Is Lou Holtz annoying to anyone else?

Be it "pep talks", "Dr. Lou", or the fact that he once coached at Notre Dame, Lou Holtz annoys me. Being a former coach of the Fighting Irish, the irritation comes natural to anyone supporting the men of Troy, just as I still view Pat Haden’s work with the Notre Dame Broadcasting Company as treason. But ESPN’s initial hiring of Lou Holtz was tolerable, before quickly moving to irritable. Its one thing to be a homer, as I am, but the rationale and analysis should at least be sensible.

It just wasn’t sensible to pick Notre Dame to win damn near every game in the past two seasons, as it wasn’t to select Southern Cal to falter in the majority of theirs. Those opinions are strictly based on love for the Irish and Hate for the Trojans. Those opinions are clouded by rivalry, and it happens. But it’s when idiocy is used to support theories, that high paid network employees are transformed into jackasses.

An example of one of those occurring moments, In an earlier ESPN Rose Bowl preview, Lou Holtz says Penn State can hang with anyone in the country “particularly if you give Joe Paterno time to recover from that hip surgery”, to which Reece Davis made a remark about the 92 year old man suiting up and playing in that game. No disrespect to Joe Pa, but his players have been physically prepped for every game by more youthful assistant coaches. Paterno has been coaching from the box, and I think it makes little difference, as he's both won and loss big games from that position. But I think the capper of Holtz’ Penn State praise came with his listing of everything Penn State does and doesn’t do:

“…they play sound defense, they’re fundamentally sound, they don’t beat themselves, they don’t make mistakes, they don’t turn the ball over..”

Penn State has one loss this season. Iowa was able to pull the upset, because the Nittany Lions “beat themselves, made a mistake, and turned the ball over”, as Daryll Clark threw an interception to set up Iowa’s winning drive with under 4 minutes to play in that game.

Lions anxious to get this Rose Bowl Party Started

Penn State was anxious to get to the left coast. The Nittany Lions made their Los Angeles arrival on Sunday, 12 days before they’re scheduled to take the field against the 5th ranked Trojans. They’ll be rooming in Santa Monica, and conducting practices at the Home Depot Center.

The 6th ranked Lions haven’t played a football game in over a month, since defeating Michigan State on November 15th to claim the Big 10 championship and secure the Rose Bowl birth. The program hasn’t been to Los Angeles since it defeated Oregon in the 1995 Rose Bowl, and hasn’t faced USC since losing the College Football Kickoff Classic of 2000, playing in East Rutherford New Jersey. Their last defeat of the Trojans came one year prior, in the same Kickoff Classic game.

Penn State has never beaten USC in Los Angeles (0-3), including a loss in the 1923 Rose Bowl game. They’ve only played and defeated one Pac 10 program since last losing to the Trojans in ’02, and that was the 45-14 destruction of Oregon State earlier this year. They’re a confident bunch that earlier wished for the match up with Southern Cal, and now they’ve got it. They’ll be carrying the pride of the Big 10, a frustrated conference that has dropped the last 8 games to the Cardinal and Gold.

F**k it, UCLA won one

UCLA scores few victories over Trojans football, but they managed to claim a big one on Thursday. 5-star prospect Morrell Presley has de-committed from USC in favor of UCLA. The 6'4, 215 pound tight end visited both schools this month, and determined (in his words) that Neuheisel would "transform him into a better person and better man". That appears to be the marketing ploy in Westwood, as those were nearly the exact words used by Maurice Jones-Drew, in an attempt to slam the USC program earlier this year. But "development of males and persons" isn't the only thing being sold across town, as Presley also made a reference to the current instability of the Southern Cal coaching staff.

"And with some of SC's coaches leaving lately, just like that, I don't know what to expect. I know UCLA's coaches are going to be around for awhile", said Presley to the Sporting News.

The coaching carousel began years ago, yet it didn't stop him from originally committing to USC. I would have to believe this was stressed even more, with the departure of Sarkisian being most current, during his visit to the UCLA campus.

Something else that may be more troublesome for USC recruiting is what Presley then went on to say:

"When I took my trip to SC, they had some players who'd come in as the top seniors in the nation," . "Some of them told me they regret going there, because they weren't playing. That puts a lot of stress on a person, and I don't want that to be me."

If there's truth to this, the Trojans may want to rethink which players are used to host recruits, as it only provides ammunition and eases the recruiting battle for UCLA. Presley is rated as the top tight end in the nation, and we should remember from his days at USC, that the tight end is very important in a Norm Chow offense.

From a player's standpoint, I can't say Presley made a wrong decision. He wants to play now, and wants to play at the next level. Under the molding of Norm Chow, he's likely to get there. But as a fan of the Empire, I just have to suck it up and say, "F**k it, they won, and the Trojans took one on the chin."

bRUINS surrender the fort

The idea of USC wearing their home darks for the annual crosstown rivalry game with UCLA has been kicked around for over a year now. When Rick Neuheisel became the new head football coach in Westwood, it became more of a possibility, as he played in those early games when the coliseum hosted both home teams. But as I mentioned nearly a year ago, in allowing this to happen, Neuheisel would be giving the Trojans the keys to the house.

