Pac-12: Vince Young
, and he rates Washington State as a team "finally turning the proverbial corner."
Here's what he writes as he predicts the Cougars will be heading to their first bowl game since 2003 -- you might recall the Cougs' upset victory over Texas and Vince Young in the Holiday Bowl:
Now, let's not go crazy here. After 14 wins in five years, Wazzu isn't going to suddenly win 11 games and go to the Rose Bowl for the first time in nearly a decade. But as poor as ousted head coach Paul Wulff's four-year record was, last year's team showed remarkable improvement, the kind of improvement that new boss Mike Leach should be able to capitalize on.
They started three different quarterbacks in 2011, but still ranked ninth in the nation and second in the Pac-12 in passing, thanks in no small part to All-Pac-12 second team receiver Marquess Wilson. The Cougars improved their points per game output from 20 to 30, and increased total offense by nearly 90 yards per game. The defense allowed 57 fewer total yards, 63 fewer rushing yards, and four fewer points per game than the season before.
I also see Washington State taking a strong step forward in 2012. Even with a new head coach in Mike Leach and an entirely new staff, the Cougars set up well for becoming bowl eligible. My one quibble with Magee's take is he list quarterback as a question mark. Leach has two strong options in Jeff Tuel, the 2010 starter who was hurt most of last year, and Connor Halliday, a freshman who performed extremely well late last season before getting hurt himself.
While Tuel is the favorite to win the job, it certainly will be a competition worth watching this spring and during fall camp. Whoever prevails will have a strong crew of receivers to spread the field, as Leach loves to do.
Last fall, the Trojans surrendered 44 plays of 20 or more yards, which ranked 102nd in the nation. By comparison, the 2008 unit yielded just 14, the lowest total over the past three years by six.
So what happened?
AP Photo/Mark J. TerrillThe Trojans hope the second year in Monte Kiffin's defense yields better results.The result? A unit that surrendered a Pac-10-high 30 TD passes (five more than ninth-place Washington State) and wasn't much better against the run, ranking sixth in the conference (140.5).
But if you're wondering why many still rate the Trojans as the favorites in the Pac-12 South Division and believe they will improve upon their 8-5 finish of a year ago, the defense is a good place to start.
"I feel like we know what we're doing a little bit better as far as it being the second year in the system," Lane Kiffin said. "And in scrimmage formats, we're tackling better."
That will be put to its first test Saturday when Minnesota comes calling to the Coliseum.
The Trojans welcome back seven starters from last year's unit. They look strong at end with Nick Perry, Devon Kennard and Wes Horton. And few teams boast a better safety-cornerback combination than All-American T.J. McDonald and Nickell Robey. But there are questions at linebacker, where they will be young around injury-prone Chris Galippo.
The Golden Gophers shouldn't provide too difficult a test. Coming off a 3-9 season in which Tim Brewster got fired and was replaced by Jerry Kill, who rebuilt Northern Illinois, they are replacing three starters on their offensive line and they don't look like a team that will be throwing the ball well. They are, however, intriguing at quarterback. That's where MarQueis Gray steps in. He's a 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior who has been primarily a receiver, though he got behind center in "Wildcat" formations. Passing the ball over the past two years, he's just 8-of-23 for 86 yards with a TD and an interception.
Of course, Kiffin went the "oh, no" route and compared him to former Texas quarterback Vince Young.
"It's very scary for us," he said. "We've got our hands full. This is a big-time challenge for our defense."
USC won at Minnesota 32-21 last year, a victory that was part of a 4-0 start. But the Trojans proved inconsistent on both sides of the ball once conference play began, inspiring some questions of motivation because NCAA sanctions made them ineligible for the postseason. That's an issue again this fall, though it's probably not one in the season-opener, when everyone is fired up to play.
"I don't think the motivation shows up as much early in the year," Kiffin said. "It becomes more of an issue towards the end of the year or if you hit one or two losses in a row there."
Still, with Matt Barkley at quarterback and a strong crew of receivers, the Trojans should at least be a factor in determining other team's postseasons. As for the South Division, that probably hangs on how much the Trojans' defense reverts back to its old ways. Preseason optimism about knowing the scheme better and improved tackling only goes so far.
Said Kiffin: "That all sounds good but it won't mean anything if come Saturday we don't do it when it really counts."
Statement from Heisman Trophy Trust on Bush
Here's the statement in full (I bolded the interesting parts):
The Heisman Trophy Trust is a charitable entity whose mission is to ensure the continuation and integrity of the Heisman Trophy; to foster a sense of community responsibility; and to help service the disadvantaged and afflicted youth of our country.
The Trustees of the Trust have been monitoring the NCAA investigation of Reggie Bush and USC since first announced. We determined that no action was necessary by the Trust unless and until the NCAA acted and issued its report. Since the issuance of the NCAA decision vacating USC’s 2005 season and declaring Reggie Bush an ineligible athlete, the Trustees have met, discussed and reviewed all information underlying this decision in an effort to exercise the due diligence and due process required of any decision regarding the awarding of the 2005 Heisman Trophy.
We are very appreciative of the respect Reggie Bush demonstrated for the Heisman Trust, the whole Heisman fraternity, and the continuing legacy of the Trophy in his public statement issued September 14, 2010. It was a difficult decision to return the Heisman Trophy and he exhibited great character in acknowledging his mistakes and accepting the consequences. We intend to explore further his offer to support jointly “an educational program which will assist student athletes and their families” to avoid the pitfalls that plagued him during his college years as this is a part of our charitable mission as well.
As a result of Reggie Bush's decision to forfeit his title as Heisman winner of 2005, the Trustees have determined that there will be no Heisman Trophy winner for the year 2005.T
The wording there "the pitfalls that plagued him during his college years" is certainly stronger than what Bush said about himself. It was a nice touch by the Heisman folks.
Me too. And guess what? USC and Texas are going to go at it again, though this time in a home-and-home regular-season series.
You'll have to wait until 2017 and 2018, but the good news is that by then the Trojans should have restocked their roster after NCAA sanctions.
USC will host the Longhorns in the Coliseum on Sept. 16, 2017, then the Trojans will play in Austin on Sept. 15, 2018.
The Trojans hold a 4-1 lead in the series with Texas, with wins in 1955 (19-7) and 1967 (17-13) in the Coliseum and in 1956 (44-20) and 1966 (10-6) in Austin.
But most folks only remember the game in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4, 2006.
Let us now pause and say "thanks" to each athletic department for having the guts to schedule a game like this. Lots of elite programs try to avoid tough nonconference games, but it doesn't get much better than USC-Texas.
