Category: 
People in L.A. are still obsessing over Jim Harbaugh’s decision to go for two when up by 27 points against USC last Saturday. Why talk about the meltdown that is occurring on both sides of the ball at USC when you can harp on a decision that, in the scheme of things, is meaningless?
It’s a way for USC people to feel morally superior despite getting smushed by a more physical Stanford squad.
In reality, Harbaugh was just rubbing Pete Carroll’s nose in it a bit. What better way to send a message that USC’s hegemony over the conference had ended? Big deal!
As for the Trojans, some still don’t get why they are struggling. How about a poor coaching staff and outdated schemes on both sides of the ball (as I’ve pointed out for three years here)? It certainly isn’t the talent level, as the roster is filled with players who could have gone anywhere.
While Carroll has let the talent go to waste these past few years, the rest of the Pac-10 has gotten its house in order. And college football’s deepest conference is going to be just as tough next season.
If USC is going to get back to its previous level, it will need to clean house with its coaching staff. Carroll needs to concentrate on the defensive side of the ball and let a proven college offensive coordinator run the offense, unhindered.
The last time Carroll did that, he won back-to-back titles. If he does it again, who knows?
He may even get a chance to have his revenge against Harbaugh.
Comments
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HP – this is a significant change for you from just a few weeks ago when you had USC very highly ranked (was it #3 after the Oregon State game?) despite a loss to UW, a narrow victory over Ohio State (back when they were playing terribly – loss to Purdue and narrow victory over Navy) and being outgained by Oregon State at home. Sounds like you’re trying to have your cake and eat it too. If they’re so terribly coached why did you have them ranked so high with plenty of evidence suggesting they weren’t that good? How is this “flip-flop” not disengenuous?
Well, I’ve been a frequent critic of USC’s coaching in recent years, so nothing has changed. That doesn’t mean that at some point in a given season they shouldn’t be recognized for playing well relative to other teams, as the Trojans DO have a ton of talent and are capable of getting on a hot streak. To my eye, USC looked like it had figured some things out earlier in the year–mind you this is a disappointing season in CFB with no really clear cut great teams–but it was obviously a mirage. So, totally not disingenuous at all.
HP
Thanks for your explanation…would have been nice for a little more caution on your comments about Caroll (I’m no Carroll or USC fan)and a reference admitting that you had them ranked very highly and didn’t predict the recent abysmal performances. As an average Joe the one thing I don’t want when I read commentary isn’t for some one to be wrong, its for people to pretend they saw it all along when they really didn’t or to all the sudden “flip-flop” and not admit it. Where were all the commentators saying how bad USC is 4 weeks ago? They didn’t exist, but now all the sudden USC is in danger of being demoted to 1-AA according to many of the “experts.”
Best to you in your columns!
truth
Can we please, collectively, drop this canard that USC won back-to-back titles? Give the 2003 LSU squad its due.
Seriously.
The irony of the protest vote for USC back in 2003 is that no conference and no school has stood more squarely in the way of playoffs.
In 2003 USC beat two ranked teams all year including Michigan (both games were at home). USC lost to unranked California. LSU played 5 ranked teams, beating 4. LSU beat the unanimous AP #1 team in their bowl and yet USC got the majority of the #1 votes. USC was #1 or #2 on every ballot, not the case for LSU.
Um, USC won the AP national title and LSU won the Coach’s (BCS) title in 2003. They were co-champions, which is very common in college football and even in the Olympics, where you have co-gold medalists.
You all are smart enough to understand that the AP still votes every year for a champ and awards its own trophy, no? That’s what happened in 2003, just as it has every year since 1936,
HP:
When you say “clean house” with respect to the coaching staff, are you referring to linebackers coach or D-Line coach? Running back coach? Or O-line ocach? All these guys have produced players that can play at this and the next level.
So I assume you’re referring to the coordinator positions?
Obviously when you allow record yardage and record points, you can’t deny that these reflect a number of internal problems (ie, you can’t blame it all on the attributes and inexperience of the players). But it would also seem to reflect several exterior factors.
To get a grand picture, I think we need to appreciate that USC’s “rebuilding year” coincides with a year where Pac 10 teams have made quantum leaps in skill levels, coaching, scheming, and “bringing it” on Saturdays.
Although USC will have a rough go in it’s final two contests (UCLA rivalry and Arizona, both home), I think that before we evaluate “the fall”, we need to see if/how they bounce back. And let’s remember that, unlike most teams, USC will always be compared to insanely high standards.
Overall one could make a strong argument that the Pac 10 has overshadowed the SEC this year in competetiveness and schdule strength, and certainly in offensive potency. This is not to dimimish the intrinsic skill levels in the SEC, but overall this year’s SEC teams seem to lack consistency in performance.
It’s all about perception and sales.
Chris
Reno, NV
HP -
When people say “National Champions” in the BCS era they assume you’re talking about the BCS. You need to qualify your statement if you’re not. Of course, the Trojans just started calling themselves the 1939 National Champs based on the “Dickinson System.” Since USC opposes any form of playoff, folks are less likely to let this stuff slide without qualification.
Sandymex,
I like you.
Chris, I’m referring to every member of the staff, very few of whom have any experience at other colleges.
Sandy, most college football fans outside the South who have been following college football for most of their lives understand the concept of split titles. Georgia Tech, your school, had a split title. The BCS era never got rid of that possibility–it just created a coaches poll champ. The AP isn’t even a part of the BCS, so nothing has changed there.
How curious that people so readily forget that USC was #1 in both polls going into the bowls in 2003. That’s what caused the big controversy, the #1 team in the land according to both the human polls being left out of the BCS title game. LSU fans need to get over it because I’m pretty sure the school isn’t using its 2007 AP title trophy as a paperweight in the AD’s office…
adirtypino -
The only time all year that USC was voted #1 was after LSU won the SEC championship over #5 Georgia by 3 touchdowns and then beat BCS #1 Oklahoma. And even then USC was only ranked #1 in the AP poll, not the USA Today Poll. USC’s strength of schedule was too weak and their loss to 8-6 California was too much for them to overcome to get to the title game.
Check again Sandy…after OU lost to K-state in the BIGXII title game USC moved to #1 in both the coaches and AP poll. It was the computer rankings that kept OU #1 in the BCS rankings and in the BCS title game. The AP voters kept USC #1 after they beat #4 Michigan in the Rose Bowl and the coaches were contractually obligated to vote the winner of the BCS title game #1 following the bowls. A few coaches broke ranks and voted USC #1 but the vast majority honored the contract and moved LSU over USC in the final poll.
Sorry…you lose
~ADP
I think I understand now. You’re not talking about the end of the regular season… you’re talking about after the big-boy conferences played their championship games. Once again the Pac 10 thinks they win by not playing.
Tell me ADP – is ANYONE in the Pac 10 willing to man-up on a playoff?
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