Both teams wearing home uniforms are a reflection of old Coliseum traditions. Allowing this to happen at the Rose Bowl would be nothing more than coming to the realization that you are the ugly stepchild renting space in a venue across town, and must succumb to the wishes of the rightful owner. Rose Bowl history doesn’t show Bruins and Trojans together in darks. Rose Bowl history shows USC owning the house. 22 times the Trojans have emerged the victor in January Rose Bowl games, more than any other. Wearing the colors to represent their home isn’t so much new, as it is proper and long time coming. But honestly, if you’re a Bruin, how and why would you allow this to happen? If anything, it shows a monopoly, something they claimed to be over.

FIGHT ON!

Beavs may be playing without the Quizz

Oregon State heads into one of the most important games in the school’s history on Saturday, and they may be playing without a key contributor. Jacquizz Rodgers, who fans of the Empire know very well, could sit out the “uncivil war” against Oregon with a sprained shoulder. That shoulder was injured early in the first quarter of the Arizona game that showed the Wildcats less than 2 minutes away from victory and the Trojans nearly sniffing roses.

Rodgers’ performance against USC is the difference between the Trojans being No. 1 in the country and currently sitting 5th. He followed his 186 yard performance in the big upset by continuing to excel in conference play to lead the Pac 10 in rushing, and rank 12th overall in the nation. His probable absence from the Beavers roster this Saturday may heighten Oregon’s chances of winning their in-state rivalry, as well as increase Southern Cal's possibility of clinching the conference title and a Rose Bowl birth.

Neuheisel believes fewer kids watching football today

Appearing on the FOX radio show, in a conversation sparked about Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb not knowing the NFL overtime rules, UCLA football coach Rick Neuheisel said it was surprising to hear, but gave a reason for it. His belief is that fewer kids are watching football today, compared to his generation. The Bruins coach says, “There's just too many other things they can do with their social time. Video games have taken a large majority of that. And I'm not sure you've ever seen a tie in a video game!” Although his take is somewhat sensible, I won’t agree with it.

When comparing today to yesterday, you see how widespread the game of football has become, in regard to media coverage. Yesterday, a televised Thursday game was only a Thanksgiving Day occurrence. Today, there isn’t a single day of the week where football isn’t being broadcast nationally at one level or another. Yesterday, if you missed a game, you could only read about it or catch highlights. Today, you use the DVR and record several games to be viewed several times over. College conferences now have their own networks or are contractually tied to others, so even if a game wasn’t televised live in your local area, you can catch a replay later in the week. If you’re looking to view it live, ESPN 360 or CBS Sports Line will capture the feed and display it on your computer monitor.

Today’s kids know more about football than their father’s before them, which is why athletes continue to improve with time. They know more about training and diets. They imitate their gridiron heroes (from mannerism, dress, and movement) through images provided in high definition. They know all about contracts and how combine results increase your earnings, as hold-outs and signings are now just a part of daily television conversations.

If there are players in the NFL that don’t know the overtime rules, it’s not because they didn’t watch enough football. It’s because ties don’t occur that often. As it is, they could have watched every game for the past five years without witnessing a tie. Maybe Neuheisel’s kids aren’t watching football, because that game isn’t being played in Westwood. After all, the best chance they have to see their dad lead UCLA to a National Championship is to hand him a joystick and insert a disk.

Believe it or not, Oregon uniforms may be getting uglier

I didn’t think it was possible, but the Oregon football team may reveal yet another uniform, which would top the other hundreds of horrible combinations in ugliness. It’s a foregone conclusion that Phil Knight’s Nike whores will wear anything, but eyeing this new proposal that damages the retina, also shows their poor fashion sense has no limits.

The black helmets are a definite, and coming soon to a stadium near you. As for the winged jersey, that looks like it could be worn by a superhero on the Disney Channel, that one remains a rumor, as reported by Jeff Kneis of Bleacher Report, and channeled from another source. I’m personally hoping nothing becomes of it, because the only thing worse than seeing a six-foot duck arrive via motorcycle to midfield of Autzen Stadium, is seeing Duckman emerge from the tunnel, with 80 other sidekicks dressed the same.

But the funny thing is, you put those same feathers on their cheerleaders, and I see group of sideline beauties I’d like to pluck.

Woe-and-7 Preview: Washington at USC

The Huskies have already made headlines before ever touching down in Los Angeles. The Monday firing of Coach Ty Willingham spins the program further into shambles. But nonetheless, they must play out the remainder of their schedule, including this post-announcement clash with the Pac 10 giant. As miserable as Washington has been, they’ve played the Trojans tough in recent years. It was a 27-24 USC escape in Seattle last year, and a 26-20 victory in the Coliseum in 2006. A victory for Washington on Saturday wouldn’t save Willingham’s job, but he would go out on a high note. A win on Saturday would also record a first, not only for Willingham as a coach of the Huskies, but with this weekend ringing in the new month, it would be the first November loss ever suffered by Pete Carroll in his 8 years with the program.

