley for USC that resulted in a safety.

It seemed at times that the Trojans were just camping outside their own goal-line, losing the field position battle miserably. Yet each time the Buckeyes started at midfield, Gallipo, Griffen, Mays, Smith, and Morgan were there to hold Ohio State out of the end zone.

There's a ton to say about a lot of players from the game. McKnight was stellar. Damian Williams continues to shine as the Trojans go-to receiver, and Chris Gallipo played a great game in the center of the USC defense.

And while Joe McKnight would clearly get my vote for the player of the game, there's something quite special that's brewing on this Trojan team in Matt Barkley. He is a rare talent indeed.

As Chris Gallipo said in the post game interviews, "I'm not sure that Carson, Leinart, or Sanchez, that any of them could've done what he did here as a freshman." It looked as if this young phenom was impossible to rattle; even after suffering his own Sam Bradford-esque shoulder compression, he winced, and battled right through it.

USC has a rough road schedule ahead, but if you believe in trial by fire, Matt Barkley just passed his first big test with a win in college football's best out of conference match-up this season.

For Better or Worse: The BCS Era Has Created Greater Conference Unity

Greg Huntoon — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:11:35 -0400

As I was packing my house this week, preparing for a move across town, I came across a stack of sweatshirts in my closet: one for University of Redlands (my alma mater), one for USC, one for UCLA, and one for Stanford.

The later two might seem inexplicable, though on closer examination you'll find two important things: One, I did graduate work at UCLA and probably bought the sweatshirt to bug my dad more than anything, and two, my wife bought me the Stanford sweatshirt because she wanted to bring me back something sporty from a work trip to the Bay Area.

It's probably been worn three or four times, just out of kindness for her gift.

But running across the stack got me thinking: I do root for UCLA and Stanford, as well as the rest of the Pac-10. I support the Pac-10 loyally in all non-conference games and bleed Pac-10 when it comes time for bowl season.

While I might have supported Washington or Washington State in the past for other personal ties (my brother grew up in Seattle and mother is a WSU Cougar alum), I would've endured serious POW torture before I'd ever support UCLA, Stanford, or Cal.

My first memories of college football were of USC rivalry games against UCLA and Notre Dame. They stick out, I'm sure, because of the added weight the games carried with them. Probably too, because as a lil' Trojan fan, I always took a stuffed UCLA bear, tied it to my belt, and dragged it behind me as I walked from the car to the game.

I had buttons saying things like "My two favorite teams are USC and whoever's playing Notre Dame." The rivalry ingrained a deep scorn for Lou Holtz and Touchdown Jesus. The years when Notre Dame and UCLA ruled over the Trojans for long streaks were especially rough.

Yet the BCS has created a new allegiance to all of the teams that fall on your schedule because of the value and importance of the strength of schedule (SOS) in determining the national rankings. A loss to Syracuse from Notre Dame could dial back the Trojans' SOS to the point where they're playing in their conference bowl instead of for the crystal football.

So, I'll don my UCLA sweatshirt to root them on against Tennessee, and I cringed as they struggled through their opener against SDSU.

I have a very difficult time rooting for any Notre Dame team that Rudy Ruettiger isn't on (c'mon, every sports guy cries at the end of that movie when he makes the sack), but somewhere inside there's a very quiet support for them blanking Nevada last weekend.

I'm a dramatic fool, too, so part of this is that I want every single opponent to be undefeated when they play my team. There's nothing quite like seeing a team pulled apart when they thought they were invincible.

It was hard at first, but now it's just part of the system. I think, and would love to know, that Michigan fans root for Ohio State when they play USC. Did Gator fans root against the Huskies as the LSU Tigers held onto a close game in Seattle last weekend? And do injuries to star players like Sam Bradford weaken the entire Big 12?

It seems to me that the most die-hard fans now are the ones that do everything they can to get their team closer to the National Championship, even if that means rooting for their rival.

Are the Buckeyes Ready To Be the Trojans' First Real Test?

Greg Huntoon — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:57:47 -0400

After watching USC summarily dismantle San Jose State this weekend, I’m not sure how much we can glean considering the caliber and quality of the opposition. San Jose State is probably a much better team than Charleston Southern or the University of Louisiana Monroe—schools other perennial powerhouses kicked off the season against.

But really, this was just a nice way to shake off the first game jitters, break in a new freshman quarterback, and see if it was possible to have 432 running backs featured in one game.

The Buckeyes' opponent, Navy, is far better than San Jose State, but they really should not have given fits to OSU. Hopefully, the Buckeyes shake it off and give the Trojans a better fight than what they put up in their opener, and certainly we're hoping for a better game than last year's showing in their visit to the Coliseum.

We did learn quite a few things on Saturday, though, that will prove quite important for the meeting at the Horseshoe against the Buckeyes.

A Leader Has Emerged from the Pack

Joe McKnight, with glue on his hands, is ready to break out this year and finally prove he might be worth all the pre-freshman “here’s the next Reggie Bush” hype. To be clear, he’s not the next Reggie Bush; but boy, did he look pretty on a few of his runs.

It's Not Always the Fastest Guy Who Finishes First

Damian Williams is Mike Williams and Keary Colbert wrapped together. He’s not the fastest receiver around. He’s certainly not the biggest. But Damian Williams is the Trojans' most reliable receiver by far. There isn’t really anyone close. Ausberry is fantastic (I’ve always loved that guy) and McCoy is a stud, but Williams is just special.

Let's Run the Football

Jeremy Bates has no fear in running the football. The fans have been screaming it for years and we finally have a play-caller ready to play smash mouth football. We have 72 blue chip running backs (again, obviously a bit of an exaggeration...a bit) ready to run their fresh legs all over defenses.

We have an offensive line that's experienced, big, and wildly intelligent. This should be the year to run, run, run, and then play action pass all day long. With 342 yards rushing in the opener, it’s pretty safe to say that the new OSU LB corps should be ready for McKnight, Johnson, Bradford, Gable, and Tyler. They’re all coming.

Welcome to the Big Time, Mr. Big Time

As a Trojan fan, it would be great to say that Matt Barkley’s coming out performance showed that this kid has the mettle and intangibles to be USC’s leader for the next three or four years. In reality, it was just a way for him to get his first college football game-speed action out of the way and to do so in winning fashion.

He was good, don’t get me wrong. But his real coming out party will happen in Columbus after his first big win.