Of course, a lot could change in seven years. By then, it's possible that elder statesman Lane Kiffin will be widely lauded as a distinguished pillar of coaching class, accomplishment and stability.
Hey, it's possible.
'House of Pain' continues with three more Pac-10 'ouches'
Three hints: The band is on the field, Vince Young and Germaine-to-Boston.
Feel free to disagree.
Arizona
Oregon 44, Arizona 41, 2OT, 2009
With "College GameDay" on campus for the first time, Arizona fans stormed the field in celebration. Prematurely. And that set up a red ring of disappointment around the field at packed Arizona Stadium, when Jeremiah Masoli rallied the Ducks late for a tie in regulation and then a win in double-overtime. As it turned out, if the Wildcats had won, they would have gone to the school's first Rose Bowl. Masoli tied the game at 31-31 with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Ed Dickson with six seconds left, capping a 15-play, 80-yard drive. Two plays before, he had converted an 8-yard pass on fourth-and-5. Masoli scored the game winner from 1-yard out in the second overtime. It was his sixth touchdown of the night -- three passing and three running. It may have been the best game of 2009.
Arizona State
Ohio State 20, Arizona State 17, Rose Bowl, 1997
So close to a national championship. The Sun Devils' 11-0 regular season included a 19-0 victory over defending national champion Nebraska, and they looked poised to win in Pasadena when Jake Plummer, on third-and-11, scrambled for a touchdown and 17-14 lead with 1:40 to play. But the Buckeyes weren't done. They drove 65 yards for the winning score, with David Boston hauling in a touchdown pass from five yards out with 19 seconds left. That pass was thrown by Ohio State's backup quarterback, Joe Germaine, who came off the bench to earn game MVP honors. Germaine was born and raised in Arizona and grew up rooting for ASU but opted to go to Ohio State because the Sun Devils coaches wanted him to play defensive back.
California
USC 23, California 17, 2004
Cal dominated the best USC team of the Pete Carroll era -- the Bears outgained the Trojans 424 yards to 205 -- but a comeback attempt fell short at the end. It was the Bears only regular season loss, despite quarterback Aaron Rodgers tying an NCAA record by completing 23 consecutive passes. Rodgers was nearly perfect until three throws missed from the USC 14-yard line in the final minute. Cal was undone by poor special teams play and three turnovers (versus one from USC). Making the defeat even more bitter: After a lobbying effort from Texas coach Mack Brown, the Longhorns eclipsed the Bears in the BCS standings and played in the Rose Bowl, which relegated Cal, which hadn't played in the Rose Bowl since 1959, to the Holiday Bowl, where they played without passion in an upset lost to Texas Tech.
Oregon
Arizona 34, Oregon 24, 2007
It's hard to decide between the 49-42 loss to Stanford in 2001 -- the Ducks lone defeat that season -- or this one (the 2000 Civil War defeat also deserves note). The Stanford loss -- after leading 42-28 -- ended a 23-game winning streak and was the Ducks first home loss in four years. It also cost the Ducks a shot at the national title against Miami. At Arizona in 2007 on Thursday night on ESPN, the 8-1 Ducks were ranked No. 2 and quarterback Dennis Dixon was the Heisman Trophy frontrunner. They led 8-7 and were driving when Dixon blew out his knee (he'd first hurt it 12 days before versus Arizona State). Things mostly fell apart from there, in the game and over the final two games of the regular season. Here's the distinction: 2001 and its final No. 2 ranking still rate as the best season in program history. If Oregon had beaten Stanford, however, it would have played Miami in the Rose Bowl, the BCS title game, and that Hurricanes team was, well, awesome (in the real sense of the word). If the 2007 Ducks had won out and played LSU or Ohio State for the national title, their chances would have been very good to win the program's first national title. Instead, the season ended in major disappointment -- the Sun Bowl -- and an overwhelming sense of what might have been.
And we made the executive decision not to make this a list of USC upset losses -- other than the biggest one of those.
10. Oregon 56, Arizona State 55 (2 OT), 2000: Many of you are drawing a blank, but the ones who saw this one are jumping out of their chairs and going, "Oh man. That one was nuts." Both teams scored 21 points in the fourth quarter. The teams combined for 1,228 yards, 663 of those for the Sun Devils. Ducks quarterback Joey Harrington threw six -- SIX! -- touchdown passes, including three in the fourth quarter, the last of which tied the score with 27 seconds left after the Sun Devils gave away a critical fumble. Arizona State freshman QB Jeff Krohn threw five TD passes, by the way. ASU lost the game when coach Bruce Snyder decided to fake the extra point and go for the two-point conversion in the second overtime. It failed, leaving fans in Tempe stunned.
9. Washington State 30, USC 27 (OT), 2002: Any of you Cougars fans able to muster the memory of kicker Drew Dunning's slide on his knees at Martin Stadium? Dunning sent the game into overtime with a 35-yard field goal and then made the game-winner from the same distance in a victory that was critical to the Cougars' run to the Rose Bowl. The game featured a brilliant quarterback duel between Carson Palmer and Jason Gesser -- Gesser passed for 315 yards, Palmer for 381 -- and a dominant performance from Cougars defensive tackle Rien Long, who went on to win the Outland Trophy. Between this game and the 2006 Rose Bowl, USC lost just once.
8. Oregon 44, Arizona 41 (2 OT), 2009: If Arizona had won this game, we now know the Wildcats would have played in their first Rose Bowl. The Wildcats led 24-14 early in the fourth quarter, but then the game went crazy. With red-clad Arizona fans encircling the field, Ducks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli tied the game in regulation with six seconds left with a touchdown pass to Ed Dickson. Masoli then won it in the second overtime with a 1-yard run. Masoli ran for three TDs and passed for three more.
7. Stanford 24, USC 23, 2007: Greatest upset in Pac-10 history? Maybe. Stanford was a 41-point underdog playing its backup quarterback at No. 2 USC, which had won 35 in a row at home. But Trojans quarterback John David Booty, who foolishly played -- and was allowed to play -- with an injured throwing hand, threw four interceptions, while Stanford's Tavita Pritchard led a clutch, game-winning drive, throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Mark Bradford on fourth-and-goal with 49 seconds remaining.
6. Oregon 37, Oregon State 33, 2009: It was the Civil War for the Roses, with the Ducks earning a berth in the Rose Bowl after slipping a game crew of Beavers. While the return of Ducks running back LeGarrette Blount was significant -- he scored a critical touchdown -- the game belonged to redshirt freshman running back LaMichael James, who scored three touchdowns and rushed for 166 yards, and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who ran over Beavers safety Lance Mitchell to convert a fourth-and-3 play from the Beavers' 33 with 3:41 left as Oregon ran out the final six minutes with its final drive.