HUSKIES (0-7)
Last Week- L-Notre Dame

Washington remains the only winless BCS conference program in the nation. It’s a feat that could have been easily matched by their in-state neighbors, if not for Washington State scheduling and defeating FCS Portland State earlier in the year. Be it home or away, the Huskies are equally woeful, ranking among the nation’s worst in nearly every category.

Their offense has been playing without the services of quarterback Jake Locker for the past 3 weekends. Before being sidelined with the thumb injury, Locker provided 70% of the Huskies offense. As it stands, Washington ranks 108th in the country in total offense, which isn’t the worst the Trojans defense has faced this year. Washington State is 115th, and the Cougars never crossed midfield. Surprisingly, the Washington offensive ranking actually has them sitting above some of the bigger names in college football, such as Auburn, Michigan, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech. Freshman Ronnie Fouch is the Huskies signal caller, and D’Andre Goodwin is the favorite target. The running game is non-existent, as Locker also led the team in the category. The only other productive ground gainer is freshman David Freeman, who totaled just 16 yards last weekend versus Notre Dame. His season total is 152 yards, and Washington fails to have a single runner ranked among the nation’s top 100. The offense operates behind a transparent line that has allowed 24 sacks in the 7 games played.

On the other side, Washington doesn’t fair any better, as only 3 national defenses rank lower than the purple people. They surrender a whopping 235 yards per game on the ground, and 244 in the air. Opposing quarterbacks are efficient, and their units score often. You can credit that to the defense totaling just 5 sacks in 2008, allowing hurlers all day to distribute the ball.

TROJANS (6-1)
Last Week-W-Arizona

USC possesses the nation’s No. 1 defense, allowing opponents just 8 points per game, and 215 total yards. The obvious backbone of the program now smells blood in the water, and based on the Washington numbers, may easily record their third shutout of the season. The unit will have some missing pieces, as Averell Spicer (sprained ankle) will miss Saturday’s game, and Everson Griffen (toe) remains questionable.

The offensive performance against Arizona was frustrating to watch, and we’ve spent days reading about it. The play calling has come under question, as well as the decision making of Mark Sanchez. We won’t really get a good look at any adjustments or improvements this week, because as dismal as the offense was last week, they should with little resistance against the Huskies. C.J Gable is starting to show his own frustrations, but mostly in lack of carries. I believe he’ll get a good chunk on Saturday, the same as a frustrated Broderick Green did against Washington State. Receiver Damien Williams is nursing a sore shoulder and hasn’t participated in any contact drills, but hasn’t been ruled out for the weekend. Vidal Hazelton has a stubbed toe, but his role was sparse against the Wildcats. Joe McKnight is supposedly healthier than he’s been in two weeks, so don’t expect to see as little productivity from the sophomore as was seen in Tucson.

Analysis: Washington opens as a 43 point underdog, and there’s no reason to believe the Trojans won’t cover. Though the Huskies played tough the past two seasons, they don’t have Isaiah Stanback or Jake Locker to lead them. Last year’s contest was closer than it should have been, with Washington still featuring a poor roster of talent. The difference between winning big and nail-biting was the Trojans being penalized 16 times for 161 yards on a drizzly night at Husky Stadium. This one should be over by halftime, but Willingham no longer has anything to lose, so who knows what they’ll bring to the table.

All Time Series: Trojans lead 48-26-4
Streak: Trojans won 6

Huskies chasing pupils when they should pursue the master

Lane Kiffin has interest in the soon to be vacant coaching vacancy in Washington. Now add USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian to the list. The two men have a lot in common, mostly from being on the same staff at USC. But there's an even greater common link between them, and it's their teacher, Norm Chow. Steve Sarkisian was taught by Norm Chow as both a QB at BYU in '95, and as a USC assistant under Chow from '01 to '04. Lane Kiffin also joined Chow's staff in 2001, beginning as a tight ends coach, before taking over Chow's duties in 2005.

With both the students having interest in the job, you would have to wonder about the master. Norm Chow is a recent hire by UCLA, but everyone knows he's still waiting for a head coaching position. What would it take to coax him away from the Bruins of Westwood? I don't think it would take much. I would expect his name to enter the mix in coming weeks, as it only seems logical and proper. If it doesn't, it will be about as shocking as Ty Willingham avoiding the axe at the end of last season.

Willingham should be the poster boy for midseason firings

Believe it or not, there are some folks that insist that a coach should at least be allowed to lead their programs for the remainder of a college season, though termination is a definite on the horizon. Last week, Tommy Bowden refused to agree to the proposed incentives to keep his job, choosing to walk away from Clemson instead. And though it may shake up a locker room and unearth concerns, a midseason firing/resignation may be more beneficial for a program than waiting until all games are played.

Unlike the NFL, the amateurs aren’t placed in a draft pool. Good or bad, you still have the opportunity to latch on to the nation’s top prospects. The firing in Clemson has already impacted Tigers’ recruiting, with at least 3 prospects de-committing since the announcement. But the sooner you establish stability in the program, is the sooner you can have strength on the recruiting trail again. Nebraska quickly lost commitments with the firing of Bill Callahan, and then just as quickly gained, with the announcement of the hiring of Bo Pelini. Michigan’s delay of the termination/resignation process hurt the program, and the late transition from resignation to Rich Rodriguez accepting the position in Ann Arbor hurt both his former and new employer.

