Bleacher Report - Rick Neuheisel

Pete Carroll-Rick Neuheisel Fallout: Quoting Sports Legends To Prove Your Point

Patrick Hamblin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:54:47 -0500

It's a common element of writing a sports article. The writer finds a quote from someone, such as legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, and uses it to prove his or her point.

As if Wooden's definition of competitive greatness applies to the high school basketball coach who does not get his starting center until the end of the football playoffs.

Los Angeles Times college football beat writer Chris Dufresne is just the latest to employ this technique in Monday's sports page.

Before I criticize Dufresne, let me say this. His articles are very thorough, informative, and entertaining. I read every single one of his articles. I do not always agree with him, but he is a tremendous resource of college football news and opinion.

That being said, Dufresne thought it necessary to quote Joe Paterno and John Wooden to prove his point that both UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel and USC coach Pete Carroll were showing poor sportsmanship in their respective decisions in the USC-UCLA football game last Saturday night. (If you have been locked in a closet since before the game, Neuheisel called a timeout after USC took a knee and Carroll responded by calling for a play-action pass resulting in a Trojan touchdown and a 28-7 USC lead in the final minute.)

Dufresne first quoted Paterno. "Success without honor is an unseasoned dish. It will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good."

First, I do not know what this quote has to do with a late touchdown, especially coming from someone who has no problem pouring it on to teams like Coastal Carolina to the tune of 66-10. Second, if Joe Pa really believes this, how about scheduling some real non-conference opponents? I know Akron and Temple have their loyal followers, but come on.

Dufresne then quoted John Wooden. In Los Angeles, of course, you are not allowed to criticize the Wizard of Westwood. Wooden was a great coach whose coaching is only exceeded by his intellect. When he writes, however, that "Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there," he certainly could not have meant it in the context of sticking it to a rival. Why, you ask?

The 1968 college basketball season was known for the Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Elvin Hayes rivalry. In what was billed as the "Game of the Century," Houston ended a UCLA winning streak and Hayes outplayed Alcindor, scoring 39 points to Alcindor's 15. (Alcindor and Wooden both claim this was due to Alcindor having a scratched eyeball. Nevermind Alcindor was 7-of-8 from the foul line.)

When the two teams met in the Final Four, UCLA blew out Houston by a 101-69 score. Obviously, since it was a one-sided game, it made sense to take Alcindor out in the final minutes to protect him from injury before the national championship game. Wooden, however, left Alcindor in the game for 39 minutes, and three other Bruin starters played 35-plus minutes in a game virtually decided by halftime. Was this "character [keeping him] there?"

I am sure Wooden had his logical reasons for his substitution pattern (or lack thereof) in that game. Maybe, just maybe, Neuheisel and Carroll have logical reasons for their strategy and do not deserve to have their character attacked in comparison to two legends of coaching.

Taking the quotes from Paterno and Wooden alone, I would whole-heartedly agree with them. While it might be entertaining to juxtapose these quotes against Neuheisel's "timeout" or Carroll's virtual "throw it deep," this writing technique only denigrates two coaches who are totally committed to their universities and the players on their respective squads.

My random thoughts on the sports world can be followed on Twitter at @plh55.

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Is USC's Pete Carroll a Hypocrite?

Patrick Hamblin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:16:42 -0500

Saturday night's USC-UCLA game went from a rather dull intra-city rivalry to an exciting and controversial finish in a matter of seconds. While everyone knows what happened (Rick Neuheisel timeout, Pete Carroll throw deep, and near riot on the field) the debate rages about the decisions of these two rival coaches.

Mostly this debate has centered on whether USC coach Pete Carroll was trying to "rub it in" on UCLA, or whether Bruin coach Rick Neuheisel was trying to spite the Trojans by taking timeouts in an already-decided game.

The greatest focus of this debate, however, is whether Pete Carroll is being hypocritical for doing what caused him to ask Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh two weeks ago, "What's your deal?"

Any reasonable look at both incidents should cause anyone to acknowledge Carroll's actions were completely different than Harbaugh's.

Let's examine what exactly happened in the Stanford-USC game on Nov. 14. The third quarter ended with the Cardinal holding a seven-point lead at 28-21. Stanford quickly added to this lead early in the fourth quarter with two more touchdowns, giving them a 42-21 lead.

