2007 Oregon State Edition - 11/4/07

People who doubt that college football is the greatest sport (at any level) on the planet are missing out on an entirely exhilarating part of contemporary life.  I have been convinced of its superiority for many years, and yet even I was refreshed and renewed in my belief this weekend.  There is just nothing like the autumn season, and nothing like filling it with 18-22 year old kids playing their hearts our for the thrill of victory.  College football contains higher highs than any other sport, and sadly, lower lows.  There is far more parity, and far more possibility of drama and flair.  The rivalries are excessively intense, and the players are passionately committed.  The fan and the player are more connected than a non-college football fan could ever imagine, as even third string right guards are known by their fan base (and often without the use of jersey names, like in the case of USC).  This weekend featured it all - close games, upsets, blowouts, and history.  There is nothing like college football, and I remain the self-named biggest lover of it of all time (hyperbole abounds).

 

- I am so anxious for the next three games of USC's schedule, that I fear I will be obsessing with USC in the next few musings.  Let me get the non-USC coverage out of the way first.  This week, I will fly over Tucson, and go straight to South Bend, Indiana, where true history was made.  Frankly, Navy should have beaten Notre Dame four of the last six years, so those familiar with the rivalry will truly appreciate how much this means.  The heartbreaking losses in recent history, combined with the sheer magnitude of the streak, are unbelievable.  And no, it does not take away from what Navy did just because this is the worst Notre Dame team of all time, and just because Charlie Weis's indefensible decision to not attempt a field goal kick in regulation possibly gave Navy the game.  This was a thriller for lovers of the game, and I say hats off to the Midshipmen.

 

- I read in the paper today that UCLA has found their new QB, and then I read that I went 3-for-10 while in the game.  I am perplexed.  I also read that star linebacker, Christian Taylor, said, "we are not concerned with our legacy".  I also read that this was Dorrell's 14th loss to teams he was favored to beat.  All in all, I am sure UCLA is living for nothing more than December 1 right now, and I am actually starting to think that if they pull an 0-for-3 from here on out (which is not unfathomable, considering they play Arizona State, Oregon, and USC), I do wonder if Dorrell would at long lost be fired (especially now that the Cal victory is looking less and less meaningful).  Suffice it to say, if they beat USC, no one will care if they lose 100-0 to Arizona State and Oregon, but in all objectivity, I am wondering if this will be another year the taxpayers get stuck with a severance obligation for one of the state's highest paid employees.

 

- I do not know if I should be encouraged or scared by Cal's performance over the last month.  A 3-point win over the dreadful WSU Cougars, preceded by three losses in a row, might make some feel that USC is primed to whoop their tails next week.  On the other hand, some may argue that they have nothing to livit e for now besides a win over the USC Trojans.  I suspect that this will be a very thrilling event Saturday.

 

- If the Heisman votes were to be cast today, I can not envision a candidate more worthy than Dennis Dixon of Oregon.

 

- My friend, J-Train, did some fascinating analysis of that whole SEC/Pac-10 discussion that Les Miles dug into over the summer, and that countless SEC fans stew over while finishing their moonshine.  A few revelations from the analysis:

• 24% of the SEC's teams non-conference games have been against 1-AA schools
• The SEC is 1-3 this year vs. non-conference BCS-ranked teams

Plenty of season left in this regard, but I continue to believe that while, year-over-year, the SEC is slightly tougher than the Pac-10 (only when analyzing their #3 through #6 teams), I think this year the conventional wisdom of SEC greatness has gotten turned on its head by the clear mediocrity of the bulk of their teams. 

 

- I believe Oregon will win out, Ohio State will lose to Michigan, and LSU will lose in the SEC championship, putting Oregon vs. Oklahoma in the championship game.  A wide combination of possibilities can prove me wrong, but I like this as a starting point.  I also like it because it puts USC in the Rose Bowl if they win out!   =)

 

- Speaking of USC, the 10 sacks represents the best performance since the national championship win over Michigan on New Years Day, 2004.  Everson Griffin's 3.5 sacks has got to be an NCAA record for true freshmen, but I have not confirmed that.  Cary Harris and Terrell Thomas played their best games of the year at corner, and I believe put on a shut-down performance that ought to scare ME-Shaun.  It was an inspired defensive effort from start to finish.

 

- USC's 21-point 2nd quarter was also impressive, no matter how nice it would have been to have seen a touchdown in another quarter.  =)  I thought Booty looked fine in his return, and I do believe Carroll is playing the right guy. 

 

- The three-man rotation at tailback is not going to work, in my humble opinion (let alone four or five back rotation).  I do not claim to know which guys ought to be in the rotation (this year, or next), but I do think that we are suffering from what was a strategic mistake in bringing in a glut of blue chip talent at tailback.

 

- If I were forced to pick, though, I would say that Joe McKnight ought to be used much as Reggie was (special teams, slot receiver, reverse plays, outside the tackle sweep plays), with Chauncey Washington as the "almost every down back".  Stefan Johnson would be fine too, but I assume he has slowed down since the first three games based on his injuries.

 

- Of course, based on the 76 points Kansas put up on Nebraska, it may be that Stefan wasn't rolling the way we thought he was!

 

- Next year, I really like CJ Gable and Joe McKnight on the field.  I hear the tailback problem could be even more intense, especially if Stefan is improved, and Broderick Green is as good as people say.  There is such thing as "too many good tailbacks", and it is resulting in poor rythym, potentially disgruntled players, and tough chemistry issues.

 

- It is ridiculous for people who hate Booty to not point out how tough his receivers have frequently made it on him this year.  Not only are exactly HALF of his interceptions directly or indirectly their fault, but the dropped passes are totally surreal.  They owe it to him to finish strong.  Turner had another bad night, but did have an impressive catch in the end zone.  Davis and Hazelton are the dependable ones.  Ausberry is a real disappointment.  I will give Ronald Johnson another year to run the long ball routes.  Curtis Conway said yesterday on the pre-game radio show as I was driving up that he thinks part of the problem with the receivers is that they do not face lock-down corners in practice.  I wonder if there is truth to that, and I wonder further if that will be changing for the remainder of the season.

 

- In all seriousness, I feel confident that USC can win the next three games, but it will be tough to do so.  A resounding win over Cal would be lovely.  Who knows how ASU responds to their loss against a superior Oregon team.  UCLA may be formidable, and they may be the UCLA I have grown accustomed to this millennium in the Coliseum.  The best thing for Trojans to do is not worry about anything at all but the opponent in front of us.  The play-calling has not been stellar, but then again, Carroll is 21-0 in the month of November since coming to USC.  At this point, we have to accept that much of our destiny is out of our hands, and let the chips fall where they may.  We must win out, and I truly believe yet another BCS bowl will await us.  I just pray it will be the Roses - the granddaddy of them all ....

 

- The dynasty is not over.  Not by a long shot.