But when we look at Washington and Ty Willingham, some of his actions give immediate justification to why you shouldn’t prolong the agony. Not only is Willingham’s presence in Seattle effecting recruiting, but his decisions are affecting the future of a program he will no longer be connected to. The Huskies haven’t won a game. And in all probability, they’re likely to win just one (Washington State). They will finish as one of college football’s doormats, yet Willingham is still there. This program needs a boost in recruiting, yet Willingham is still there. And two weeks ago, Ty Willingham made a move that will impact Washington’s future, with no personal consequences.

It was another lopsided affair, with the Huskies being pounded by Arizona. The game and season are a wash, and there’s nothing left but the building of the future. Willingham inserts Wide Receiver Cory Bruns into the game, giving him his first action of the season. Bruns was on the field for 3 plays, and didn’t follow up with any action in Saturday’s loss to Oregon State. When Bruns entered the game and the ball was snapped, the freshman was automatically stripped of his redshirt, counting this entire season against his eligibility. Willingham forfeited the young wide receivers redshirt year for 3 plays in a game that could not possibly be won, and in a season that can't possibly be salvaged.

Willingham will eventually be gone, and with his act, one young receiver will have fewer years in the program. Is it stupidity or sabotage? I choose the latter. Stupidity would mean Willingham was unaware of the consequences to the program by playing the redshirt. If we rewind a couple of seasons, the Huskies were trying to make a run at bowl eligibility, when 2 quarterbacks went down with injuries. Willingham opted to surrender the goals of the season, and suffer the losses, rather than insert a redshirt freshman at quarterback. That quarterback was Jake Locker, and his future eligibility was preserved. Now there is no apparent future in Seattle for the coach, and in essence, nothing to preserve.

Have you ever wondered why some programs swing the axe in the middle of the season? Tyrone Willingham, and his actions, are a perfect example.

Ever dreamt of being the campus ‘chick magnet’?

Quarterbacks get more than just the football glory. It’s no secret that they also get the chicks. Hell, you don’t even have to start, just as long as that girl can say she’s dating a quarterback. Do you have to be a winner? Hell no? Your team can be shutout on Saturday, and you’ll still score on Sunday. In the state of Washington, the cougars of Wazzu were offering the average Joe’s an opportunity to fulfill that dream.

Washington State’s quarterback depth has been decimated by injury, leaving them with 2 able body players and no one to lead the practice squad. As a result, they had an open campus audition, searching for anyone that looks the part. Frat geeks, Math-letes, and band members took their shot at showing off their old skills from high school, Pop Warner, and “Madden 2008”. The lowly Cougars are 1-5 on the season, so it’s not important to complete passes or hand off with perfection. Your job, after the two QBs ahead are carried from the field, is to absorb the impact of sacks, pick yourself up from the turf in a timely manner, and be a 3-down formality before the punt team appears. But always look at the bright side, you’ll still get chicks.

The winner was Peter Roberts, who last played for Woodinville High School in Washington. Stock up on the condoms, dude!

Witness the Willingham farewell tour

When Tyrone Willingham was hired by the University of Washington in 2005, he took over a program with a 1-10 finish the previous year, but not one that existed in prolonged futility. The Huskies were just one year removed from a .500 record, and 2 years from a bowl game. It was a program boasting 15 conference titles, and 2 national championships. It was a program interlocked with the history of the great Miami teams, noted as the team that ended the longest home win streak (58) in college football history. They flew their royal purple and gold with pride, and had hopes of regaining dominance and a grip on the Pac 10 conference.

Willingham was fresh off the controversial firing at Notre Dame, with the demise of the program bringing cause. This came two years after beginning his career with the Irish at 8-0, and becoming the first coach in the history of Notre Dame to win 10 games in his first year. The achievement earned him several “coach of the year” honors in college football, but accolades were short-lived. A 41-10 lopsided loss to intersectional rival USC in '04 marked the end of the Willingham stay in South Bend. Ironically, it was a near victory over those same USC Trojans in 2005 that awarded his successor (Charlie Weis) a contract extension.

Now here we are in what appears to be Willingham’s final year in Washington. We see a program that is 0-5 to start the season. What we don’t see is the combined 21-6 record of the teams that defeated them. 3 were nationally ranked opponents. 2 remain among the nation’s top 10. As a result, the Huskies have gathered these national rankings:

Total offense- 105th
Total defense- 118th
Scoring offense- 104th
Scoring defense-117th

Already winless, before meeting the conference powers of Cal, Arizona State, and USC, the season outlook is dismal, with the only true expectations being an Apple Cup victory over their equally woeful in-state rivals of Washington State. Now 11-30 in his tenure at Washington, we witness the likely farewell tour of Tyrone Willingham. Administrators, boosters, and fans are looking for more legends of the lake, and more trophies to boast. In January, one booster offered $100,000 for the firing of their coach. Perhaps they should have taken it.