5. California 31, Oregon 24, 2007: Sixth-ranked California, featuring a stellar performance from receiver DeSean Jackson, outlasted No. 11 Oregon in a game between two teams that each would at one point rise to No. 2 during the season, though both ultimately crumbled. The game turned on a strange play as the Ducks were on the cusp of tying the score. With 22 seconds to go, Dennis Dixon found Cameron Colvin near the goal line, but Colvin fumbled trying to reach the ball into the end zone when he was hit by Marcus Ezeff. The loose ball went through the end zone and was ruled a touchback and possession for Cal.
4. Washington 33, Oregon State 30, 2000: It was the greatest game no one saw because of the late, West Coast kickoff at Husky Stadium. And at the time its magnitude wasn't clear. The critical play of the back-and-forth affair happened when Washington defensive tackle Larry Tripplett caught Ken Simonton for a three-yard loss on second-and-1 from the Huskies 26-yard line with 42 seconds left. The Beavers panicked and mistakenly spiked the ball -- they had a time out left -- and then Ryan Cesca missed a 46-yard field goal to tie. It was the Beavers only loss of the season; they crushed Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. They would have played Oklahoma for the national title if they had prevailed. And the win helped the Huskies win the Rose Bowl tiebreaker.
3. USC 23, California 17, 2004: No. 7 California had a first-and-goal on top-ranked USC's 9-yard line with under two minutes left. At that point, Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers had completed 29 of 31 for 267 yards and a touchdown. But the Bears couldn't punch it in, with USC registering a sack and forcing three incompletions. It was the closest call of the season for the best team of the USC dynasty.
2. USC 34, Notre Dame 31, 2005: The infamous "Bush Push" game. No. 9 Notre Dame was about to knock off top-ranked rival USC and make Irish coach Charlie Weis a national sensation, but Matt Leinart led a drive for the ages in the waning moments as the Trojans prevailed, scoring the winning points when Leinart got a little extra help from Bush on his second effort on a quarterback sneak.
1. Texas 41, USC 38, 2006 Rose Bowl: Perhaps the great game in college football history, particularly considering that the stakes were a national title for two unbeaten teams and the field was packed with talent and future high draft choices. Vince Young almost single-handedly willed his team to the victory -- he ran for 200 yards and passed for 267 more -- and denied the Trojans a third consecutive national title. USC walked away with a laundry list of "what ifs," but the ultimate result was a 34-game winning streak coming to an end.
Not sure how you get around that. From 2002 to 2008, the Trojans finished ranked in the nation's top four. During that span, no other conference team topped the Trojans in the national rankings.
One team not listed, however, merits special mention: Oregon in 2007.
That team was 8-1, ranked No. 2 in the BCS standings and appeared to be headed for a showdown with LSU for the national championship. Then quarterback Dennis Dixon blew out his knee at Arizona -- he'd actually hurt it the week before vs. Arizona State -- and the Ducks subsequently lost to the Wildcats, the first of three consecutive losses before a blowout victory over South Florida in the Sun Bowl.
More than a few people -- not just Ducks fans -- believe that team would have won the national title if Dixon had remained healthy.
Of course, if wishes were fishes then cows would fly.
10. USC, 2007: A toss-up between this squad and the Trojans 2006 team. The '07 team finished ranked third in the AP and second in the coaches poll, while '06 finished fourth in both. '07 lost to 41-point underdog Stanford and at Oregon, see above about the Ducks. '06 lost at Oregon State and at UCLA, a 13-9 defeat that cost it a spot in the national title game. That last detail iced it for '07.
9. USC, 2002: More than a few pundits watching Carson Palmer and company pound Iowa in the Orange Bowl opined that, by season's end, this might be the nation's best team in 2002. After a 3-2 start in Year Two of the Pete Carroll Era, the Trojans won eight in a row to finish 11-2 and ranked No. 4.
AP Photo/Don RyanAaron Rodgers and the Golden Bears only had one regular-season loss in 2004.7. Oregon State, 2000: If not for a crazy finish at Washington in a 33-30 defeat, the Beavers might have played Oklahoma for the national championship. They went on to blister Notre Dame 41-9 in the Fiesta Bowl and finished ranked fourth in the nation. Go back and look at the roster: Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, DeLawrence Grant, Dennis Weathersby, LeDarius Jackson, Ken Simonton, etc. This was hardly a scrappy, little team.
6. Washington, 2000: This crew of Huskies was hardly dominant but they just found a way to win week after week, led by quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo. The 11-1 season included a victory over Miami, which finished ranked No. 2, a loss at No. 7 Oregon, and a Rose Bowl win over Drew Brees and Purdue.
5. USC, 2008: This crew paired one of the best defenses in college football history with a quarterback who's playing in the AFC championship this weekend. Yes, it's fair to ask how the horsepucky this team didn't win the national championship. Oregon State fans care to explain?
4. Oregon, 2001: How strange was the Ducks 49-42 loss vs Stanford, their only defeat of the season? The normally staid AP said this in the game story, it was "a game that had everything but aliens landing on the Autzen Stadium turf." The Ducks led by 14 in the fourth quarter before a blocked punt and interception from Joey Harrington allowed the Cardinal to take the lead. While Oregon fans mostly remember getting BCSed out of the national title game by Nebraska, the Stanford game prevented them from playing Miami in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks blasted Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl and finished No. 2, still the program's best final ranking.
3. USC, 2003: A dominant team that lost only in triple-overtime at California. Only a BCS computer glitch forced the Trojans, ranked No. 1 in every poll, to share a portion of the national title with another squad.
2. USC, 2005: The offense was a thing of beauty -- 580 yards, 49 points per game -- but a young defense, which featured a true freshman and four sophomore starters, cost the Trojans in the thrilling BCS title loss to the University of Vince Young.
1. USC, 2004: Unbeaten, undisputed. Dominant. Best team of the decade in all of college football? Perhaps, though folks could make a strong argument for Miami in 2001. An extraordinary array of talent on both sides of the ball. And defense was the difference vs. 2005. It ranked sixth in the nation in total defense and third in scoring. The Trojans battered Oklahoma 55-19 for the national title.
Three keys: Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi
1. Play loose: Ohio State carries a heavy burden into the Rose Bowl: its recent futility in big games as well as the Big Ten's sagging national image (fair or unfair). Whatever the players -- and coaches -- say, that is part of their pregame mindset. Oregon? It carries unusual uniforms into the scenic stadium. It carries its fancy-pants swagger. At least it should. While the Ducks have been poised in big games all year, this is the biggest stage by far. How will the young players respond to the moment, particularly if things go wrong early? The Buckeyes' defense figures to be the best unit the Ducks have faced this season. Will that stiff resistance cause frustration? Or what if the Buckeyes' running game has its way against an undersized Ducks defense? Oregon must gear up for a 60-minute game. It can't tighten up or panic if things go wrong early.
