2008 Cal Edition - 11/9/08
I really do think that I love beating Cal as much as I enjoy beating anyone else in the Pac-10. I have always said that beating Notre Dame is my very favorite (whereas losing to UCLA is the very worst), but Cal happens to be a symbol for me of a lot of things, and if it is unfair to make them that symbol, I just love beating Cal. So it is safe to conclude I had a great weekend, and I think the entire college football world had a lot to enjoy. It is a shame that this fine sport will enjoy a few more splendid weekends, and that will drift off into the mysterious world of computers, subjectivity, backroom deals, and irrationality. But this is the system we chose ... In the meantime, week by week, this is as fun as it gets. Let's get into it.
- The country does not understand what USC's defense is doing this season. Their opponents are now averaging 6.8 points per game, and that is factoring in the 27 points Oregon State got. Since the Oregon State game they have given up 3 points, 0 points, 0 points, 10 points, 0 points, and 3 points. They are #1 in the nation in yardage allowed and points allowed. Their opponents are last in the nation in rushing yardage. This is not just the best defense in the country; it is the best defense in the country by a mile.
- I will add to the above: the very best safety in the country, Kevin Ellison, has missed the last two weeks, and his return time is unknown. USC's best cornerback (Sharece Wright) is also out (for the season).
- Now, with that said, it is just impossible to say that USC is the best team in the country given the way the offense is playing. I can pretty much guarantee you that all five of the top five teams (in the BCS rankings) would rather play anyone else than us (see USC's record over this greatest dynasty ever against highly ranked teams), but a little objectivity is in order as it pertains to where we are. No offense in the country is playing as good as Texas Tech, though Florida is right up there with them. I frankly think Oklahoma and Texas are as well.
- The only offense in the top five that I suspect we are competitive with (at this stage) is Alabama, who seems to be winning off of strong discipline, few mistakes, quality defense, and good old fashioned luck. It doesn't hurt them either that the SEC from top to bottom is worse this year than any year this millennium. The winner of the SEC championship will almost surely be in the BCS final, and I can not possibly imagine that team being anyone other than Florida (especially after watching the game yesterday). But, anything can happen, and while I can not fathom Alabama losing to Miss. St. or Auburn, and I can not fathom Florida losing to South Carolina, you just never know.
- Alabama ought to send anything they legally can send to LSU's quarterback as gratitude for yesterday. I am starting a new expression I plan to use in everyday conversation. "He couldn't play QB at LSU" will be my new euphemism for someone who is simply horrid at something. Goodness gracious. Didn't LSU have a #1 draft pick at QB just two years ago? This kid would not start for any other team I have seen play this year, including Tennessee.
- Just kidding. Both Kraft at UCLA and that guy at Tennessee - they "couldn't play QB at LSU." Sometimes, it is enough to make myself laugh.
- If, indeed, at the very end of the year, there is some Big-12 team with only one loss (or better) - a very likely scenario, AND if, indeed, there is one SEC team with one loss or less (Alabama or Florida), those two teams will be in the BCS final. I suppose a betting man would say right now that a one-loss Florida team would beat an undefeated Alabama team in the SEC championship (my guess on outcome, and what will be the case going in), and that a Texas or Texas Tech or Oklahoma ends up with one loss. Obviously, a Florida or Alabama team getting upset before that game likely renders its outcome unimportant. And obviously, somehow, a Texas could lose to an underdog, while a Texas Tech beats Oklahoma, but then gets upset by Missouri in the Big-12 final. There are other scenarios, too, but the whole picture looks bleak for those wanting to see USC get in a BCS final. Many things can happen, and I would be shocked to see today's #1 and #2 stay as #1 and #2 to the end, but short of some pretty weird things happening, I just think the Big-12 trio will be too hard to leapfrog. Those three teams are all quite good, and even though I have no doubt what our defense would do against them, I can not see us getting the chance at this time. But who knows ...
- Now, in a playoff, Vegas would right now today have the odds best for Florida to win it all, with USC getting slightly worse odds, and then a big drop to the others. That is my guess. And I am sure I am right.
- Stanford, Notre Dame, and UCLA are not going to be pushovers. Stanford's upset last year in the Coliseum has proven that (and they are far better this year than last year, though we actually are playing with our first and second string this year). Notre Dame is not very good, but rarely do they lose to the Trojans seven years in a row (which is what this year would be). And UCLA, though positively horrid compared to the team that beat us 13-9 last year, decided early this season to go all-in on making their year vs. USC (wait -they decided that in 1958 on behalf of all future seasons, but I digress). My point is that, though I think all three of these games are unbelievably winnable, we still have work to do.