Trojan D Reloading? Consider It Reloaded

The Taylor Mays-led USC defense is really, really fast. It seems like everyone on last year’s defense was drafted in the first three rounds, and this year there was wide concern about what would be of the Trojan D.

Taylor Mays and the rest of his returning backfield mates—Kevin Thomas, Will Harris, and Josh Pinkard—did a fine job shutting down the San Jose State receivers and the new linebackers—Chris Gallipo (who led the team with nine tackles), Malcolm Smith, and Michael Morgan—shored up the middle of the field.

The front four weren’t too shabby neither, racking up 3.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.

How Will They Fare?

There’s nothing to suggest that the Trojans will run the table this year, as we’ve predicted in years past. Last year it was all but a given that the ridiculously talented squad would play Florida for the BCS title in early January and we know how that ended.

They are certainly talented and very well could play for the BCS Championship, but there are a lot of games between here and Pasadena.

This week against the Buckeyes, the defense will be tested with a mobile quarterback and a solid offensive line. The Buckeyes always have a solid defense and if they figure out how to get into the backfield and rattle Barkley, the young QB will be forced to show some of that mettle and poise we’ve all heard so much about.

A win in Columbus would give the Trojans a head full of steam to run into a stiff conference schedule and would answer so many “what ifs” and lingering questions about this team rebuilding from a round of key personnel losses. Either way, the Trojans will have their first real test on both sides of the ball.

Reviewing The Express: The Ernie Davis Story

Greg Huntoon — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:31:04 -0400

I can remember the first time I watched many of the movies that I consider my favorites. I stood under the sun for hours for Return of the Jedi as an 8-year-old in a line that stretched around the block.

The smell of cloves and cinnamon are still fresh in my memory from sipping chai in Zanzibar as I watched Malcolm X for the first time halfway around the world.

And while tonight's location and surroundings were much more mundane (alone in my living room sprawled out on my favorite chair) I hope that the emotion and power of Ernie Davis' story sticks with me for the rest of my days.

Perhaps I'm a sucker for the melodramatic. In fact, I know I am. I think I've shed tears each and every time Sean Astin scrambles across the screen and tackles the quarterback at the end of Rudy.

Every time. I tear up when the underdog overcomes the adversity and wins, and when success is found by those deserving.

Something tells me that most people that watch this movie will be touched, inspired and humbled by this movie just as I was.

Because this is not just a story about a kid overcoming great odds to succeed. It's not just a story about racial tensions and how justice prevails. And it's certainly not a story about the happily ever after.

Ernie Davis' story is one that was not well-known to me before this movie came onto the scene. As a lifelong sports fan, it was certainly a name I knew, and I probably could've correctly answered a Trivial Pursuit question about who the first African-American Heisman Trophy winner.

But very clearly, I could not have spoken to the power and the importance he played in the integration of sports, and of our country.

His accomplishments were so great and profound that JFK requested to meet Davis while in New York to receive the Heisman. And when he was honored with his own town holiday, President Kennedy sent the following note for the celebration:

"Seldom has an athlete been more deserving of such a tribute. Your high standards of performance on the field and off the field, reflect the finest qualities of competition, sportsmanship and citizenship.

"The nation has bestowed upon you its highest awards for your athletic achievements. It's a privilege for me to address you tonight as an outstanding American, and as a worthy example of our youth. I salute you."

We all know the stories of Jessie Owens, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali, and Arthur Ashe, and the great barriers that each rose and conquered, not only for their own sport or themselves, but for the greater good for us all. Well, please add Ernie Davis to that list.

This movie was anchored by three solid actors: Rob Brown from Finding Forrester fame, and Charles S. Dutton and Dennis Quaid, neither of whom need any introduction. No one received any Oscar nods for their portrayals, but everyone in the movie gave fine performances. It was a team effort, and a stellar one at that.

I suppose, for me, one of the great marks of a stellar movie is the desire to go right back to the beginning and watch it all over again. I hope you'll excuse me, because the opening credits are rolling...

Trevor Ariza Out, Ron Artest In: Lakers' Offseason Mistakes Beginning Early

Greg Huntoon — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:33:50 -0400

That's right. That's how many years Trevor Ariza has left in Los Angeles: a big fat whopping zero.

Perhaps the Lakers were too busy enjoying the championship to realize that their No. 1 goal this offseason should have been to secure Trevor Ariza for at least the next five years.

Lamar Odom, the Lakers' off again, on again forward, is another important free agent hanging in the balance, but unlike Odom, who suffers from serious bouts of inconsistency and what seems to be almost apathy, Ariza suffers from neither.

In fact, the Lakers could not have made it through each series without Ariza and his stellar contributions on both sides of the ball.

I'll take this a step further and magnify the drama: Trevor Ariza could have been one of the players who helped steady the team as Kobe Bryant heads into the last few years of his career.

Clearly, he is not as talented as Kobe, but he is a solid player in all facets of the game who could be a big role player as the team transitions out of the Kobe years.

Kobe surely has another few stellar years in him, but with four championships, an MVP trophy on the shelf, Olympic golds, and a slew of All-Star honors, Kobe's legacy is so firmly in place that he can walk at any point. He is one of the top 10 or 15 players ever to play the game and a sure Hall of Famer.

I'm not suggesting that Ariza can fill Kobe's shoes, or that he's on the same level, but he certainly proved that he's worth every dollar of the $7-8 million per year he was seeking.

It's unfortunate that the Lakers didn't see it that way, because their offer of $5.6 million a year for three years was bested by only a reported $200,000 per year by the Houston Rockets.

Mitch Kupchak, you made a mistake, my friend. Thank you for the championship this year, but really, there were more to come with Ariza really growing into himself alongside Kobe this season...or not.

As if that didn't hurt enough, the Lakers decided to essentially trade Ariza for Ron Artest, who just reported on ESPN that he had reached an agreement with the Lakers.

I don't even care to get into the numbers or to look at any of the stats.

Ron Artest is a great competitor, a fantastic player who can shoot from the outside, defend just about anyone in the world, and pull balls off the glass underneath.

In a street game, he's your man.

On an NBA court, I'd pick Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, and definitely Trevor Ariza before I'd even consider bringing Artest on the floor.

Sure, this smells a little like Dennis Rodman joining Phil Jackson and MJ in their second run of three championships in the late '90s, but Kobe isn't MJ, Phil isn't the same Phil, and Artest isn't Rodman.

Rodman and MJ had a pretty interesting relationship. There was an obvious level of respect between each other, but Rodman also understood that the Bulls' decisions ran through two people: Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson, and probably in that order.