2. Attack Pryor: Texas' Vince Young had his "hello word" moment in the 2005 Rose Bowl against Michigan, and it's not impossible to imagine Buckeyes' talented but inconsistent quarterback, Terrelle Pryor, posting his versus Oregon. The Ducks can't let Pryor gain early confidence, and they particularly can't let him run without paying a price. Pryor is banged-up -- he's playing with knee and ankle injuries -- so when he breaks contain on scrambles or takes off on designed run plays, the Ducks need to smack the heck out of him. Make him think. Make him want to slide or run out of bounds. And when Pryor and his powerful but often errant arm drop back to pass, the Ducks can't let him feel comfortable and set his feet. A skittish Pryor is the best kind of Pryor for an opposing defense.
3. Spread the wealth: For Oregon, it all starts with the spread option: quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back LaMichael James. Ohio State has to stop that first, and don't be surprised if the Buckeyes' rugged front seven is up to the task early. The key is variety and balance. Such as, the spread option becomes a play-action pass and becomes Masoli to tight end Ed Dickson downfield against man coverage. Or, Masoli takes off to the perimeter but then dumps the ball to receiver Jeff Maehl. A little LeGarrette Blount up the middle for some physical play. And, you know, Masoli throws a pretty good deep ball. Oregon can't let a good Ohio State defense get comfortable. The Ducks must use all of their playmakers and force Ohio State to account for all areas of the field.
Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
Los Angeles Times columnist T.J. Simers is one of a kind. When he shows up in the interview room, coaches and athletes start to sweat and look for the exit -- even a guy who often enjoys verbal duels, such as USC coach Pete Carroll.
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| AP Photo/Elaine Thompson | |
| If Jake Locker keeps this pace up, he could become a Heisman Trophy candidate. |
Simer's column about Carroll, USC and the disappearance of No. 3 QB Mitch Mustain is interesting in itself.
But this quote from Carroll about Washington quarterback Jake Locker caught my eye:
"That's the best quarterback we've played in nine years here," Carroll said when told Washington has beaten only Idaho and USC the last two years. " Jake Locker has ridiculous talent, and had he remained healthy last year, Tyrone [Willingham] would still be coaching there."
Er, Vince Young? Aaron Rodgers? Dennis Dixon?
Still, Carroll doesn't sling around such high praise for opposing players after a game that often.
Locker is presently 20th in the nation in total offense with 288 yards per game. He's thrown more passes this year -- 105 [Edit note: This total was changed from 63, the number of completions Locker has] -- than any other Pac-10 quarterback but he has only one interception with five touchdowns.
Carroll's quote and the early numbers raise a question.
If Washington, a team that just two over weeks ago was riding a 15-game losing streak, keeps winning, and Locker keeps putting up impressive numbers, how much longer until he becomes a Heisman Trophy candidate?
There's also been chatter of late that Locker might be playing his way into being a high pick in the 2010 NFL draft. Chris Mortensen tweeted that Locker and Sam Bradford are in a "real competition" to be the No. 1 quarterback in next year's draft.
If he opts to return for his senior year, he'd almost certainly be among the top-five preseason candidates for the 2010 Heisman Trophy.
A year ago vs. Stanford, Locker busted up his thumb, which ended his season, and he thereafter watched as his already-fired coach and the Huskies go on a college football version of the Bataan Death March. He was miserable.
Now, with a date at Stanford on Saturday, he's a high-profile baseball prospect under contract with the L.A. Angels and he's being touted as an elite NFL prospect.
And the Huskies are nationally ranked.
Sometimes life gives you lemons. And then it hands you a plate of shrimp and oysters to go with the lemons.
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| AP Photo | |
| Quarterbacks Terrelle Pryor and Matt Barkley will be the focal point for Saturday's Ohio State-USC throwdown.
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Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg and Ted Miller
All eyes will be on Columbus this weekend as No. 3 USC visits No. 8 Ohio State (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET). Before the two teams lock horns on the banks of the Olentangy River, we debated several key questions heading into the mega matchup.
Adam Rittenberg: Ted, I look at this USC defense and don't see a glaring weakness. Still, several mobile quarterbacks [Vince Young, Dennis Dixon] have hurt the Trojans in the past. How do you expect USC to defend Terrelle Pryor and does Pryor give the Buckeyes a fighting chance in this game?
Ted Miller: I think Pryor gives the Buckeyes a fighting chance because he can make something out of nothing when a play breaks down -- and the USC defense is good at breaking down plays. While USC fans would debate you on the health of their defense vs. Vince Young, the fact is the Trojans learned from that game that you need to account for an athletic quarterback -- you can't just run your base defense and expect gap control and rush lanes to take care of things. There surely will be some sort of spying, whether with one guy or a shift of guys. On the plus side for USC, this is a really fast defense. It's much faster at linebacker than last year. Malcolm Smith is fast -- his brother is an NFL receiver -- and Michael Morgan is a 4.4 guy. Toss in end Everson Griffen and you've got some guys who can really run on the perimeter of the front-seven. Moreover, middle linebacker Chris Galippo implied to me that this will be more disciplined defense. As extraordinary as Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews and Rey Maualuga were last year, they, at times, freelanced, looking for big plays. That means the Trojans won't be as likely abandon their assigned gaps or let contain break down.
As long as we're talking quarterbacks, what do you think about the poise issue for both guys? USC's Matt Barkley claims he doesn't get nervous. You buy that at the Horseshoe? And how will Pryor react on this big stage?
AR: The Shoe remains the toughest place to play in the Big Ten, getting the slightest of edges against Penn State's Beaver Stadium. Barkley's nerves will be put to the test. It will be extremely loud, especially at the start of the game, and the south end zone addition really makes the decibels rise. I'd imagine USC will go to its strength right away, pound away with those tremendous running backs and athletic offensive line and give Barkley some time to get settled. Everything I've heard about this kid -- from yourself and other observers -- is that he's the real deal. I saw true freshman quarterback Tate Forcier show no nerves last week for Michigan in the Big House, but then again, he was playing at home. Ohio State's defensive line is the strength of the team, and it has to rattle Barkley early for the Buckeyes to have a shot. As for Pryor, he has shown some toughness late in games, particularly against Wisconsin last year. He's certainly more comfortable as a passer, but he can't get away from what makes him special and needs to make plays with his feet. I still haven't seen a team contain Pryor on the move, but he needs the freedom from head coach Jim Tressel and the willingness from within to really cut loose against USC.
