Bleacher Report - Articles by Josiah Rice

A Trojan, a Beaver, and the BC$: Sorting Out the USC-Oregon State Mess

Josiah Rice — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:59:08 -0500

"An Oregon State victory over Oregon will end the Trojans' National Championship hopes," writes Joseph Morgan in his latest article, "Joseph Morgan's College Football Top 25".

Not quite, Joseph.

Beg to differ, but strangely enough, an Oregon State victory over Oregon, thus ensuring the Beavers the Pac-10 Title, actually helps the Trojans.

If OSU loses, the Rose Bowl will automatically take USC as the Pac-10 champions. But USC has made it quite clear they don't want to return to the Rose Bowl for the third season in a row. Trojan DE Kyle Moore has even gone so far as to say so publicly. Obviously, that would cut off their already very slim BCS Championship hopes.

If OSU wins, as Pac-10 champions, they'll go to the Rose Bowl. However, the Trojans will still make a BCS bowl. They're too high in the BCS standings (and too much of a draw as far as TV ratings go) for them to be left out.

So, if the Beavers can manage to win the Civil War without star tailback Jacquizz Rodgers or starting QB Lyle Moevao...SC will likely end up in the Fiesta Bowl, and maybe, just maybe, even the Title Game. Stranger things have happened.

"Hold on," you say. "You're not claiming...No! The BCS wouldn't take the Trojans just 'cause they'll bring in more money, would they?!?"

Hahahahaaaa...saddle up, sucker.

Welcome to the BC$. It's not about football. It's about money.

No, I didn't and don't expect Mr. Morgan to understand every possible BCS scenario. Heck, it's commonly known that even the BCS "officials" and "experts" can't fathom the depths of complex absurdity to which they and their system can lead. But I thought I'd just clear this little area up.

Final Thought: Never underestimate the BC$'s ability to screw it up. If there's one thing we can trust them to do...

Oregon State Offense: Arizona Recap, Oregon Preview

Josiah Rice — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:36:57 -0500

(If you're wondering, the above picture is a young man saving himself from a possible tar-and-feathering upon his return to Corvallis. The photo's more commonly referred to as "Kahut Redeemed.")

QB: Start Sean Canfield in the Civil War.

As much as we all love Moevao's "moxie," there's no way Lyle would've hit Sammie on that 47-yard deep ball. Equally important: If Arizona knew we couldn't throw that far, Stroughter and Francis wouldn't have been as open as they were over the middle on our last two drives. Pretty sure we all know what the Ducks' weakness is: pass D—last in the Pac, 105th in the nation.

RB: Jacquizz Rodgers won't play.

Take that for granted. It's no insult to Quizz; if anyone's tough, it's him. But a second-degree AC sprain is serious stuff. Props to both Ryan McCants and Jeremy Francis for stepping it up. See McCants dragging 'Cats like he was the Steven Jackson II he was heralded to be? Dang. And Francis' lateral to James to get out o' bounds probably saved us 10 valuable seconds.

WR/TE: Spread the wealth, Sean.

This is the deepest, most dangerous group OSU's had since 2000, (Robert Prescott, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and of course, Ocho Cinco). Stroughter = clutch. James Rodgers' fly sweep = 10 carries, 102 yards, one TD. Stroughter, Shane Morales, Howard Croom, etc., sprung James with key seal blocks all night.

OL: Can't ask for more. Besides one more time, this Saturday.

With the exception of a few times when Arizona sent everybody, (including both Stoops brothers, but nobody noticed, cuz they're usually on the field anyway...) they gave Canfield plenty o' time for his looong windup...

Random Thought: If I hear one more joke about the Civil War "not being very Civil"...

And finally, Poll Question: Will Quizz play? Your opinions, please, in the comment box.