While that's the same situation in Los Angeles with the defending NBA champs, I just don't see Artest having the same level of respect for Kobe.

For one, Artest is an all-around talent who's able to shoot, rebound, and defend. Rodman was a bully who broke down other teams' offenses. He played mind games and intimidated people. There was a method to his madness.

Secondly, Rodman understood that he was playing opposite the greatest player of all time. There was no questioning it.

Everyone knew it, especially those guys that had the pleasure of playing with Michael 82 nights a year, and then through 16 wins in the postseason.

Artest, on the other hand, comes across as a guy with an enormous chip on his shoulder, and one that he asks for people to knock off. His play is moody like Odom's, but his downside is just so unpredictable.

Lastly, I just can't see Phil having the patience to deal with Artest's drama.

Who knows? Maybe Artest will come in and be transformed by the calming aura of purple and gold. Perhaps he will stay in line behind Kobe and keep his temper in check.

Maybe; I'll give them as much as a maybe.

Either way you slice the cake, I think the Lakers lost out today—and I think they lost out for the next few years.

Trevor Ariza is a class act with a never-give-up attitude on the court. His defensive acumen stole a couple of nail-biter games in the postseason, and something tells me that we're going to see a lot more of that from him in the future.

As a SoCal fan, I just wish we were watching that on the wood floors of the Staples Center.

USA Shocks the World Beating No.1 Ranked Spain in Confed Semis

Greg Huntoon — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:43:01 -0400

In case you haven't heard the news yet, the United States has just stunned the world. The USA Men's Soccer team has just taken down the world's top-ranked team, Spain, 2-0.

USA's youthful, speedy and strong forward Jozy Altidore made a great move at the top of the box off of a pass from Clint Dempsey, turned and put a shot off Keeper Casillas' glove and the left post for the lead in the 27th minute.

The Americans put the game away in the 74th minute on a Clint Dempsey goal served by Benny Feilhaber and Captain Landon Donovan.

Tim Howard was stout in the US goal, staving off repeated attacks on goal from the able Spanish strikers. The shutout of the Spaniards puts a dramatic end to their 34-game winning streak, and sends the United States to the Confederations Cup Final against the winner of Brazil and South Africa.

For all of those who have been pained by the decline of USA soccer in the last couple of years, this certainly serves notice that the Americans are no joke!

USC Wide Receivers - The Never-Ending Depth Chart

Greg Huntoon — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:15:10 -0400

The wide receiver corps at USC is made up of 5 juniors, 4 who have significant experience. Damian Williams has now one year under his belt in the USC system, after transferring from Arkansas where he played his rookie season. Split to the other side is Ronald Johnson who's 4.3 40 speed gives USC a serious deep threat. Watch USC toggle between these two fantastic talents all season long. Having a deep threat is going to attract safety attention covering over the top, giving Williams more space for routes across the middle. And vice versa. When Williams has the hot hand (which seems to be often), the safety is going to have to stay home, which will mean more single coverage on Johnson. After Williams and Johnson, follow the speedy Travon Patterson who will be used on quick passes, end arounds, and sweeps all year long. If he gets into the open field, you can just wave goodbye. Also competing for touches will be David Ausberry and Jordan Campbell, 6'4" 230 and 6'5" 220, respectively. They are monsters who can find the ball and come down with it, and both love to lower their shoulders and level linebackers and defensive backers alike. Look for a steady stream of talent blowing in the saloon doors, but as in years past, Carroll will give a majority of the touches to his two starters, and they will not disappoint.

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USC QB Battle: Who Will Be the First Man Standing?

Greg Huntoon — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:38:52 -0400

Take a long hard look at the guy on the left of this picture: he is Aaron Corp, and he will be the starting quarterback come September 5th. The last four QBs who started the famed Trojan Spring Game have started the first game of the regular season in the fall, and this year will be no different. Carroll named him the starter, and we're going to stick with the numbers. Don't think that means there isn't any competition. From the sounds of it, Matt Barkley is in hot pursuit, and Mitch Mustain has made it clear that he doesn't have an ounce of quit in him. Rremember, Mustain gave 8 quality starts as a freshman for the Darren McFadden led Razorbacks of Arkansas a few years back, and jumped ship to sit in line behind Booty, Sanchez, and now Corp (and it appears Matt Barkley as well). Either way, let's introduce you to this amazing trio of gunslingers that any team in the country would be happy to have running the show (except for Florida, yes, we know).

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An Introduction to USC's Running Back Committee

Greg Huntoon — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:22:34 -0400

Year in and year out people wonder how all of the 5-star recruits deal with the reduced playing time, competition, and shared spotlight they endure to play at USC. There are two parts to the answer: 1) they don't deal with it well, and end up transferring (read; Emmanuel Moody and Vidal Hazelton), and 2) they seem to make each other better and stronger. Let's take a look at all of the players in USC's backfield for the 2009 season.

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Without Worthy Rivals, Is USC Its Own Worst Enemy?

Greg Huntoon — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:50:35 -0400

My parents' first date was at a USC football game against hated rivals Notre Dame in 1972. You might've heard about it. The game, not the date, by the way...

Sophomore Tailback Anthony Davis scored a record six touchdowns and the Trojans beat the Fighting Irish 45-23 at the LA Coliseum.

Two years later, Notre Dame went into the half up 24-0 and apparently there were plenty of people vacating their seats at the intermission. Anthony Davis again hoisted the Trojans onto his back and ran the game into the history books, as the Trojans scored 55 second-half points, giving USC an historic 55-24 win.

Those certainly weren't the last great games between Notre Dame and USC, nor were they the first. But there haven't been any good games between the two for years, except for the 2005 "Bush Push" game in South Bend.

The same holds true for USC's crosstown rivals, which, except for a lone 13-9 win in 2006 that derailed the Trojans from National Championship hopes, the USC/UCLA rivalry has been dull at its brightest moments.

The Trojans are 9-1 against their light blue rivals since 1999, losing just that one time in 2006 in Pasadena. Against the Irish (who of late, have not been so "fighting"), USC has won the last seven games, and 10 of the last 13 dating back to 1996.

So without these two season defining rivalries to bank on each year, who is USC's main rivalry? Let's take a look at those that could lay claim to the title, one by one.

California Bears

A three-OT loss to the Bears in 2003 kept the Trojans out of the BCS title game, and set up the first of a handful of similar controversies. The following year in LA, USC's D needed a goal-line stop on fourth down against Aaron Rodgers and the Cal Bears for a nail-biter of a win.