Ohio State's defensive line is the team's strongest unit. Same could be said for USC's offensive line. How do you see that matchup shaking out, and will Ohio State need to use speed (Thaddeus Gibson, Cameron Heyward) rather than power to beat the Trojans' front?
Is Pryor the second coming of Young?
Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
LOS ANGELES -- He's 6-foot-6, 235 pounds. He runs a 4.3 40-yard dash. And he's got a cannon for an arm.
Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor is a special athlete playing in a special game, and it's hard not to recall that the last time that combination came together opposite USC, the Trojans saw Vince Young break their hearts and end their bid for a third consecutive national championship.
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| AP Photo/Carlos Osorio | |
| Terrelle Pryor can beat defenses with his arm or his legs. |
That's why, as much as anything, USC's visit to Ohio State on Saturday likely comes down to how the Trojans rebuilt defense contends with Pryor, who is 10-1 as the Buckeyes starter and was preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
"This is a very, very unusual athlete to be this tall and this fast and have a great arm," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "I think you'll see he's not just a runner. He's working hard to be an all-around quarterback. He's showing that."
Pryor completed 14 of 21 passes for 174 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the Buckeyes season-opening win over Navy. He also ran for 30 yards on six carries with a touchdown.
Last year, Pryor transformed from the nation's consensus top recruit to the Buckeyes' starter, much like Matt Barkley is doing this fall for USC.
In last year's game in the Coliseum, Pryor alternated with senior Todd Boeckman, rushing for 40 yards and completing 7 of 9 passes. He became the full-time starter thereafter.
"He's still not a wily veteran by any means," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "He understands the game much, much better. I think he knows more of why he's doing what he's doing and why we're doing what we're doing and why the defense does what they do and all of those things."
While observers from both sides call Pryor a complete quarterback -- not just an athlete taking the snap -- the aspects of his game that are hardest to contend with are his speed and improvisational ability.
"I've always said that the most difficult aspect of defending an opponent is when they have a quarterback that can run and run on plays that aren't designed to be quarterback running plays," Carroll said. "When a pass starts and it breaks down and it takes off, it becomes a sweep or a draw or a scramble situation. It's just so out of the normal structure, that, you know, anything can happen. So that's an X factor that a running quarterback presents."
The theme for the USC defense: Tackle, tackle, tackle.
And with prejudice.
"You've really got to key on your up-field shoulder and rely on your technique with a running quarterback like that," end Everson Griffen said. "We've got to swarm as a team and hit him hard every time he runs. Hit him hard -- make it harder for him, not as fun."
Griffen said the defense expects to see more speed option and designed runs with Pryor. Because the Buckeyes are playing in the friendly confines of Ohio Stadium -- "The Horseshoe" -- it will be easy for Pryor to check in and out of plays at the line of scrimmage if he thinks he sees a vulnerability in the Trojans' defense.
So it will be a chess match.
The Trojans might assign a spy for Pryor. It certainly will try to limit his running lanes. But the likelihood is Pryor will make plays with his feet. It's a matter of limiting them, which the Trojans failed to do with Young.
"A really good runner like Terrelle Pryor can go where he wants to go," Carroll said. "You can say you're going to keep him in the pocket and then he just scoots up and gets out again. He's really got a knack for escaping. You can holler at guys for not containing, but he just dips and goes. He's really good at it and he's really fast. The thing you hope you do is when you get your chances you tackle him because he breaks a lot of tackles. Guys drip off him a lot. He doesn't run over you, he just runs. He's fast and really strong and really big and he's difficult to get down. When he wants to go, he goes."
And there's always the issue of overcompensating. If Pryor breaks contain and two or three Trojans shirk their responsibilities in pursuit, then Pryor might be able to make a play downfield.
"You play the offense -- you don't want to look at it as playing Terrell Pryor," linebacker Chris Galippo said. "You want to look at it as playing the Ohio State offense."
That said, Young accounted for 467 of Texas' 556 total yards in the Longhorns' nail-biting victory in the BCS title game.
So there's no other way to say it: USC's defense has a Pryor engagement on Saturday.
Opening the mailbag: Why don't the Beavers get respect?
Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
It's Friday.
'Nuff said.
Notes please.
Bubba Bear from Hayward, Calif., writes: In my anticipation of the season, I've been poring over Cal's stats from 2008. As you know, Call had a poor 3rd down conversion rate (29%). Check this out. They had a better 2nd down conversion rate (33%). How weird is that? Is that all play calling? Playing fast and loose on 2nd down, conservative and predictable on 3rd? It sure felt that way.
Ted Miller: Much like Berkeley statistics professor Philip Stark, I specialize inference statistical problems, primarily in physical science. I am especially interested in confidence procedures tailored for specific goals and in quantifying the uncertainty in inferences that rely on numerical models of complex physical systems.
So I can't help you here without more information.
I love you Cal people. I get at least one note like this a week. I suggest you guys either subscribe here. Or apply for a job.
OK. I'm overstating. The information you're giving me is actually not that surprising based on Cal's poor performance in the passing game last year.
Would you believe the Bears ranked ninth in the Pac-10 in completion percentage (52.6 percent)? That's worse than Stanford and Washington State. Ouch.
Second down is typically a less predictable call than third down. Third down is a passing down. Cal didn't pass well last year. And when a defense sits on the pass? Well, you would think that made things harder for quarterbacks who aren't terribly accurate.
Jason from Portland writes: Ted, over the past 3 seasons the Beavers have a 2-1 record against USC, Cal, and Oregon each. They have finished ranked in the top 25 in each of those 3 years and have won all of their bowl games. They also just sent six players to the NFL in this last draft. However, whenever you read a team possibly knocking off the Trojans this year it always is just about either Cal or Oregon. I don't understand why people continue to dismiss this program as "overachieving". How many more wins, top 25 finishes, or producing of all-conference/NFL players does Mike Riley need before people start realizing this is a legit top 25 program year-in and year-out in this country not just "the little engine that could"?
Ted Miller: It's actually seven players who were drafted this past spring.
You make a fair point.
Yet, fair or unfair, there are a handful of reasons.
- Oregon State is a small-stadium, small-market team, which limits its national attention. Don't take that wrong. It just means folks -- including media -- are ignorant when assessing the Beavers. In defense of the media, how many perennial top-25 teams play in stadiums that seat less than 50,000? It's hard for a lot of folks to wrap their minds around the idea of the Beavers being a perennial top-25 team.
- The performance in the Pac-10 has been impressive. But the slow starts -- three 2-3 starts in a row -- hurt. It means the Beavers fall off the radar -- and out of the rankings -- for half the season or more before climbing back. AP voters review conference standings in late November and go, "Wow, I didn't know Oregon State had won eight games!"
