Comments Re: USC Trojans

[Orestes]

These guys are the best group in college football when they are focused and ready for a game. There is no doubt in my mind that they would handle any team in college football in a major bowl game. Any.

However, what is wrong with USC? If I were a USC fan I would be frustrated with these horrible losses each season. I wonder why the announcers don't ask the question, "How do these guys lose every year?" "What is wrong with this team that they can lose to Stanford or Oregon State?"

Why is Petie not scrutinized for having the team with the highest ceiling each season, but coming away with only one BCS title and only playing for two while playing in a very average conference?


Anyway, in a bowl game, I would take USC against anyone and would give up 10 points, at least.

[JChipwood]

Me too orestes, 10 points, unless they come out flat but like you said, for big games there is no other team playing that plays at that level. They have the most dynamic offense and best defense in the country. We are going to get slammed by the UF and SEC followers on here but fact is fact and they would hurt UF. Bad part is, we will never know. My question is why is everyone talking up UF when they were beaten by a bad team and USC was beaten by an average or better team. Seems like USC should be the ones saying that UF didn't deserve to be in the NC game.

[Peake]

USC is the best team in the country.

What team doesn't lose a game they shouldn't a year? I am not excusing USC, but they do get everyone's best shot. When you are Oregon St., and you are playing Washington next week----it is just another game in the grind---but if it is USC-it is party time all week. It is amazing how the crowd of say a 3 or 4 win team get's up for USC.

Winning games against the likes of Michigan, OSU, Illinoise, Oklahoma, etc. tends to make you forget about losses to Oregon St. and Stanford.

I don't blame USC for not getting a shot at the title---I blame everyone's love affair with the SEC. The people who distinguish Strength of Schd. think the SEC can do no wrong. How many times did we hear that USC, despite the win over OSU, would not get in because of the conference? Oregon St. nearly wins the conference---and people are still calling them average. I don't think the PAC-10 is the SEC, but they are not the Big 10 either.

Just think---USC is two games and one Vince Young away from winning or playing in 5 of the last 7(AP National Champs in 03) National Championships?

[Orestes]

Sorry, but Ohio State and many others have not lost to 40 point underdogs. In fact, OSU last loss against a non-BCS Bowl team was in 2004, and they were 8-4 that season. They have just struggled in the prime time non-conference games lately, and that will change at some point, as they were good in them before UF.

Also, using the USC and just a couple of games logic, OSU is just two games and Maurice Clarret being a tool from 3 or 4 national titles since 2001.

Plus, we could even factor in the damage MoC and Smith had on OSU's recruiting, which was significant ("O-State might go on probation." "One coach told me that Tressel would be fired." "My parents wouldn't let me visit because of the possible probation."). They have just rebounded lately and are becoming a top 5 recruiter rather than a top 15 recruiter. Buuuuttt... this is a whole other issue....


Oh and with the Vince Young thing, he didn't light up OSU like that... USC could've done a better job. They were weak on defense and he exposed it.

[Peake]

USC losing to a 40 point dog had more to do with people not knowing that Oregon St. wasn't as bad as their loss to PSU endicated. There is no excuse---aside from OSU just had their number that night.

Also, when is the last time you saw USC having to go to the final minutes of the 4th to beat a team like Ohio U? If I am not mistaken---Illinois (3-9) nearly beat OSU in 06'.

I am sorry but I am not buying MoC would have made OSU any better then they were when they won the NC. They won the NC because of defensive talent, little to do with the offense. OSU was ball control offense---USC just puts it all over you. I am not convinced at all that MoC would have automatically made OSU into a USC evey year.


I don't want to argue OSU. This is about USC. One of the moderators on michigan.scout.com was showing some interesting stats concerning USC and their dominance. Over a 3 year period OSU and Michigan had 11 5-star kids on their team combined----USC had 24. Of their 85 scholly players----68 were 4-star or above. Huge difference in recruiting!

Their is a huge talent gap between USC and anyone over the past 8 years---name anyone who can say we had Palmer, Bootey, Linehart, and Sanchez at QB (Cassel never played and either has Mustane). They have what five 5-star runningbacks? They are plucking THE BEST TALENT in the country from everyone---McNight, Fred Davis, Ronald Johnson, etc.

Vince Young was also playing OSU in Columbus (I know the Rose Bowl is practically USC 2nd home). I don't know if USC was "weak", but they weren't prepaired for once.

[fightingtigers45]

Me too orestes, 10 points, unless they come out flat but like you said, for big games there is no other team playing that plays at that level. They have the most dynamic offense and best defense in the country. We are going to get slammed by the UF and SEC followers on here but fact is fact and they would hurt UF. Bad part is, we will never know. My question is why is everyone talking up UF when they were beaten by a bad team and USC was beaten by an average or better team. Seems like USC should be the ones saying that UF didn't deserve to be in the NC game.