Every year Coach Tedford and his players bring their best against USC, and they've given the Trojans a bunch of great games.

Oregon State

Last year Freshman RB Jacquizz Rogers (hmmm, maybe there's something to the last name...) handed an early-season loss that USC never recovered from in the polls. OSU dominated the early portion of the game, and while USC made it a close game, they gave up six fourth quarter points sealing their 20-26 fate.

Two years earlier, in their last visit to Reser Stadium, USC came up short with a 31-33 loss to the Beavers when they couldn't convert on a two-point conversion they had to attempt for a tie. USC actually did recover in the polls in 2006, but their loss to unranked UCLA again dropped them from the BCS title game contention.

In 2004, again two years prior, the Trojans battled through fog and a 13-0 early deficit to win 28-20. The Beavers don't ever seem fazed by the pomp and circumstance surrounding the USC Trojans.

Stanford

In the 2004 season that saw the Trojans go undefeated on their way to the BCS title game, where they dismantled the Oklahoma Sooners 55-19, before the Trojans survived the Bears, they nearly were taken down by the Stanford Cardinal.

And then, of course, everyone remembers what some consider the greatest upset in college football in the last 10 years, the Trojans lost their six season-long home winning streak in a horrific loss to Stanford in LA.

Even when Stanford is having a poor season (which seems to be often, of late), they seem to always find a way to play out of their shoes against USC.

USC

I think that you can make a strong case that USC is the team that prevents USC from making it to the BCS title game year in and year out.

While they did reach the big game back-to-back in 2004 and 2005, they have lost games that they shouldn't have in three other seasons that took away their chances for standing up as one of the greatest college football dynasties in history.

In 2003 it was a triple-overtime loss to the Cal Bears. In 2006 it was losses to both Oregon State and UCLA, neither of which should've even been close games. And last year, it was an undersized running back who ran the Trojans out of a much-desired matchup against Florida in the BCS title game.

Wrap-up

I grew up running down the tunnels of the LA Coliseum, and watched so many of the great games, in-person at the Coliseum and at the Rose Bowl, and on TV in October when the USC / ND rivalry took place in South Bend, IN.

I was in the stands when Rodney Peete and Erik Affholter connected for the 33-yard touchdown that upset the Aikman-led Bruins, 17-13. I lived through the 11-straight losses to the Irish from 1983-1993, and the eight-straight defeats at the hands of the UCLA Bruins from 1991-1998.

However, these are just different times. Even during those long strings of losses for the Trojans, there were tons of great games. There were No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups, double-overtime games, etc. Even being dominated for so many years, the Trojans were usually formidable opponents.

Lately, UCLA and Notre Dame feel like automatic wins. There's less hype. Each year the crowds seem less and less amped up to take on their rivals, because the air has been let out of the balloon by consistent and thorough whoopings.

Hopefully Rick Neuheisel will ignite things from his end in Westwood, and with any luck Charlie Weis will get the boot soon, as well. Maybe the Irish will figure out a way to hire in a coach that can restore the program to their previous glory. We can all hope.

Personally, I want to give my kids an honest reason why they should detest both UCLA and Notre Dame. Because right now, they're both behaving like domesticated lapdogs, and we'd all like our two rottweilers back.

Until then, it appears that the Trojans' own worst enemy is probably Oregon State, and themselves as a close second. What do you think?

Why Rey Maualuga Dropping Out Of the First Round Will Mean Great Success

Greg Huntoon — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:04:38 -0400

As the NFL season approaches, college football fans go through the cathartic process of well-wishing players from their favorite universities head off to the league. If you're anything like me, you keep tabs on those players as they grow and change, and hopefully sprout new successes on Sunday.

This past spring, while watching the NFL draft, my heart sank as Rey Maualuga dropped further and further down the draft board. While I was ecstatic for former walk-on and USC legacy LB Clay Matthews III, something just didn't feel right about Clay going before the Trojans resident bone-crusher for the last four years.

Everyone in the nation has watched at least a handful of Saturday night Sportscenter highlight reels of Rey peeling the paint off some unsuspecting quarterback or upstart running back. So, why did this aggressive and passionate LB fall out of the first round?

While I still don't find any solace in the myriad of explanations I've read, Rey falling to the Cincinnati Bengals is about as great a silver-lining to a sad cloud as possible.

Rey will have a shot to compete for playing-time right off the bat. And just as was the case when he arrived in downtown Los Angeles a few years back, his old pal Keith Rivers (who was anointed with the #55 jersey during his time at USC) will be there to pull him along and show him the ropes.

Rivers was another of the Trojans stellar linebacking core to get drafted. And as luck would have it, he ended up in Cincinnati rejoining Maualuga.

Rivers and Maualuga have a wealth of experience playing together. While other new linebackers will take games or seasons to build a rapport with teammates, Maualuga's and Rivers' history will be a strong foundation for the Bengals' young LB corps.

It's going to be fun to watch them lay the hat this year. And now USC fans don't have to change the channel when the Bengals' D comes on the field. We’ve all tuned in to watch Carson Palmer the last few years anyway.

A Look at the Reigning Pac-10 Football Champs, USC

Greg Huntoon — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:25:51 -0400

In a few weeks, as the NBA Finals wrap up, the Southern California sports world will begin to focus back on our boys in blue in Chavez Ravine, and those rally-monkey fueled Angels down the 5 freeway. Baseball dominates the early summer landscape here, just as anywhere else.

But as the days and weeks wind through the blistering heat of another LA summer, we inch closer and closer to the rumble of one of college football's most dominating programs coming out of their famed tunnel in the LA Coliseum.

They'll burst onto the historic field, with the Thundering Herd rabid to their right, and begin another season as the reigning Pac-10 Conference Champs slotted to repeat, again.

This year they'll be coming down the tunnel without eight of their eleven starters on defense, all of whom found their way to NFL rosters and a handful whom figure to find immediate playing time on Sundays this fall.

They'll also be missing their motivational leader and QB Mark Sanchez who opted out of his final year at USC, unlike his previous three predecessors John David Booty, Matt Leinart, and Carson Palmer.

Palmer and Leinart both won the Heisman, and most projections at the end of the 2008 season had Sanchez on the list of potential Heisman candidates. It seems Sanchez was more interested in gracing the pages of GQ and making a run for Tom Brady's title as pro football's leading man.

