USC Football 2010: How To Keep Enthusiasm Without the Polls or Postseason

So by now, unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard that USC is not going to be in the polls for a couple of years and we aren't going to be able to play in the postseason. Reggie Bush got caught. Oops.

Now, I have no intention of rehashing all of my arguments for why the punishment was unfair. Instead, I simply want to help you know that there are reasons to stay excited and to follow USC football in the coming years.

First, most of our players are currently held over from the Pete Carroll era, which successfully produced as many, if not more, NFL stars than any era for a college football team in history. The personnel is, at least right now, extremely good. And the program is going to be good because of the personnel.

It is entirely conceivable that USC could win the Pac-10 this year. Or even next year. So the idea that we are banned from all accomplishment is entirely fictitious.

Also those young players are going to head on to fantastic NFL careers, many to be stars, and you don't want to miss their development.

This season will also give you the opportunity to see a younger, revitalized offensive coaching style from Lane Kiffin. Yes, he is a Pete Carroll disciple, but Kiffin will undoubtedly lead the offense in his own way.

Which if you're concerned, will likely look a lot like the old, extremely successful USC way.

The defense is also going to see a revitalization. Under new coordinator Monte Kiffin, who many consider the greatest defensive coach in the history of the game, USC's unique talent pool will be used to a maximum efficiency. These guys could be as good if not better than anything we saw under Pete Carroll.

While that might not matter to casual viewers, it certainly is huge to fans.

There is also the argument that college football has the single most important regular season in all of sports because of a broken postseason system. This year, USC can prove everything we need to in all of the games we play. We are just guaranteed to be a part of the entire rest of the pack who will end the season without a BCS title.

Though frankly, with as bogus as the BCS era has been, that could be a good thing.

Ultimately, life is too short to skip out on enjoying USC football. Come game time, that should be your primary reason to follow along, and game time is now only two days away.

Beat Hawaii!