Virginia’s Lalich headed to Oregon State

Call him a glutton for punishment or a person looking to get as far away from Virginia as possible, but either way, it appears the Wahoos’ exiled quarterback is on his way to Corvallis Oregon to become a part of the Beavers’ roster. It was just 5 weeks ago that Peter Lalich played the role of punching bag for an aggressive USC defense, in Virginia’s 52-7 opening loss. Now he’s serving himself up for at least two more years of the same, by becoming a member of the Pac 10.

Lalich was removed from the Virginia football program last week for violating terms of his probation, after starting the first two games of the season. He considered Cincinnati and UCLA, before filing the paperwork at Oregon State. Why would Oregon State be a draw? Coach Mike Riley is one reason. The former NFL head coach has developed quarterbacks for the next level. Matt Moore went from a reserve role at UCLA to starting QB at Oregon State, before reaching the NFL. Riley also coached Derek Anderson in his senior year.

F@#* BEANIE WELLS

Yeah, I said it. One of the biggest games of the year, maybe of the decade, and all the media can talk about is Beanie Wells. Yes, he’s a Heisman contender. Yes, he’s a spark plug for the Buckeyes' offense. But hell, if you listened to analysts over the past week or so, you would swear THE Ohio State was a one man show. That’s not true. The Buckeyes are loaded with talent. And if the loss of Beanie Wells is worth this much hype, then obviously all the others are overrated. Besides, here in Los Angeles, we fully expect him to play.

But let’s look at what’s being preached, and what has occurred. Beanie was injured in the Buckeyes’ opener against FCS Youngstown State, leaving the game after running for 111 yards. That was an opening game 43-0 ass whipping, right? The Buckeyes followed up the opening weekend by struggling with the Ohio Bobcats. We all know this, because it was highly publicized. But how did Youngstown State follow up their paddling? They went back for seconds. “Thank you sir, can I have another?” In week two, Youngstown State was drubbed by South Dakota State by a tune of 40-7. Dakota’s Kyle Minnett ran for 123 yards and 2 scores. In fact, the Jackrabbits were more productive on offense (506 total yards) than the Buckeyes (495) managed against the Penguins.

Beanie Wells played in January’s BCS Championship game, and played well. Even with his 146 yards, the Buckeyes still lost by 14. Wells also played in the 2007 BCS title game against Florida, and the Buckeyes as a team rushed for only 47 yards against the speedy Gators defense, losing by 27 points. The point is, fixing whatever is broken doesn’t begin with Beanie Wells.

Flashback to 2006, and look at the UCLA Bruins. Ben Olsen goes down with an injury (imagine that?), and the team is set to face the second ranked Trojans. They insert Patrick Cowan as quarterback. Cowan allows Dwayne Walker’s defense to work, and he manages the game to keep his team in it. Final score, UCLA 13, USC 9.

Move on to 2007, and Stanford quarterback T.C. Ostrander suffers a seizure just days before the Cardinal are scheduled to meet No.1 USC in the coliseum, where the Trojans hadn’t lost since 2001. Insert Tavita Pritchard at quarterback, who never started a game. The 42 point underdogs take advantage of Trojan errors, and Pritchard tops his final drive with a touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone. Final score, Stanford 24, USC 23.

All this hype about Beanie Wells is painting THE Ohio State as a program without depth, and a program that leans on one man. The program is more rounded than the media is making them out to be. No mention of Trojans that are game time decisions, such as starting linebacker Brian Cushing and starting receiver Vidal Hazelton. Why? It’s because USC is expected to just plug in new players in those positions, and regardless of game time experience, they are expected to outperform their opposition. It’s always been the Trojan way. A man goes down, and you "fight on" with what you have.

But I’m pretty tired of hearing about Beanie Wells all week. Aren’t you? Yeah, I know. I just rambled about him, myself. But there’s a big difference between a “sky’s falling” rant, and just putting your frustrations simply, by saying……F@&* Beanie!

Preview: Ohio State at USC

(5) Ohio State at (1) USC

They combine for 18 national championships and 14 Heisman Trophies. Their histories are long and rich with success. They share a seat among the royal court of college football, with the mere mention of their names wakening ghosts of the past to romp again upon autumn playgrounds. They are the Big 10 and Pac 10, juggernauts of the modern game. And since the turn of the century, their victories and accomplishments dwarf the landscape, with only a handful of others appearing on this elite level. They are gladiators in a contest of survival of the fittest, with both looking to cement their names in the halls of history, while traveling a road to a crystal finish. They are Ohio State and Southern California, the Buckeyes and the Trojans, and 1 versus 5. They are the programs, and this is “the game”.

BUCKEYES (2-0)
Last Week: W-Ohio

The question of the past two weeks has been whether or not Beanie Wells will play. Wells, the Heisman contender and biggest playmaker on the Ohio State offense, suffered a foot injury in the season opener against Youngstown State. He sat out the recent victory over Ohio, but the Buckeyes’ offense sputtered to a 26-14 win. Be it looking ahead or bad chemistry, to bring that game to the coliseum on Saturday is to end up on the bad side of a lopsided affair.