- Along with those 2-3 starts: The Beavers haven't distinguished themselves in nonconference play, posting blowout defeats in each of the last four seasons (45-14, Penn State; 34-7, Cincinnati; 42-14, Boise State; 63-27, Louisville).
- Moreover, Oregon State hasn't had that "holy cow!" team that wins nine or 10 games one season and then welcomes back a bunch of starters. Last year, replacing the entire front-seven on defense was a legit question. This year, there are again legit questions on defense, not to mention the offensive line. If Oregon State had 17 starters back -- instead of 11 -- as Cal does, it would be ranked toward the top of the preseason polls.
- As for knocking off the Trojans, keep in mind that despite all the success -- and wins over USC -- the Beavers last finished in the top-two in the conference in 2000 (last year's "tie" with the Ducks is a technicality, canceled by the head-to-head meeting and overall record). The Beavers have not played in the Holiday Bowl.
Now, my take is sentiments are changing on this. Despite significant personnel losses, the Beavers were picked fourth in the Pac-10's preseason media poll. Moreover, they were ranked 25th in the preseason coaches poll.
Jake from Honolulu writes: With the Big Ten having such a weak Non-Conference schedule, and the Pac 10 having such a difficult one, which team has more of a conference-strength image to lose in the USC-OSU showdown.
Ted Miller: Game is much bigger for Ohio State and the Big Ten. It's not even close.
Ohio State is defending its home turf. It doesn't want the Trojans dancing in the Horseshoe.
Moreover, while both teams took significant personnel hits, USC lost more and therefore is in more of a "rebuilding" mode -- at least as far as that term ever applies to the Trojans.
As for the Big Ten, it needs a victory over a marquee opponent after throwing up on itself in recent BCS bowl games.
Jon from Tumalo, Ore., writes: Here they go again:Matt Hayes in The Sporting News argues USC would not be that competitive in the SEC!He totally negates SC's 4-0 slate against Auburn and Arkansas saying these 2 are not representative of the conference!Auburn was highly rated when SC went into Auburn with a new QB and shut out the Tigers.The 2nd year SC killed Arkansas, this time in Fayetteville, Arkansas won the SEC west and lost a close champ game to FL because of a muffed punt!My question: How do you think SC would do in the SEC?With 21 players drafted in the past 2 years it's not as if SC would have a talent disparity.The BcS hegemony continues.
Ted Miller: Matt is a highly respected college football writer and a good dude.
I will take issue with this line: "The one overriding factor still in question for all those wonderful USC teams: They played one fast, athletic and nasty defense in a big bowl game (Texas) -- and lost."
True.
But USC gained 574 yards against that Longhorns defense. And had four consecutive second-half touchdown drives, one of the most extraordinary shows of offensive force I've ever seen against a quality defense.
The best show of offensive force I've seen being Vince Young that evening.
USC averaged 580 yards of total offense against all of those "other" defenses.
As for how USC would have done in the SEC? It would have won the SEC title in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008.
That's my opinion and what you'd probably get if you talked to folks who set lines in Las Vegas or NFL scouts. Some might argue for 2002 and against 2007.
I agree with Hayes that USC would not be favored to win the SEC this year.
Sean from Tampa writes: I was curious about Coach Tedford extremely limiting media access on top of already cutting out the public from practices. Why do you think he suddenly made this change, and do you think it will hurt Cal's program
?
Ted Miller: Tedford is the only Pac-10 coach to completely close preseason practices, though he obviously didn't do so until this week.
I haven't talked to Tedford about this, nor was I there. Will it hurt the program? It might, but probably not if the Bears keep winning. Few fans will grouse about media access if the Bears play in the Rose Bowl.
I will say I read an article last week that made me say, "Tedford won't like this." I won't identify the source, but the article specifically described how a player was being used. I did not link the story, by the way.
Jay from Eugene, Ore., wrote: Is there any chance of expanding the Pac-10?
Ted Miller: Sure, with a new commissioner in place and the conference coming to grasp with a changing marketplace in which it is falling behind, I think it will be on the table over the next few years.
In fact, I talked to an informed guy this past week, a guy who would have some say if expansion were an issue, and he said Utah and Colorado would be the best two choices, if the Pac-10 went in that direction.
Feel free to discuss.
Josh from Oceanside, Calif., writes: Your Northwest tour was one PAC-10 school short. Why didn't you go to Pullman? I understand that the Cougs aren't going to make much noise this year, but to totally exclude them is ridiculous. Just my two cents...
Jeff from Blackfoot, Idaho writes: Why are you skipping Pullman in your NW preview? WSU is a Pac-10 football team. You do know there is the Pullman/Moscow airport, right? There is also an airport in Spokane. There is even electricity AND running water in Pullman!
Mike from Tualatin, Ore., writes: Where is your sideline report from Pullman?Is it only a PAC-9 review?We will miss your 0-12 prediction for the Cougs without some quotes!We will see how it turns out..........That's why they play the games
Ted Miller: I wish I could have gone to all four NW schools. Just couldn't.
I won't be going to the Bay Area this preseason, though I went there in the spring. Nor will I go to Los Angeles, though I will be spending nearly a week there before the USC-Ohio State game.
Just the way things worked out. My bosses, who have like 452 writers to juggle, tell me where to go, and I go.
Moreover, I went to Washington State last year and didn't go to Seattle, if that helps.
AC from Detroit writes: Alright TM, you've been to the camp, you've seen the new coach doing his thing, witnessed the defense showing signs of life, saw the inexperienced lineman in action, and watched the QB's show what they've got.What's the verdict on the Ducks?Please tell me that you're under the impression that this Boise State game is going to make a great moment for the bachelor party I'm throwing my friend that night and not spin everyone into an angry drunken frenzy.
Ted Miller: I've learned not to make sweeping conclusions based on one day of practice, which is what I saw at Washington, Oregon State, Oregon and Arizona.
As for Oregon, I saw nothing that changed my overall take on the Ducks.
This is a potential top-10 team, but we won't really get a good measure of the inexperienced players on both lines until the lights are on.
I know that sounds like a cop-out, but I've seen too many practice heroes or practice yawners defy my initial impressions in games.
As for your friend's bachelor party on Sept. 3, I expect Oregon to win that game, if that helps, but that's only a 60-40 expectation.
Bachelor parties are cool [I said that with my best Beavis voice].
Mike from Yorba Linda, Calif., writes: Ted, can you give us a clue to the hours you keep? I see these posts at 7 AM PDT though 5 PM PDT and anywhere in between, while traveling from site to site ... and when you're not traveling, what do you do --- stay up after the 2 AM feeding?
