2006 Bye Week Edition - 10/21/06
Wow - even in a bye week, game after game today provided all the proof we need that no other sport on the planet (nor any other level of this same sport) possesses the excitement and enjoyment that college football does .... I am sending the weekly musings a day early as I am in Chicago the next few days on business, and may not get to it. Additionally, I actually think the musings have a chance of carrying more "inspiration" when typed at the end of a Saturday than they would 24 hours later ... (I am not getting any younger). =)
- I HATE myself for saying this, but my heart goes out to the Bruins. I was in that very stadium in 1999, and I walked out feeling the same way they did today. I hope the Notre Dame fans were as polite and respectful to them as they were to us Trojans then (I consider Dame fans AT their stadium to be among the best in the country, and Dame fans at the away games to be among the worst - a great way to separate the pretenders from the contenders).
- I don't know what to say about that game. I thought both teams looked pitiful most of the day. The Bruin defense was good. The Dame O-line was awful. The running game from both teams is sad. Coach Weis is beyond obese. Coach Dorrell's post-game press conference was unbearable to listen to. Brady Quinn is so overrated I can not believe it. Bottom line: Congrats to Dame for making it look like to our cross town rival that playing our national rival every other year in South Bend is not that big of a deal. Geez.
- You can not stop a team on 4th down, get the ball back, and then lose the game (all the while, the other team is out of timeouts). It just can not happen. As well as UCLA played to beat ahead throughout this game (especially on defensive 3rd downs), this was a loss they earned with that final 90 seconds.
- Did I mention Charlie Weis is literally obese? I can not believe what I am seeing.
- Ummm, I have been as vocal as anyone about USC's poor performance in victory the last four weeks, but is it just me, or are things looking kinda funny now to the teams around the country bitching at how bad we are? Washington goes INTO Cal, WITHOUT their best player/starting QB, and forces OVERTIME. Nebraska has Texas beat, and gives it up on a last second field goal. Arkansas is whooping everyone. The SEC looks more mediocre every week. I don't know what to say ... I remain very concerned about USC's chances of going 4-0 in their last 4 games, but of course, I remain a faithful believer in the Cardinal and Gold (the way we have been playing is not the issue; it comes down to how we WILL play). I think every team looks beatable right now, to be quite frank.
- I wish Cal had lost in overtime to a back-up QB from Washington, but the point is the same: I no longer think they are invincible (they have looked very good as of late).
- Does everyone know that the University of Miami president is a former Clinton administration official? Nuff said. =) (sports, not politics, on this list) ...
- USC needs to beat Oregon State, and beat them big. (A) The confidence our offense can pick up from a dominant win on the road is huge, and (B) I know a guy who is a real jerk who used to go there =) (I also know a great guy who went there). =)
- Coach Carroll remains convinced that the key to the second half of the season will be maintaining a strong running game, and keeping our guys healthy. He is such a treat to hear talk about football, and such a joy to have as our head coach.
- It is unfathomable to me that the coach of Michigan State might somehow have saved his job today. It is also inevitable (in my opinion) that Larry Coker lost his job last week. I recommend Paul Hackett for the job there, but I doubt they will listen to me.
Must run. Next week will be another good one ... May all of you have a splendid week, and enjoy the fun of your team winning, and survive the pain of your team losing. Sports imitate life. =)
Fight on,
DLB4USC