But let's be clear: there isn't another program in the land that suffers from such a ridiculous embarrassment of riches as the Trojans do, especially in the quarterback position...and at tailback...and at wide receiver, and at...ad naseum.

Leading the race towards the fall's starting QB job is Aaron Corp, "the best runner at the position we've had since [I've] been here," said Head Coach Pete Carroll. While that's not saying a lot, as all of those who came before him have had knee problems of one kind or another, watching him run with the ball will really drive home the point.

I'm sure the rest of the Pac-10 was happy to see the confident and commanding Sanchez defect to Sunday football, but probably just rolled their eyes when they watched tape of Corp.

He throws well, has a great understanding of the offense, and can run, as Carroll said, better than anyone USC has had behind center since perhaps Rodney Peete. He is a joy to watch.

But don't write his name in for the starter in pen...don't forget that the 2007 Gatorade National Player of the Year, Mater Dei's Matt Barkley, is hot on his heels, and aiming for the starting job as well.

And the coaching staff says that Barkley came in and starting competing from day one. Oh yeah, and the 2005-2006 Gatorade National Player of the Year, Mitch Mustain, is in the mix as well.

Whoever wins out and starts against San Jose in September will be flanked by 2008 breakout wide receiver Damian Williams and Ronald Johnson, both fourth-year juniors and stellar talents.

He'll also have the freakishly-sized and gifted David Ausberry at the ready, who at 6'4", 235 lbs. looks like Taylor Mays (but bigger) and has had his best spring in his time at USC. And it doesn't even come close to stopping there.

Senior tight end Anthony McCoy returns, as does Junior Fullback Stanley Havili, who are both big, punishing blockers and pass catchers. With those receiving weapons, USC is sure to have a balanced and varied passing attack to complement their unbelievably talented running back corps.

Every single one of USC's running backs that slashed, struck and ran over defense after defense last fall is back.

Stafon Johnson, Joe McKnight, and C.J. Gable will all compete for carries, and feel the pressure from sophomore Marc Tyler and freshman Curtis McNeal, who had more carries than any other back in the spring.

No one has broken out from the pack yet though, so it may be another year of running back by committee, which worked out just fine last year.

The front seven on the defensive side of the ball were completely decimated, and while the backfield is anchored by three-time All-American safety Taylor Mays, it remains to be seen whether the Trojans D will suffer from the departures.

Carroll is very positive on the linebackers, and has even suggested that Chris Gallipo and Malcolm Smith might be faster than the duo of Cushing and Maualuga, who struck fear into the hearts of every offense facing the Trojans for the last four years.

However it turns out, it's going to be an exciting year for sure. Their first big test comes against QB Terrel Pryor in Week Two, at Ohio State. They follow that up with a game against Sarkissian's University of Washington squad in the Trojan Kryptonite confines of windy Husky Stadium, and road games at Cal, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Arizona State.

The Trojans have plenty of competition in the Pac-10 for the title, and without a solution for the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year (and National Freshman Player of the Year), Oregon State's TB Jacquizz Rogers who ran up and down USC last year in Corvallis, OR, the Trojans might be in the passenger seat halfway into the conference schedule.

But make no mistake, they have the talent, the leadership, and the passion to pummel anyone who gets in their way this year.

Can the Los Angeles Lakers Close it Out on Sunday? Probably Not

Greg Huntoon — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 02:47:22 -0400

Let me start this article out by saying clearly that I have picked the winner in each and every game since the middle of the Lakers vs. Rockets series.

I haven't come close on the margins (thanks to extremely lopsided blowouts, in both directions, I might add), but I have called the winners. If I was a betting man, I'd throw my house, two cars, and kids' college funds on the Lakers in a game following a loss.

They just don't lose back-to-back games.

Tonight was no different. Down twelve at the half, and facing an Orlando team desperate to pull the series even and keep their hopes alive for a realistic shot at the title, I knew the Lakers would hold true to form and follow their close defeat Monday night with an emotional and momentum crushing win.

It's the seventh time this postseason that the Lakers have responded to a loss with a win. And I think that it's going to happen one more time. Something tells me that Superman is going to pile his team on his shoulders come Sunday, and they're going to win another close game in front of their fans to close their home season out.

They'll board a plane, fly to LA, rest up, practice a bit, and then get bounced out of the Finals on Tuesday night at the Staples Center. Read the news boys, Kobe has big games to follow up losses. Especially if he has a poor game in the loss.

So all of you Laker fans: hope for a lackluster performance from your superstar on Sunday evening. It'll make Tuesday that much more eventful. Kobe will bring the house down, and hoist up his fourth gold statue late Tuesday night.

Let me also take a moment here to publicly apologize to Derek Fisher. Fish, you're the man, and I'm sorry that I've spent the last two series posting tweets pleading for more Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar.

With the Rockets, I didn't see how you could keep up with Brooks. With the Nuggets, I was sure we'd get better offense from the other two in your rotation.

As I've been calling for your playing time to be reduced, Phil had your back, and we all are thankful that he didn't listen to all of our bellyaching and armchair play-calling (Maybe there's a reason he has 9.75 rings).

You've been clutch before, and tonight was no exception. Your performance in these Finals has been completely redeeming for you, and I hope that you get to enjoy a little bit of the fruits of your perserverance tonight.

Kudos to you, and to your coaches and team for sticking by you through some frustrations. It was all worthwhile tonight.

USC Finishes Season Leaving Many Questions Unanswered

Greg Huntoon — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:10:16 -0500

Let's not beat around the bush. Here's the big question on everyone's mind after watching the 2009 Rose Bowl: Is USC the best college football team in the country?

After the Pac-10 drove through the 2008-09 Bowl Season undefeated, just how weak are they? In my mind, there are a lot of people chewing on serif and sans serif lettering right now. It just doesn't get any clearer than that record: 5-0.

But, that's not the question I want to tackle here. I'm sure there will be nothing short of a thousand different opinions and arguments made on that topic over the next 10 days (and probably all the way up until the start of next season).

Instead, let's take a look at the other pressing questions facing USC (and college football, in some ways) its staff and its faithful fans at this point.