Then controversy arrived. With 6:47 to go, Stanford's Toby Gerhart scored a TD to give them a 48-21 lead. At this point, the Trojans had for all intents and purposes quit playing, and a PAT kick would have given the Cardinal an insurmountable FOUR-touchdown lead.

It was here that Harbaugh decided to go for two, hang half a hundred on the scoreboard, and rub it to the already-defeated Trojans. Considering the way USC was tackling Toby Gerhart, the Trojans couldn't have come back with the help of a miracle.

Fast forward to Saturday night. USC regained possession on the UCLA 44-yard line with 54 seconds to go, and the game most likely decided by the Trojans holding a 14-point lead. Seeing the Bruins were defeated, Pete Carroll ordered his offense to take a knee, thus allowing UCLA and Neuheisel to walk away with a 14-point loss.

All he had to do was walk away, but Neuheisel instead chose to take a timeout, stating later he wanted "to force the Trojans to punt and get the ball back." Had that scenario played out, UCLA would have got the ball back with 35 to 40 seconds on the clock.

What if the punt is returned for a touchdown or is blocked and returned for a touchdown? Then UCLA is only an onside kick and a Hail Mary away from a victory.

Far-fetched? Likely. Impossible? No way.

There is no need to recap the sequence of Saturday night's play-calls, but Pete Carroll's decision reflects an understanding of the game situation, not an intention to "rub it in" on UCLA, though I would admit, it did have that effect.

Pete Carroll is no Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh was being his arrogant self, trying to get another dig on a coach he has consistently been going after. Pete Carroll was just coaching a football game.

You can follow my random thoughts on the sports world on Twitter at @plh55.

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UCLA-USC: Turnovers And Bad Blood Kill Bruins In 28-7 Loss

Derek Hart — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:06:55 -0500

Now the UCLA Bruins know how Arizona State felt on November 21.

Wearing their 1967 throwback jerseys for the second time this month, UCLA's defense played well for most of the night, shutting down the USC Trojans' offense.

However, The Bruin offense was flat-out terrible.

Not only did they not run the ball well, not only was their offensive line beaten by USC's defensive front seven, but the Bruins coughed up a fumble and threw three interceptions, four turnovers in all, in losing to the Trojans 28-7 in the Coliseum before 85,713.

The game was close in the first half as both defenses stepped up. The only UCLA (6-6, 3-6 Pacific-10 Conference) mistake was quarterback Kevin Prince throwing an interception to USC linebacker Malcolm Jones, who returned it 62 yards for the Trojans' first score in the first quarter.

Outside of a fourth quarter touchdown by Chane Moline out of the Wildcat formation with under six minutes left in the game, UCLA's offensive output consisted of seven punts to go along with those three picks and the fumble, committed by Nelson Rosario after a long gain late in the first half.

The Bruins were driving and were getting in a position to score at least a field goal when USC defensive back Will Harris stripped Rosario.

The referee claimed Rosario's knee was down, but awarded the ball to the Trojans after further review when it was showed otherwise.

The fumble killed any momentum coach Rick Neuheisel's crew may have had.

It's safe to say that the Bruin offense failed, much like they did during the month of October when they lost five straight games.

What it came down to was that USC's front seven was better than the UCLA's offensive line.

Everson Griffen and company stuffed the Bruin running attack, and it seemed like they were in the backfield all game, giving Prince and Kevin Craft, who replaced Prince in the third quarter when he sprained his shoulder, little time to throw.

The fact that Craft and Prince were UCLA's leading rushers said a lot about the offense's ineptitude.

Add to that the four Bruin turnovers, which led to 14 Trojan points, and that explains why USC (8-3, 5-3 in the Pac-10) prevailed.

Allen Bradford running for two touchdowns in the second half and getting 62 yards on the night didn't hurt either.

The last minute of the contest had some fireworks.

With the Trojans leading 21-7 and the game essentially over, after Neuheisel called a timeout Matt Barkley, who was 18 out of 26 for 206 yards and a INT by Alterraun Verner, threw a 48 yard TD pass to Damien Williams, setting off a wild celebration and taunting from the USC sideline.

As one could imagine, the UCLA players became angry—in their minds, the Trojans were running up the score and showing extremely poor sportsmanship. Both teams ventured out near midfield, barking at each other and nearly fighting for the third time in four years. Reggie Carter, the Bruins' senior linebacker, knocked down an official trying to get at 'SC's bench.