Ted Miller: My day ended at 5 p.m? I'm embarrassed.
College football sleeps for no man (or woman, for that matter). So neither do I.
Opening the mailbag: Should Oregon fans fret their O-line?
Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
Happy Friday...
To your letters.
King from San Diego writes: Given the controversy caused by the differences in conference scheduling, shouldn't the NCAA require all conferences to either do a round robin schedule like the Pac-10 or a division setup with a Conference Championship game at years end like the SEC, Big 12 and ACC?
Ted Miller: The NCAA doesn't have that sort of control over FBS football. It really only does rules enforcement. The BCS and the bowl games operate outside the NCAA, and the conferences mostly make their own decisions about divisions and schedules.
Moreover, round-robin schedules wouldn't work for 12-team conferences and splitting up into divisions doesn't make much sense for the Pac-10 or eight-team Big East.
I understand your sentiments. You want standardization. But I don't foresee that happening any time soon.
Jorge from Chambersburg, Pa., writes: I recently read an article on Tim Tebow and it made me think about his tremendous leadership. This, sadly, reminded me of Vince Young, his great leadership, and how far these two had taken their teams. Who will be the Trojan's leader (on offense) or will Taylor Mays be the leader for both sides of the ball? Will the new leader match Mark Sanchez's fire?
Ted Miller: There are plenty of candidates -- there are veterans at every spot on offense, other than quarterback. The offensive line is a good place to start, most particularly guys like multiyear starters Jeff Byers, Kristofer O'Dowd and Charles Brown.
But a quarterback has to be a leader. That will be a critical part of Aaron Corp's offseason -- convincing his teammates that he's the guy to follow into battle.
Michael from Tucson writes: Why no love for Arizona. Class is out and we're killing for news from the desert. But other then some features on a particular player there's nothing coming out. The team is barely making it into the lunch links more then once a week! What up in Tucson??? Why no love?
Ted Miller: Well, Arizona started and finished spring practices first. There's not a lot going on over there.
Moreover, you should probably be happy you aren't reading much about the Wildcats -- the softball team is getting all the headlines at present. If you were reading a lot of football stories right now, they would likely be bad news -- suspensions, transfers, off-field problems, etc.
Moreover, all our recent posts -- spring reviews -- have had Wildcats tidbits, and this story was about defensive end Brooks Reed.
Scott from Rochester, Minn., writes: Ted, really really disappointed in your answer to the guy from NYC about arguing the PAC 10 is better than SEC. Seriously man, there are enough people who speak without thinking you are supposed to be on our side. I am tired of the ass kissing everyone does for the SEC.
Ted Miller: Hey, the SEC is the nation's best conference, on average, over the past decade. While that can't be stated as fact, there's plenty of anecdotal and circumstantial evidence -- starting with number of different teams that have won national championships -- to support that idea.
My major contentions in this conference strength debate -- tiresome at times, but also catnip for passionate fans -- have been twofold: 1. USC is the best program in college football. If the Trojans had played in the SEC since 2002, they would have dominated and probably won three or four national titles; 2. The difference between the Pac-10 and SEC -- and Big 12 and Big Ten and everyone else -- isn't nearly as large as SEC adherents and many national commentators claim it is.
For example: Oregon would have been the second-best team in the SEC last year and California and Oregon State would have been in the top-five.
Kenny from Corvallis writes: Ted- I'd like it if you would give me an honest (not sugar coated) assessment of the Oregon State program, and its possibilities. I understand that is is going to be difficult given the size of the program to consistently win 10 games a year and became a major player. I also believe that a reason Mike Riley's underrated recruiting classes work is because that Pac-10 has been down of late, but once the Washingtons and UCLAs of the conference pick up steam, that he is going to have to get better athletes, plain and simple. What are your thoughts?
Ted Miller: Kenny, are you trying to get me into trouble?
Well, Oregon State's best team (2000) was put together when both Washington and Oregon were up. And recall that team was a nail-biting game at Washington away -- what if someone had blocked Larry Tripplett on that play! -- from being undefeated and playing for the FREAKING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
I think Mike Riley has something going in Corvallis. A down season will be around .500. The program will regularly win seven, eight or nine games. And every so often they will be in the running for a BCS bowl berth.
I don't think UCLA or Washington rising will damage the Beavers that much.
Bearcatvol from Dalton, Ga., writes: Ted, Loved the roadtrip list but it seems like you missed an amazing potential double header football day. September 19th- Utah (Sugar Bowl) at Oregon and Cincinnati (Orange Bowl) at Oregon State. If TV works the right kickoff times you could easily attend both games and they would be very good non-conference clashes.... all within an hour and 20 minute drive of each other. I'm coming across country for it, hope I get both games in.
Ted Miller: That is a good one. Can you bring me some carpet when you come to the West Coast? (Inside joke about Dalton, Ga., from an Atlanta native.)
That's also a huge twin-bill for the Pac-10, considering both are revenge matchups that the Beavers and Ducks previously lost.
Nate from Pleasanton, Calif., writes: Obviously there has not been much success with Stanford's passing game in recent years but with Andrew Luck primed to be a starter and with the receiving corps improving since the loss of Mark Bradford and Evan Moore, could this be the year were a powerful combination of Stanford's rushing game and passing game push them into the upper part of the Pac-10 and possibly into a bowl game?
Ted Miller: How upper?
My guess is Stanford earns a bowl berth this season. And I wouldn't be surprised if the Cardinal challenge for a spot in the top-half of the conference, though they may still be a year or two away.
By the time Luck is a senior and coach Jim Harbaugh's stellar recruiting settles in? Things could get interesting.
Michael from Parts Unknown writes: There is quite a bit of optimism and expectation for Arizona going into next season. I'm not so convinced. While I can certainly see the team winning eight or games because of the softer schedule, given the number of starters they have to replace on defense while also losing the heart and soul of the offense (i.e. Tuitama, Britton, Thomas), I can just easily see the Wildcats losing as many eight games in 2009. Thoughts? As a followup, I'm wondering what happens to Stoops if the latter scenario plays out considering the recent contract extension.
Ted Miller: Hey, nothing shocks me in the Pac-10.
At least not since USC lost at home to Stanford.
I'd be surprised if the Wildcats tumble. Mike Stoops has collected some good talent and I think he's transformed the culture in a positive way.
But if things did go south, and Arizona went 4-8, well, the hot-seat talk would begin anew. That's just the way it is in big-time college coaching.
Dan from Eugene, Ore., writes: Can you elaborate on why Oregon's offensive line is such a big issue? None of your previous postings have convinced me that this is true.