How important is Wells in this game? Consider that very few spotlight running backs have performed well against Pete Carroll defenses. Also take into consideration that those programs that were able to establish anything consistent on the ground walked away with victories. Darren McFadden, Adrian Peterson, Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown, and Mike Hart all failed. Jonathan Stewart had success, as did Cal’s Adam Echemandu. And let’s not forget, Vince Young ran for 200 yards in the 2006 Rose Bowl.

By the end of the 2007 regular season, Quarterback Todd Boeckman was rightfully given Heisman consideration. The Ohio State field general finished with a passer rating of 148.95, throwing for 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, while leading his team to the BCS Championship game. He has experienced bodies up front, losing only one member from last season’s offensive line. Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline provide a presence out wide for an offense that doesn’t need to be dynamic, but just be efficient. If Chris Wells can’t go, Mike Wells and Daniel Herron will be asked to carry the load.

The Buckeyes return the nation’s top rated defense against the pass, and 3rd rated against the run. They lost All American Vernon Gholston to the NFL draft, but return all 4 members of the secondary. James Laurinaitis may be the best linebacker in the country, but beside him is another exceptional playmaker in Marcus Freeman. The Buckeyes also feature one of the top rated cornerbacks in the nation in Malcolm Jenkins, according to mock gurus and NFL scouts. This is the strength of the program, and the unit that can carry the Buckeyes to victory.

TROJANS (1-0)
Last week: Bye

USC opened the season impressive. Well, at least it appeared to be. When you consider their 52-7 victory over Virginia in the opener, then realize the Wahoos only managed a 16-0 victory over Richmond in week two, it takes a little luster off the accomplishment. But the biggest benefit the Trojans received after their opening week game wasn’t a boost in the rankings or escalated publicity. It was the Bye week that followed.

Not only has Pete Carroll had two weeks to prepare, but the Trojans received an additional week to get healthy. They go into Saturday’s contest as a stronger group, after several players were limited with injuries in the week one. Pete Carroll is 11-2 in games following a Bye week. Overall, he’s 16-5 in games with more than a week to prepare. He’s 4-0 against the the Big 10. The Trojans haven’t lost to a Big 10 opponent since Penn State in 1996, and haven’t lost to Ohio State since the 1974 Rose Bowl. The two programs last met in 1990, where USC posted a 35-26 victory in Columbus. USC is 31-1 in their last 32 home games, and Ohio State hasn’t won in the Coliseum since 1946.

QB Mark Sanchez will accept the challenge the OSU defense will bring. Again, protection becomes the key. If given time, navigation up and down the field comes easily, considering the choice of playmakers provided on the roster. Arkansas transfer Damian Williams appears to have the most chemistry with the new Trojan quarterback, and may receive the start, with Vidal Hazelton bothered by an ankle injury. The "running back by committee" will continue, with C.J Gable likely to receive the start again on Saturday, being the best pass blocker of the group. The touches for Joe McKnight will come in every way and every direction, with the fresh legs of Stafon Johnson continually rotated in and out to wear down defensive fronts.

Just as Ohio State, the defense is the anchor of this USC team. What the Buckeyes will see is speed at every position, the type of speed they saw against their BCS Championship opponents from the SEC. Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing aim to prove their linebacking corps is the most talented in the nation, with Safety Taylor Mays leading a well equipped secondary. LB Luther Brown is returning from injury to fill the thin position behind Maualuga. Carroll uses a variety of blitz packages, which is why it's so important for opponents to not only establish the run, but to also not fall behind.

ANALYSIS

At No. 5, this is the highest ranked Buckeyes team to face the Trojans since top ranked Ohio State fell to USC 17-16 in the 1980 Rose Bowl. USC is 4-0-1 when it is ranked higher in the AP poll than Ohio State. The Trojans are 66-5-2 in games when they are the top ranked team in the nation. USC (82) is 4th on the all time list for programs ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, behind Notre Dame (89), Oklahoma (86) and Ohio State (86).

This is a must win for each team, with the winner gaining a better grip on a run towards the BCS Championship game. But of the two programs, Ohio State is most needy. The Buckeyes have suffered criticism over the past couple of years, because of their championship game failures. The media and fans have picked them apart, almost as if everyone forgot the Buckeyes were National Champions as recent as 2002.

Even with Pete Carroll’s record over Big 1O opponents, and the Trojans not threatened in any, Ohio State provides a different beast. There’s a definite edge in experience, which could offset the Trojans edge in home field advantage. Big games aren’t a new experience for neither team nor coach. And this games victor will be the best prepared and the one making the fewest errors. The X-factor may possibly be Buckeyes' freshman QB Terrelle Pryor, whose mobility can be utilized to provide more options. There is a theory across the college football world that USC tends to struggle against mobile quarterbacks. This theory obviously emerged after Vince Young ran wild, but Dennis Dixon posted just one victory against the Trojans, Jake Locker has yet to win, just as Isaiah Stanback failed before him. And if you happened to catch the 2008 Rose Bowl, Juice Williams was a non factor.

All Time Series: USC leads 11-9-1
Streak: USC has won 5 straight

Buckeyes booted to No. 5

This Saturday’s anticipated meeting between USC and Ohio State already had an early billing of a top 3 match up, with some even speculating that by game time it would be 1 versus 2. Well, the coaches have already put their stamp on things, and Ohio State has fallen to No. 5 in the nation, receiving just one first place vote. The Trojans strengthen their position at the top, with 34 first place votes.