Is USC the best college football team in the country? Okay, well, sorry, but it had to be the first question. :)
How serious will the "Pete Carroll Entertaining Offer With XXX NFL Team" stories get this season? At some point, everyone chases the money. I'm a huge Pete Carroll fan, but I really think the NFL has nothing for him except for the money. He's shown that he's not all about the financial lure of the NFL, and hopefully he continues to show that another year by staying at USC (having said that, it's not like he doesn't make cayyyash heading up the men of Troy). He has the opportunity to be one of the games' most revered coaches of all time. It would do Mike Garrett well (for his own legacy) to lock Carroll down into a multi-year extension this off-season.
Will Mark Sanchez return for his senior year? Can you imagine how devastating this offense would be with Sanchez back at the helm? An offensive line with a year more experience, a stable of running backs and wide receivers that really picked up speed as the season wore on...it's kinda scary actually. They could be better as a unit than the Leinart / Bush / L. White / Jarret offense, which was so feared.
Equally as important, will Taylor Mays spend his autumn playing on Saturdays or Sundays? A depleted Trojan defense would greatly benefit by the anchoring of Mays in the Trojan secondary. They're losing their entire starting LB corp, and the defense all over will be filled with experience holes. Taylor Mays would have to be the leading Lott trophy candidate, pre-season All-American (again), potential top 10 pick in April 2010, etc. His decision to come back for his senior season might be a bigger deal than Sanchez's potential return.
Which USC backup QB will step up and prove game ready, whether it's as a starter or as a backup to returning senior Mark Sanchez? Mustain led Arkansas to a very respectable 8-4 three years ago, and you have to think he's next to step in and call plays for the Trojans. He was up and down on the depth chart all spring and even to start this last season, but was steadily the first to relieve Sanchez the majority of the season. He's got my vote to be Sanchez's replacement when the time comes. Remember, there's also highly touted Aaron Corp and this year's No. 1 QB recruit, Matt Barkley.
Can the Trojans win the Pac-10 title for an unprecedented eighth straight time? There will be more competition with improving teams in Arizona and Oregon, and you have to hope the same for the Washington schools and UCLA. But is there anyone to seriously contend for the title? The Trojans need to watch out for the Beavers again, and circle that game as one of their toughest challenges for 2009.
With Sarkisian up in Seattle coaching the Washington Huskies, will the Trojans be able to continue offensive progress, or will they suffer in his absence? Sark's departure will be as tough for USC to deal with as Norm Chow's when he left for the Titans. Either way, USC has shown that they can deal with their staff moving up and moving out. It seems that USC is a breeding ground for big coaching gigs (still confused how Chow hasn't been offered a major program yet). Ed Ogeron at Ole Miss, Kiffin with the Raiders and now the Volunteers, Sark with the Raiders and now the UW Huskies, etc.
Forget repeating as Pac-10 Champs, Rose Bowl Champs, or champs of anything; is the young defense of the Trojans going to be ready for Terrelle Pryor's 2009 coming-out party at Ohio State University to start the season? This should be a great concern for Nick Holt and their young defense. T. Pryor will be coming out with a chip on his shoulder, because he only really got the ball in the latter part of the third quarter against USC at the Coliseum this year. He's the kind of quarterback that traditionally gives Pete Carroll fits, and with any luck for USC, the brand new LBs are schooled through and through this spring and summer. He's going to come out and try to bounce USC in both schools' season opener.

What are your thoughts? Have any questions to add to the list? If you enjoyed the article, please jump into the discussion, adding your thoughts and comments.

Does USC Want to Win the Pac-10 Again This Year?

Greg Huntoon — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:27:55 -0500

Are USC fans across the country going to be rooting for Oregon or Oregon State this weekend in the Civil War? You have to ask the question, because it is probably the single biggest thing happening in the Pac-10 on Saturday.

If Oregon State wins, then they clinch the Pac-10 title outright by way of the "haha-we-beat-you-USC" tiebreaker (assuming that USC beats UCLA next weekend in Pasadena), and will smell roses come New Year's Day for the first time in 44 years.

But, should Oregon win, all is still up in the air and Oregon State's, USC's, and even Ohio State's fate gets tossed up in the air.

Now, let's play that first scenario out a little further before judging here.

If Oregon State wins out, they come to the Rose Bowl to face Penn State who has already won the Big 10. I've gotta tell you, this Oregon State team is a completely different team than the one that was pummelled early in the season in Happy Valley.

And I, for one, would really like to see the Beavers get another crack at Penn State. In fact, I think there's a pretty good shot that Oregon State could take them down.

USC will also likely get a BCS at-large bid (or more, depending on the circumstances) which would allow another one of these big shit-talking programs to take a crack at the Trojans, who have just mopped up all non-conference foes in the past seven years, except for Vince Young and the Longhorns in the BCS Title game in 2006.

That would mean USC's opponent could be Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Florida or Alabama (there are a couple of different scenarios as well; I'm just going with the numbers).

Any one of those games sounds just about as exciting as they come.

If the Ducks pull out a victory, no Trojan fan will be upset, because we'll get a chance to increase an already formidable streak of punishing victories against the Big-10, our traditional rival-conference.

But it'll probably be boring. Oh yeah, and OSU will probably get that at-large bid, and get killed by whichever Big-12 or SEC team they get slotted against.

As a USC fan from birth, it pains me to say it, I think I want the bigger game, and will forgo the longest conference title streak in the FBS for the sake of a better game with greater risk and rewards. Again, there will be no sadness either way, but I for one, jump at the chance to play against the other superpowers in college football.

Should Barack Obama Help Install a College Football Playoff System?

Greg Huntoon — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:36:01 -0500

Being that Barack Obama is clearly an avid sports fan, and the most popular human being in the universe this week (whether you like him or not), it's not surprising to hear that he wants to "throw his weight around a little bit" with regards to the installing an eight-team playoff.

He recently said that he would, because he thinks that "it's the right thing to do." Do you?

Regardless of your position, chances are, you will acknowledge the fact that the current system in place is in serious need of modification in order to help satiate the country's need for a decisive national champion each year.

The system that President-Elect Obama advocates for is one that will add three weeks to the season, with four quarterfinal games, two semifinals, and the national championship game, to happen after the rest of the bowl season finishes up in the first week of January.

There has been a bunch of talk about how to achieve this, and put to rest the chatter that starts in early December has the BCS announces its bowl games and contestants, and honestly, doesn't really ever end.

Personally, I don't think that the BCS has gotten the title game participants right since USC and Texas played in the Rose Bowl three years back.

At a time when college football is enjoying widespread success and has been carried by some great superstars like Reggie Bush, Tim Tebow, Darren McFadden, and Adrian Petersen, to name a few, it seems the perfect time to iron out a few of the remaining and glaring flaws.