Like every other Bruin, I was upset about the TD until Fox Sports analyst and UCLA alum James Washington and Neuheisel stated after the game that it was UCLA's job to stop them, and they didn't, which was a good point.

But that did not change the fact that the Trojans were classless jerks by jumping up and down, taunting, and shouting "Scoreboard!" at the Bruins. It led me to wonder whether they were football players or schoolyard bullies.

It was the total lack of sportsmanship and respect by coach Pete Carroll's team that angered me, not the score.

This edition of the crosstown war showed me one important thing: That UCLA, though they did show improvement from last season, is not quite at USC's level. Not yet.

And not after the Men of Troy's 10th win in 11 tries over their crosstown enemies.

That is especially the case with the Bruins' offense. Simply put, Kevin Prince, who completed just 10 of 22 passes with those two picks,, his offensive line, and many of the other players on that side of the ball have some more growing up to do before they can be considered a true threat.

What's next for UCLA?

Since they are bowl eligible with six wins, a post season berth may be forthcoming.

I'll be honest—If the Bruins find themselves not going to a bowl, I wouldn't be devastated.

It would certainly be nice if they were invited to the post season, because it would give the players an opportunity for more practice and another game to play.

But, the way UCLA's offense has performed for much of the year, perhaps it would be best for everyone if they shut it down for 2009 and start preparing for next season, which would help to put this debacle behind them.

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Here's A Thought, Rick Neuheisel: Don't Call a Timeout

Jo-Ryan Salazar — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:42:36 -0500

You know, I have some dubious plays from the players donning Green and White in Calgary, but even more of a head-scratcher is Rick Neuheisel deciding, "Okay, I am going to literally give up seven more points by calling a timeout when the fate of my UCLA Bruins is already sealed down at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Happy Thanksgiving, Pete Carroll."

This has to go down as a brain cramp. Why call a timeout instead of letting Matt Barkley take a knee and make it a 21—7 win?

"I was trying to make them punt, and maybe if they run, we cause a fumble," Neuheisel said. "They have their take on it, but I was trying to get the ball back. People can make their own conclusions. ... I don't blame them for doing it."

Nice try at an excuse, but I won't buy it. It's not going to make a difference whether you call a timeout or not, Neuheisel. And Carroll made you pay for the act of stupidity by letting Matt Barkley hurl an 48—yard insurance touchdown pass to Damien Williams to make it 28—7.

"It is just the heart of a competitor, just battling," Carroll said after game, putting the match in pespective. "We just wanted to win the game and have fun. When the moment was there, it wasn't thinking about what [others] might be thinking. You are either competing, or you're not."

You UCLA fans will say it was unsportsmanlike till the day you lay six feet under the grass. This proud Trojan program has seen it all and heard it all. But come on, Neuheisel, just give up and let the clock run out.

Not only would the score read 21-7, but there would be handshakes and no threats to spoil for a fight before the next kickoff.

"They can't disrespect us like that," Barkley said after the game. By taking a knee, he made it easy for you. Done with, finished, kaput.

But once again, I ask the question, what is the point of calling a timeout when the game's outcome is set in stone?

"I don't forget much," said Neuheisel after the game.

You don't forget much, huh? Well guess what, Rick? The bell's staying in Troy once again. And you might as well erase from your head the fact that you paid the price for delaying the inevitable in the 2009 Battle for the Victory Bell.

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College Football's 11 Best 11s For December: The SEC Rules The ACC

BabyTate — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:44:21 -0500

During the final week of the regular season each season, arch-rivals in the two conferences who define southern sports meet to settle their differences.

The two leagues are the Southeastern Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference, SEC and ACC to friends and foes alike.

Arrogant and powerful, each conference considers itself head and shoulders above any other in the primary college sports, the SEC in football and the ACC in basketball.

All apologies to the other BCS conferences, PAC10, Big10, Big East, and Big 12 but, until you can wrest the National Championship in each sport away from the two conferences it is the reality of the current situation.

Fans recognize Alabama taking on Florida in SEC football, and Duke and UNC battling in ACC basketball, make the sports world come to a stop. However, it is the inter-conference rivalries in football that create the extended family atmosphere.

This situation happens in the states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina when the Gators meet the Seminoles, the Yellow Jackets meet the Bulldogs, and the Tigers take on the Gamecocks.

The basketball season is young so, the jury is still out as to who is the boss of who this year. Not so with football.

Saturday's results proved the SEC is clearly superior to the ACC in football this season.