The Buckeyes’ dismal showing against Ohio can be credited to their descent. With Heisman Candidate Chris Wells sidelined with a foot injury, Ohio State struggled before finally holding off the Bobcats for a 26-14 victory. Both Oklahoma and Florida leapfrogged to positions 3 and 4, with impressive victories over Cincinnati and Miami.

Ready for the first of my weekly poll rips? Despite Illinois losing last week, they remained in the coaches’ poll. The Illini posted a win this week, and they were dumped. Why is that? East Carolina and their upset specials finally make an appearance at No. 20.

USA Today's Coaches' poll

Preview: USC at Virginia

Quickie: This was a scheduling masterpiece. Then it quickly took on the appearance of a lopsided game, before injuries at USC morphed it back to an “anything can happen” affair.

Hoos: Al Groh was named the 2007 ACC coach of the year, winning ugly and recording a 9-4 season record. The secret to success was found in the trenches, an area that has now suffered losses. The pass rushing presence of Chris Long is gone, and suspensions, transfers, and academic failures have thinned a roster already in desperate need of replacements. Virginia’s defense allowed them to win 5 games by 2 points or less in 2007, and will desperately need to step up to have a chance in this one.

The offensive unit averaged 24.4 last season, but lacked any true playmakers. Academics have driven QB Jameel Sewell out of football for 2008, leaving behind a battle, with only Peter Lalich having any game time experience. Scott Deke and Mark Verika spent the fall competing for the starting job, and at the time of this publication, Groh has yet to declare a winner. The expectation will be for Lalich to open behind center, but he will have few weapons surrounding him. In terms of yardage, Virginia’s top receiver in 2007 was Tom Santi (418), who is no longer in the program. The leader in receptions was running back Mikell Simpson (43). Those numbers indicate that either the receivers weren't very good or the passing game was strictly conservative to a point of nonexistence.

Trojans: The third ranked Trojans make their first east coast swing since 2004, where they then defeated Virginia Tech 24-13 in the season opener. Pete Carroll appears confident that Mark Sanchez will be their starting quarterback, despite suffering the dislocation of his knee cap less than a month ago. Stafon Johnson is healthy and should receive the bulk of the backfield carries, with a banged up Joe McKnight limited. The receiving corps failed to shine in 2007, with USC also having an exited tight end, Fred Davis, leading the team in receptions. The Achilles heal of this reloaded squad will be along the offense line, where they have just one returning starter. The team made local headlines last week, when the first-team offense managed to score just once in eleven series of scrimmage, but it should be noted that this wasn’t the result of the inexperienced Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain filling in for Sanchez, but caused by the offensive line simply moving in the “wrong direction” on several plays.

Defense will again anchor the Trojans, as it did in 2007. After losing 3 players from the front seven in the first round of the NFL draft, Carroll claims this defensive unit is even better. LB Rey Maualuga leads the charge, but injuries have thinned the position behind him. Fili Moala now receives the opportunity to build on the legacy of Trojan defensive tackles, filling the duties of the departed Sedrick Ellis. Also look for Averell Spicer, Christian Tupou, and Everson Griffen to have an impact. The Trojans are also boasting what many consider to be the best secondary in the nation, highlighted by Junior Safety Taylor Mays.

Xtra Points: Pete Carroll hasn’t lost to an out of conference regular season opponent in nearly 6 years (Kansas State, Sep. ’02). Even with a new starting quarterback and the sudden brush with injury, the defense alone can earn this victory. But as mentioned before, the inexperience along the offensive front could make it interesting. Just think back to the patchwork offensive line that played against Stanford in 2007.

All Time Series: No prior meetings
Streak: N/A

According to the math ‘3 Ducks=1 Dennis Dixon’

In one week the Oregon Ducks will host the Washington Huskies in the 2008 season opener. That leaves the next few days to prepare for your opponent, and Washington’s Ty Willingham would love to know which Ducks quarterback his troops should plan for. Well, according to the Oregon Staff, you better prepare for all three.

Dennis Dixon piloted the Ducks for 9 games and one quarter in 2007. He won 8 of the 9 games he completed, including victories over Michigan, USC, and Arizona State. Immediately following a torn ACL, the Ducks finished the season 1-3 in the final four games without him, and the 16-0 loss to UCLA marked the first time the Ducks were shutout in 22 years. Dixon is now a Pittsburgh Steeler, and if we reflect back on Oregon of last year, it would appear he took the offense with him.

People may forget, but Dixon didn’t begin his Oregon career as the lone quarterback. He slowly developed in the system as part of a QB duo that featured Brady Leaf. Mike Bellotti and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly either plan to revert back to those days of quarterback development, this time using three QBs, or they’re simply blowing smoke.

Nate Costa, Justin Roper and Chris Harper have battled for the starting job, and just 7 days from kickoff, no one has it. At least, the Ducks don’t want others to believe anyone has solidified their claim of the position. Costa also suffered an ACL tear in 2007, and Roper is most recognized for quarterbacking the Ducks to their only victory after the injury to Dixon, which was a 56-21 blowout of South Florida in the Sun Bowl. The freshman Harper is more likely in consideration for his mobility, as the Ducks have also lined him up as running back and wide receiver.