There are a handful of programs dominating the landscape, but another handful each year drive right through the pack demanding that they be considered as one of the best as well (read: Boise State and the Statue of Liberty against Oklahoma two years ago).

So back to the question at hand: should Barack Obama get involved in the process? Is it his place? Does it matter whether or not it is his place?

Honestly, if William Shatner had some unseen pull, I'd hope and pray that he'd use it. Perhaps the BCS's Board of Directors (or whatever the hell they call themselves...the Old White Men) would listen to a plea from the temptress, Paris Hilton?

Everyone seems to consider Jessica "Chicken of the Sea" Simpson as about as American as you can get...don't you think we could get her to work on them?

Of course, I'm playing. Or am I?

Either way, I think that if Barack Obama can use his pull as president without really requiring much work (because I do not think that it's important enough for him to make it one of even the top 1,000 priorities for his administration), that he most certainly should.

And I'll tell you what, he'll get a few more votes in those red states in 2012 if he could pull off such a miracle as changing the course of the stodgy and unreasonable BCS, giving us a consensus national champion each year thereafter.

The Nation's Top Programs and Their Non-Conference Schedules

Greg Huntoon — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:28:49 -0500

In a follow-up to my recent article claiming USC as the elite of college football, I feel it necessary to draw a comparison between the always tough non-conference contests scheduled by the Trojans with the silly games you consistently find scheduled by the other top programs.

There is nothing wrong with scheduling a Middle Tennessee State or Louisiana State once every couple of years, but when the non-conference schedules are dominated by such wildly lesser programs, something just smells a little funny. Giving those growing or second-tier programs a chance to play with the big boys is a good thing, but it should be something that happens every few years, and is not a part of your yearly routine.

It's a big deal for guys from Idaho to come down and play a game in the Coliseum. I get it. But, it doesn't really say a whole lot about the power of your program when you have a couple of gimme wins from DI-AA (FCS) teams each year.

So, let's take a look at the wide variety of opponents the top six teams in the country have selected since 2002:

Florida
UAB, San Jose State, Florida A&M, Middle Tennessee State, Eastern Michigan, Wyoming, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, UCF, Western Carolina, Western Kentucky, Troy, Florida Atlantic, Hawaii, Miami (FL), Citadel, and Florida State
LSU
Appalachian State, Troy, North Texas, Tulane, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, Middle Tennessee State, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Arizona, Fresno State, Arizona State, Oregon State, Arkansas State, Western Illinois, Citadel, Miami (OH)
Ohio State Buckeyes
Youngstown State, Ohio, USC, Troy, Akron, Washington, Kent State, Northern Illinois, Texas, Cincinnati, Bowling Green, Miami (OH), San Diego State, Marshall, North Carolina State, Washington, Texas Tech, Washington State
Oklahoma Sooners
Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Washington, TCU, North Texas, Miami (FL), Utah State, Tulsa, UAB, Oregon, Middle Tennessee State, Tulsa, UCLA, Bowling Green, Houston, Alabama, Fresno State, UTEP, South Florida
Texas Longhorns
Florida Atlantic, UTEP, Arkansas, Rice, Arkansas State, TCU, UCF, North Texas, Ohio State, Sam Houston State, Louisiana-Lafayette, New Mexico State, Tulane, North Carolina, Houston
USC Trojans
Kansas State, Notre Dame, Auburn, BYU, Hawaii, Virginia Tech, Colorado State, Arkansas, Nebraska, Idaho, Virginia and Ohio State

Now, after looking through these lists, I'm willing to give each team some slack on a couple of the local games, or rivalry games that definitely have their ups-and-downs (a la USC vs. Notre Dame, which many years was always the toughest game on either's schedule). You have to give the teams from your state a chance from time to time...but you also have to give other good competitive teams a crack at you in the regular season as well.

So, Florida, you can be excused your Florida Atlantic and Florida A&M games. LSU, we'll forgive you your smash-up games against Louisiana Tech and Louisiana-Lafayette. And, so on.

Each of these teams has scheduled some good non-conference games, for sure. But year in and year out, how can you measure the strength of your schedule when the majority of your non-conference games are against teams like Sam Houston State, Appalachian State (way before their one-hit wonder against Michigan), Eastern Michigan, Middle Tennessee State, etc.?

Since 2002, USC has scheduled only two significantly lesser programs with Idaho and Colorado State. Everyone else on their list are teams that frequent the top 25, if not the top 10 many years.

We're talking about the Darren Sproles-powered Kansas State, which was ranked No. 6 when the teams met in September (USC's last regular-season non-conference loss, over six years ago), Auburn who was ranked No. 6 in the nation when they met in Alabama, and Virginia Tech in a year that they were ranked as high as No. 10 in the nation.

The Arkansas teams that USC manhandled in 2005 and 2006 by 70-7 and 50-14, respectively, featured Darren McFadden and in 2006 was ranked No. 5 in the nation going into their last two games against No. 9 LSU and No. 4 Florida.

Since far before the Pete Carroll era, USC has always been a team that is willing to play anyone, anywhere. The thought of what a tough non-conference opponent would do to deter their national championship aspirations is never considered.

They also are one of only 5 Football Bowl Subdivision (DI-A) teams that have not ever played against an FCS (DI-AA) team.

Just like any year, USC's toughest competition traditionally comes from the Pac-10. You can look at it the way that the sportswriters tell you: that USC slips up against lesser opponents year after year after year. Or, you could look through a different pair of glasses and see that the entire Pac-10 marks USC on their schedule as their chance to dethrone the champ.

In every game USC plays, their opponents are thinking that they're going to be the one to upset the No. 1 (or at least top 10) Trojans. Sure, this can be said about any opponent playing one of these top programs we're dissecting, but none of these programs have dominated their own conference the way USC has, nor have any powered through quality non-conference opponents the way that USC has dusted off theirs.

So, before you spin out your yarn that USC is just whining about the fact that they get shafted in the polls year in and year out, take a look at the cold hard facts. They have:

played undoubtedly one of the toughest non-conference schedules every year,
thoroughly have dominated those opponents,
ruled their own conference for the last 6 years straight,
a 5-1 BCS Bowl game record in that stretch.

Yes, I'm sure you all know USC is good. But, judging by your quick dismissal, something tells me you're missing the point: This dynasty is far from over.