Ga Tech, pride of the ACC and ranked No. 7 in the BCS poll, was beaten by a middle-of-the-road Georgia, 30-24.

Clemson, who face the Yellow Jackets for the ACC title in Tampa next week and feature possible Heisman Trophy finalist C.J. Spiller, received a beatdown from Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks, 34-17.

Florida State, for years the big gun of the ACC, was mauled by No. 1 ranked Florida 37-10 in a game never as close as the final score indicates.

Bad blood between blood relatives in these three situations.

And there is always next year.

The 11 Best 11s

Ranking This Week Ranking Last Week

1. Texas 1.

2. Alabama 2.

3. Florida 3.

4. Texas Christian 4.

5. Boise State 5.

6. Cincinnati 6.

7. Oregon 9.

8. Ohio State 10.

9. Iowa 11.

10. Penn State N/R (On The Porch)

11. Oregon State N/R (On The Porch)

On The Porch: Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Va. Tech, Nebraska, LSU

Alabama presented a case for becoming No. 1 with an inspired 26-21 comeback victory over arch-enemy Auburn. The Crimson Tide will will meet Florida this Saturday to determine who is the Champion of the SEC.

Tennessee pulled out a 30-24 overtime win at Kentucky while LSU needed an extra period to subdue Arkansas, 33-30. Mississippi State surprised high-riding Ole Miss in Egg Bowl action, 41-27.

While the SEC settled their differences, the PAC-10 provided some of the best action of the weekend.

Southern California and UCLA, two schools who know a thing or two about rivalries, staged a magnificent contest in the Coliseum for nearly 60 minutes.

The final moments created the stir when Bruin head coach Rick Neuheisel called time out, apparently to cramp the Trojan victory celebration. Trojan overseer Pete Carroll did not appreciate the gesture and responded with a "bomb" pass play for a touchdown.

Properly incensed over the matter, the Bruins attempted to start a rumble. Cooler heads prevailed and the Men of Troy went home with a 28-7 win over their crosstown rival.

Houston showed no mercy to their city rival, the Rice Owls. Leading 59-0 at halftime, the Cougars went on to a 73-14 act of destruction.

The Apple Cup was settled early on as the Huskies dominated Washington State 30-0.

In the desert battle between Arizona and Arizona State, the Wildcats scored on a last second field goal to escape the clutches of Dennis Erickson's nasty boys defense.

Stanford put a merciful end to the season of Notre Dame and the much-maligned Charlie Weis. Behind the powerful running of Toby Gerhart, the Cardinal overhauled the tiring Irish in the second half for a 45-38 victory.

Boise State took the pistol offense of Nevada and clobbered the Wolfpack with the handle, 44-33 while TCU destroyed hapless New Mexico, 51-10.

Brigham Young had to work overtime to defeat Utah 26-23 in the Battle of the Beehive State but it was the remarks of the Cougars' star quarterback Max Hall that made the most noise.

"I don’t like Utah. In fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, their fans. I hate everything,” Hall said. “It felt really good to send those guys home.”

“I think the whole university [Utah] and their fans and the organization is classless,” Hall said. “They threw beer on my family and stuff last year and did a whole bunch of nasty things. I don’t respect them and they deserved to lose.”

Max, tell us how you really feel.

In Big 12 action, Texas withstood a furious Texas A&M attack to pull out a win on Thanksgiving evening, 49-39. The Oklahoma Sonners blanked the Oklahoma State Cowboys 27-0 in the Bedlam series.

Kansas fell to Missouri 41-39 in the Border War, Texas Tech defeated Baylor 20-13, and Nebraska punched out Colorado 28-20 despite some good news around the Hawkins family household. Coach Dan will be back for another season as head coach in Boulder.

Around the Big East stories circulated concerning the demise of Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe following another losing season, this one punctuated by a Friday loss to Rutgers by the tune of 34-14.

Illinois bowed to Cincinnati 49-36, Syracuse fell to UConn 56-31, and in the Backyard Brawl Pittsburgh fell on the final play of the game to West Virginia, 19-16.

The ACC-Big East showdown between South Florida and Miami ended with the Hurricanes rolling to a 31-10 victory. In other action, Boston College downed Maryland 19-17, N.C. State handed UNC another defeat 28-27, Wake Forest escaped Duke 45-34, and Virginia Tech destroyed Virginia, 42-13.

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