Would Bellotti use three quarterbacks? I wouldn’t put it past him. But despite the QB concerns, there’s another big question. Can Jeremiah Johnson equal the production of former Duck and current Carolina Panther Jonathan Stewart?

Note: Trojan transfer Jamere Holland has been participating in Oregon practices, after sitting out most of the offseason rehabbing from surgery that repaired torn cartilage in his knee. Holland has sprinter’s speed and will most likely see the field as a return man and wide receiver. Holland transferred out of the USC program because he was too low on the receiving depth chart.

Virginia showing no signs of anything

No one really knows what to expect when the Trojans travel east to play the Virginia cavaliers. But there’s one thing that’s certain, you won’t be seeing any of those clever homemade signs made on poster board that bear disgust for the opponent, praise for the home team, or a message asking mom and dad to send money. The University of Virginia has banned all signs from sporting events.

The school always had rules in place regarding the display and content of those homemade originals, but the decision appears to be based on an incident last year, and a sign that read “Fire Groh”. It fell under the rule of “offensive” and was confiscated from a student. You can say all you want about the opponent, but in the eyes of Virginia, it’s despicable to trample your program's coach. Some feel the ruling tramples on constitutional rights of free speech, but as any student of the law can tell you, as told by the Supreme Court, “freedom of speech is not absolute”.

In other news out of the Old Dominion State, UVa’s defensive coordinator, Bob Pruett, has been linked to Violations at Marshall. It’s funny how I can know what fans aren’t allowed to do during a game and what a coach did 7 years ago, but I still have no idea who Virginia’s quarterback will be tomorrow.

James: ‘I’d shoot my athletic director if he did that’

Legendary Washington coach Don James didn’t hold back on any thoughts about the state of the Huskies program and their out of conference scheduling. Washington has never been known to shy away from big name opponents, and James believes their current circumstance should change that. In reference to the scheduling, "I don't like it at all," he said. James is reflecting on Washington's current out of conference schedule that features Notre Dame, BYU, and Oklahoma, with each being on the road. He went on to say, "I'd shoot my athletic director if I had that."

James coached Washington to the National Championship in 1991 and isn’t in fear of strong opponents, but doesn’t feel it’s right for a young rebuilding program to play and embarrass themselves against college football’s heavyweights. It doesn't help that the crippled Huskies are scheduled to play defending National Champs LSU in 2009.

The old coach sees promise for the future, with talent improving, but the team is still young. These youthful Huskies finished at the bottom of the Pac last year and will now play 5 opponents ranked in the top 25 of the USA Today’s coaches poll. This comes after finishing the 2007 season having played 6 programs from the final poll, 3 conference champions, and 3 BCS bowl teams. The Huskies last played a bowl game in 2002. Since then, Washington is a dismal 18-41. Since 2002 and into the 2008 season, their out of conference opponents will have included:

Michigan
Ohio State (twice)
Notre Dame (three times)
Fresno State (twice)
Oklahoma (twice)
Syracuse
Boise State
Hawaii
BYU

In the Pac 10 round robin format, they also cannot dodge the powers in conference, in any given year. It takes 6 victories to become bowl eligible, but with few bowl tie-ins, a more realistic number for conference teams would be 7. To start your season with 5 ranked opponents on the schedule, and your team is a young conference doormat, to receive a bowl bid you would need to go undefeated against the remaining 7, which is highly improbable for this Washington team.

James has a point, when it comes to the scheduling for a team rebuilding. There are power programs out there that have scheduled less out of conference. But what James also needs to understand is that the high profile games are the ones that attract recruits. Recruiting is the force behind rebuilding, and recent years have shown improvement in the Washington recruiting class. Don’t credit that to the little guys they’ve played. Credit the exposure gained in meetings against the more traditional powers.

The strength of the 90s programs came from the inability of California school’s to keep their recruits at home and out of the Pacific Northwest. Those times have changed, with Carroll, Tedford, and now Neuheisel securing that in-state talent. It’s not coincidence that the most traveled SEC program to the west coast is Tennessee. It’s not that the Vols love California and the west coast, it’s that they want a piece of it. No program spends more money on recruiting than the Volunteers, and their west coast trips paid off over the years, with 2 Clausens (Rick and Casey) and Erik Ainge all hailing from the region. It’s the same reason USC will schedule any team in any region of the country, receiving payoffs with commitments from Dwayne Jarrett and Brian Cushing (NJ), Keith Rivers (Fla), Joe McKnight and John David Booty (LA), Lendale White (CO), Patrick Turner (Tenn), and Fred Davis (OH).

It's literally a no win situation for the Huskies. Losses will accumulate with that kind of scheduling, but patience may eventually pay off. The losses on the field don't translate to losses in finances. And as poor as the football program has performed, Forbe's still ranked the University of Washington the 16th wealthiest program in the country, and their profits of $19.9 million exceed the $13 million generated by 14th ranked USC.