USC Trojans Are Still the Elite of College Football

Greg Huntoon — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:50:18 -0500

I am beginning to bore reading articles putting down this year’s Trojans team as barely the best team in the weak and lackluster Pac-10 conference, and only marginally still in the hunt for the BCS National Title.

It shouldn’t take you too long to find an article saying the same thing, as all of the writers, from those in the East all the way to locals like Arash Markazi here on the West Coast, are dropping the Trojans like dead weight and non-contenders anymore.

In fact, I’ve now read multiple times that the Trojans have lost the “great” status and are now trying to stay on top of the “good” pile of teams that hover in the mid to back part of the top 10 teams in the country, as if they don't belong.

I am not one of the loyalists that suggests USC should be on top of the one-loss teams. They have earned their way into the No. 6 slot, and while you can make a case for them being ahead of one of the other three 1-loss teams, it's a hard sell to say that they're more deserving than all.

No, this is about respect.

I’m used to listening to the East Coast whiners, those who can’t stay up past mommy’s bedtime to watch the games on the West Coast, talk about how the Trojans are just dominating weaker opponents. I’ve listened to it for years, in fact.

But we're starting to see more and more dissenting articles from the thin stable of West Coast writers who have traditionally stood up to the early-to-bed East Coasters.

What's strange to me though, is that since Pete Carroll’s 6-6 start, the Trojans have absolutely dominated. The only place the Trojans have had any lapses is within their own conference, which until this year has consistently been a strong conference with many teams spending quality time in the Top 25 each year, and almost every year at least a team or two that flirts with the top 10 (besides USC).

And since a loss in September 2002 to the Darren Sproles-powered Kansas State Wildcats, the Trojans have only one loss against non-conference opponents. It was a loss to No. 2 Vince Young and his Texas Longhorns in probably the best game we’ve had in the entire BCS era, Texas 41, USC 38. Besides falling 10 seconds (and a freshman Brian Cushing tackle) short in that game, USC has manhandled everyone that they’ve played outside the Pac.

Would you like to run through the list to see for yourself?

Nov 30, 2002 - USC 44, No. 12 Notre Dame 13
Jan 2, 2003 (Orange Bowl) - USC 38, No. 3 Iowa 17
Aug 30, 2003 - USC 23, No. 6 Auburn 0 (at Auburn)
Sep 6, 2003 - USC 35, BYU 18
Sep 13, 2003 - USC 61, Hawaii 32
Oct 18, 2003 - USC 45, Notre Dame 14 (in South Bend)
Jan 1, 2004 (Rose Bowl) - USC 28, No. 4 Michigan 14
Aug 28, 2004 - USC 24, Virginia Tech 13 (at Virginia Tech)
Sep 11, 2004 - USC 49, Colorado State 0
Sep 18, 2004 - USC 42, BYU 10
Nov 27, 2004 - USC 41, Notre Dame 10
Jan 4, 2005 (BCS Championship Game) - USC 55, No. 3 Oklahoma 19
Sep 3, 2005 - USC 63, Hawaii 17 (in Hawaii)
Sep 17, 2005 - USC 70, Arkansas 17
Oct 15, 2005 - USC 34, No. 9 Notre Dame 31 (in South Bend)
Sep 2, 2006 - USC 50, Arkansas 14
Sep 16, 2006 - USC 28, No. 19 Nebraska 10
Nov 25, 2006 - USC 44, No. 6 Notre Dame 24
Jan 1, 2007 (Rose Bowl) - USC 32, No. 8 Michigan 18
Sep 1, 2007 - USC 38, Idaho 18
Sep 15, 2007 - USC 49, No. 14 Nebraska 31 (at Nebraska)
Oct 20, 2007 - USC 38, Notre Dame 0
Jan 1, 2008 (Rose Bowl) - USC 49, No. 13 Illinois 17
Aug 20, 2008 - USC 52, Virginia 7 (at UVA)
Sep 13, 2008 - USC 35, No. 5 Ohio State 3

To sum this list up, that’s a non-conference record of 25-1 (counting the unlisted loss to Texas in the aforementioned Rose Bowl title game), including 11 games against ranked opponents and nearly half of those games played on neutral or opponents’ fields.

The Trojans outscored their opponents 1,105-408 through this stretch, with an average score of 43-16. Against ranked opponents the tallies are 459-237, with average scores of 38-20.
This is not a list that is collected by merely a “good” team, and it’s important to note, they are still delivering crushing defeats against non-conference opponents.

But a loss to Oregon State, and big losses to Stanford, Oregon State, and UCLA in the last two years as well, have left the rest of the country doubting USC’s dominance. Regardless of what other folks think, the Pac-10 is a very difficult conference to navigate.

This year is definitely a down year, but even still, Oregon State has jumped into the Top 25, due in large part no doubt to diminutive dynamite RB Jacquizz Rogers. Cal and Oregon have flirted in the lower part of the rankings this year as well.

After their blowout loss to Penn State, the Beavers have definitely turned their ship around, but they will probably falter in one of their remaining three games against the conference's only good teams remaining in the conference: Cal, (at) Arizona, and Oregon, leaving the Trojans to yet another Pac 10 Title (should they win out, of course).

If the Trojans end up in the Rose Bowl, they’ll likely play Penn State as an opponent. Nothing that I've seen from this year's Nittany Lions suggests that they'd be able to deal with the strength of USC on both sides of the ball, but especially USC's high-flying, run stuffing, and hard-hitting D.

Perhaps you noticed a trend in the list above; USC has absolutely dominated the Big Ten teams for years, including four of their last five bowl victories: Iowa in the Orange, Michigan in two Roses, and last year’s blowout of Illinois in the Pasadena Classic.

There isn’t a single team in college football over the last seven seasons that has put together such an impressive record.

In this stretch there are three Heisman winners, countless first round draft picks, and a ridiculous trove of personal and team awards. USC has become college football's most consistent program, putting together national contenders every year, with no preseason ranking lower than #3 since 2003, when the Trojans were ranked #8.

Even though USC has lost games to underdog conference opponents in five of the last seven seasons, they have still won the Pac 10 in each year, an unprecedented dynasty. They haven't left the top 10 in years, and only another loss to unranked Stanford, Notre Dame, or UCLA could make that happen.

Given Pete Carroll's undefeated record in November and UCLA's piss-poor year, I think USC will finish out against three teams who don't have the offensive firepower to challenge USC's wild defense nor the defensive wherewithal to slow USC's offensive weapons.

Long story short: Don’t count out USC, and don't ever think that they are anything but the elite of college football.