- I can not wait to be in Palo Alto this weekend. I have not seen Stanford's new stadium since it opened a couple of years ago, and I love watching Carroll coach against the few coaches I happen to know he actually really does hate. Weis and Bellotti are the only other two. I don't think he takes Neuheisel seriously. I think he has a ton of respect for Bob Stoops, Mike Stoops, Mike Riley, Jeff Tedford, Lloyd Carr, Jim Tressel, Dennis Erickson, and many others I have seen him tear to shreds over the years. But Weis, Bellotti, and now Harbaugh seem different. I will leave it at that.
- Speaking of good coaches, there is no way to detract from what Nick Saban has done this year with Bama. I do not respect the guys' personal character very much, but after a very tough year #1, he has really got that team playing mature football in year #2. I know when to give credit where it is due.
- Speaking of giving credit where it is due, USC's defense has probably done incredibly work for the economy in the bay area in terms of the pain killer industry and hot tub business. Those Cal receivers and QB's have got to be pill-popping in a jacuzzi somewhere right now, because I have not seen hitting like that all year. Taylor Mays nearly broke a few guys in half. Man, DeSean has got to be glad he left a year early. Losing to USC every year he was at Cal was not fun, but to come back for a senior year just to win one game, and then having that game result in you ribs being cracked into pieces, would be very depressing.
- The refereeing in this game was atrocious, and any person who watched the game was either furious (Trojan fans), or mystified (everyone else). I am interested to hear Carroll tomorrow at lunch, because I suspect he will not let this go. But to have six penalties called on one drive, and two - that's right, two - interceptions taken back by fictitious defensive penalties, and to give up a grand total of ZERO yards after all that is just remarkable.
- I am not sure if USC has given up one single touchdown drive since the first half of Oregon State. Their touchdown in the second half came from the 2-yard line. Oregon was held to a field goal. Cal was held to a field goal. The Washington schools and Arizona State were shut out. Arizona got their lone touchdown from the 20-yard line or so after a pick. Going back further, Ohio State was also held to a field goal, and Virginia had one touchdown set up by a penalty of the kickoff. Essentially, we come down to a remarkable fact: this USC team had one forgettable half, and other than that, has not been scored against.
- I am not sure what to say about Joe McKnight. His run was about to be one of the highlights of the century, and then the fumble made it one of the more frustrating plays of the year. I think he has Reggie-type-talent, but nowhere near Reggie-discipline.
- Mark Sanchez struggled last night. Cal's defense is good, and I do not think Sark ever let USC establish the run they needed to for Mark and the passing game to really get going. I also am not quite sure why Vidal Hazelton has been allowed to disappear in this offense, though I respect the kind of season Patrick Turner and Damian Williams are having. Carroll is 25-0 in November, and I hope he adds to that in the next couple of games, but also let's this offense find its stuff before a bowl game - no matter what bowl game that might be.
- Trojan fans harping that Oregon State might run the table and end up in the Rose Bowl need to remember a few things. First of all, Oregon State could theoretically be in the Rose Bowl, with us in the BCS championship. Secondly, if we run the table, there is absolutely no way on the planet we will not be in some BCS bowl game. Third of all, their remaining three games are Cal, Arizona, and Oregon - the only three decent teams in the Pac-10. So, if miraculously a three-loss Oregon State team ends up in the Rose Bowl, we will just miss the chance to beat an overrated Big-10 team by 50 points this year in Pasadena. New Orleans, Miami, and Phoenix are all fine cities in early January.
- But, one game at a time. First, Stanford. Period.
That is it for now. I continue to pray that the anger will get intense enough one day that this fraud of a system will be decimated. I am at a point now where I do not want any earthly contact with people who dare to defend this imbecilic invention. I may have to resume my routine of Federal Express delivering my proposal for a bowl game-playoff hybrid system every day for a month. But I am not concerned with waking up those fat cats right now. Change has to come from within. The fans and media need outrage to rise to a point where we don't put up with it any more. For now, I think the people are too content with how things are, and they are too selfishly hopeful that they will get what they want from the current system to bother pursuing real change.
By the way, I AM talking about football. =)
Until we meet again, I am,
The Biggest College Football Lover of All Time