I think Ole Miss showed today they werent a bad team. They are better than Oregon State.

[Orestes]

Ole Miss is good but they struggled out of the gate a bit, but yes, they are good.

And no way OSU beats Pac10 Champ WSU, Michigan, or Miami without MoC. No way. The running game did not exist when he was out of the game. Nothing. It's hard to control the ball when you can't run it at all. He dropped 230 on WSU (200 in 2nd half to take the lead and pull away),and ran for 120-140 against UM and scored a TD and set up the other. Against Miami, they sold out to stop him which opened up Krenzel on some QB draws. The 2003 team was basically the 2002 without MoC.


The 2006 game against Illinois was not almost losing. OSU was up 17-0 in the wind and rain on the road, and JT shut it down. He just ran it up the middle on nearly every play in the 2nd half. He is conservative like that...but Illinois never even had the ball while threatening to tie.

And Stanford without their QB in 2007 is like losing to Ohio. Plus, a win is a win is a win. Every team has their problems and USC has a horrible attention span against teams they should destroy.

[Peake]

Like I said, I don't want to do what we (everyone for the most part) do, and make this about OSU. USC is on a different planet then anyone---period.

MoC was one player---USC has that type of player at every single position.

The 2003 team was destroyed by Michigan, despite their late comeback. MoC wouldn't have made up what should have been a 35-0 lead at one point.

It all starts with recruiting---see my example of 5-star comparisons.

I am not excusing USC for losing to anyone, but who would you take on any given day---USC.

If everyone comes out they coluld produce 15 NFL players---that is unreal.

[shakennotstirred]

usc are the men among boys.

[Yossarian]

Orestes, I agree, why isn't Pete criticized for losing games like they do. Tressel would be fired, having USC's talent and losing every year to far inferior teams. To me coaches should be judged on what games they win but also held accountable for losing games they shouldn't or underachieving. USC's losses, to me , tarnish his reputation as a whole. I think Ohio State actually overachieves in some respects because they are unable to recruit the best QB's in the nation, for many reasons, but yet still compete every year with teams who are far better at that critical position.

[Just_A_Fan]

OSU (JT) likes to win games with the D. It's what everyone calls Tresell Ball.....Punt, Punt, Punt. Next thing you know your inside your 10 you punt and give them the ball at the 45.

[Peake]

He is accountable, his team doesn't get a second chance at a National Title like most do because they lose to inferior opponents. If you take Pete away from USC then they are no longer the USC as we know them. The recruiting starts with him.

[mister b]

I have to agree with peake. USC is just on another level from everybody else.

A loss in September should not have kept them out of this year's national championship game. They should have been there. If I were a sports writer, I would vote for them being #1. I don't think Florida or Oklahoma could beat them.

Having said that, I don't like USC or Pete Carroll but I respect what they have done. They could almost be compared to Bud Wilkinson's Oklahoma teams from 50 years ago.

[Just_A_Fan]

Could they possible get a split title if the national title game is really close? How would that work, the AP have them voted as the #1 team?

[Orestes]

Well... as it stands... LSU and either OU or UF are going to have two BCS national titles this decade. USC =1

The AP title they won was after beating Michigan, and UM was good that year, but look at their schedule and results. UM was deadly at home and very "meh" away from home.

Michigan 2003 Home Scores (7-0):
45-7
50-3
38-0
31-17 (opponent scored late against subs)
56-14
31-3
35-21 (OSU who won a BCS Bowl against B12 champs)

Approx. Avg.: 41-9

Michigan Away Scores (3-2):
27-31
27-30
38-35
27-20
41-10

Approx. Avg.: 32-25


They then went to California, to LA, to play USC and lost 28-14 in a very competitive game.

What about that says USC deserved a share of the title? Answer. They were sexy. Beat UM in the Big House that year and ... Ok... give it to them...

Basically, other schools are doing more with less than Pete Carroll. On top of that, OSU is having to sell Columbus, Ohio to recruits. Petie sells LA, weather, Hollywood, beach, and California girls

[Peake]

USC dominated Michigan that game, it wasn't as close as the score endicated.

One of those schools may have 2 BCS National Titles, but USC has been in the top 5 now for 7 straight years---with a BCS Title, AP Title, and another NC appearance.

I have heard that USC is in one of the ugliest locations.

USC IMHO is the best team out there.

[fightingtigers45]

Say all you want about USC being the best team in the country. They may be, but its premature.

If Oklahoma or Florida comes out and spanks one or the other, it will be tough to say USC is the best.

They are a great team, but Im not ready to say they are in "a world of their own" or that they are "men amongst boys"....Come on now...

[Peake]

I will say this, top to bottom they have more talent then anyone---including Florida.

[fightingtigers45]

I agree with that. Completely.

[earp]

I think Utah has blown up the split title scenario for this year!