Ted Miller: The Ducks lost three multiyear starters from their dominant offensive lines of 2008 and 2009. Two of whom -- center Max Unger and tackle Fenuki Tupou -- were drafted. The third, 26-game starter Mark Lewis, signed a free-agent deal with Miami.
They were the Ducks' three best linemen in 2008. By far.
The returning players with experience who are expected to fill four of five starting spots -- Bo Thran, C.E. Kaiser, Jordan Holmes and Mark Asper -- have combined for 19 starts.
The fifth spot is currently manned by Carson York, who's a redshirt freshman.
Thran and Kaiser missed spring due to injuries.
Without those two, the line often looked overwhelmed this spring by a defensive line that also is replacing three starters.
In a previous mailbag, I noted that the Ducks' issues up front aren't as worrisome as they might seem -- they've got four guys back with starting experience and line coach Steve Greatwood is first-rate.
But any Ducks fans who tells you he's not worried at least a little bit is working the fan spin pretty hard.
Opening the mailbag: Tebow exhaustion in the Pac-10?
Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
First, lots of feedback on my restaurant recommendations for the ultimate Pac-10 road trip.
I tried to go for diversity: seafood, Italian, Pan-Asian, French, steaks, cheap, pricey, frou frou, local institutions, etc.
Some of you took real offense to certain choices ... ouch!
As for those who don't like Adam's Place in Eugene, Ore., are you aware that it's the headquarters of the Eugene Martini Association!
I'm not going to just sit here and listen to you badmouth the home of the Eugene Martini Association, an organization that does so much good in the world, trying to help as many people as possible get the martinis they need!
[Sob.]
To your letters.
Cam from Albany, Ore., wrote: When comparing the spring production of Oregon against the tangible talent at USC, which school is deeper at QB for 2009?
Ted Miller: Interesting question.
USC has three quarterbacks who are more physically talented -- in terms of NFL possibilities, at least -- than any Oregon quarterback.
Oregon has Jeremiah Masoli, who's the top returning quarterback in the Pac-10, and Justin Roper, who has a lot of game experience.
None of USC's three quarterbacks -- Aaron Corp, Mitch Mustain or Matt Barkley -- owns significant experience running a Pac-10 offense. (Mustain's experience as a true freshman at Arkansas doesn't count for much; see his struggles with USC's pro-style offense.)
Oregon's third and perhaps fourth options are Darron Thomas and Nate Costa, if he's healthy. Hopes were high for Costa last year before he suffered another serious knee injury, and Thomas is the quarterback of the future.
Seems to me both schools are fairly set at the position. But heading into 2008, I'd take Masoli over anyone else in the conference.
Daniel from Cypress, Calif., writes: What are you hearing about the new PAC-10 commish, about making decisions that will promote viewing of PAC-10 football nationally and what do you see him doing about contributing to changing the BCS?
Ted Miller: You don't need to wait to hear from Larry Scott. Outgoing commissioner Tom Hansen told the Orange County Register this week that there have been discussions about starting a "Pac-10 network," similar to what the Big Ten has already done.
Way -- WAY -- preliminary. But it shows that the Pac-10 is finally, due to revenue woes, looking to get creative in the ways the league markets itself.
As for Scott, it's too early to know how he might change things. He's been laying low, and truth is he probably has no idea what he's going to do. Bottom line is he serves the will of the school presidents, most of whom seem dead-set against change.
And I think the Pac-10 is a long way from joining the revolt against the BCS.
Brian from Parts Unknown writes: With the recent news about Floyd at USC possibly giving Mayo's handler $1000 and the NCAA combining the basketball and football probes of USC, I am starting to believe USC will get more than a slap on the wrist. What do you make of this? What penalties would you guess will be coming if the latest allegations are true?
Ted Miller: What has been reported on the basketball side of things is significantly different than what has been reported on the football side.
This is a football blog, so I'm going to leave the Tim Floyd-O.J. Mayo mess to other folks to sort out.
As for football, as I have previously stated: It will come down to whether the NCAA finds that USC knew -- or should have known -- about Reggie Bush's relationship with a pair of would-be agents who were allegedly giving him money and gifts.
The evidence to support the notion that any USC coach had direct knowledge is scant. It basically amounts to an allegation that running backs coach Todd McNair socialized with Bush one night in San Diego when the would-be agents were around and claims by the would-be agents that they were allowed in the USC locker room after games.
Having been in the USC locker room many times, I can only say ... who isn't inside the freaking USC locker room after a game?
And, by the way, both Lloyd Lake's and Michael Michaels' lawyers said early in the case that they had no direct evidence that USC knew what was going on, according to the book, "Tarnished Heisman."
Where USC football, however, might be found most culpable is lax oversight.
Will that, combined with the basketball allegations, amount to the dreaded "lack of institutional control"? We shall see. The odds it will are certainly better than they were a few months ago.
Ryan from Austin writes: I really enjoy the blog. It is a nice dose of reality as a Trojan fan in Austin, TX. And for those wondering, coming back to Austin after flying out to Pasadena for the 2006 Rose Bowl was absolutely brutal. Vince Young SI cover everywhere for what seemed like months...wait, it was months. I digress but do have a question... Can USC get to the BCS championship game with one loss? I know there are numerous factors outside their control, but I'm curious if you think an early season loss to Cal or Ohio State ends their title game chances.
Ted Miller: Sure. As you say, a lot factors in -- other one-loss teams, USC's ranking when it loses and who it loses to, the Pac-10's top-to-bottom strength, etc.
What the Trojans need if they lose once is for the teams on their schedule to do well, the Pac-10 as well as Ohio State and Notre Dame. And it would help if the Trojans lone loss comes before November, or even mid-October.
If the Pac-10 makes a strong showing against another difficult slate off nonconference games and seven teams earn bowl eligibility, then USC probably would have a strong case with one loss.
Nate from Pleasanton, Calif., writes: If Stanford's Toby Gerhart does declare for the MLB draft who would you expect to step up for the Cardinal and how well do you think they would perform to keep the standards for rushing that were set with last years rushing attack?
Ted Miller: The good news for Stanford fans is it's starting to look like Gerhart will be back.
If Gerhart does bolt, however, Jeremy Stewart would be first in line, with a trio of incoming freshmen -- Tyler Gaffney, Usua Amanam and Stepfan Taylor -- finding themselves in the midst of an outstanding opportunity.
Moreover, coach Jim Harbaugh couldn't stop gushing about Alex Debniak this spring. He's going to double as a lineba
cker and running back.
As big an issue for the running game is filling some holes on the offensive line.
Van from Pahrump, Nev., writes: For context, I'm a rabid USC fan. I fully agree that Tim Tebow is already an all-time college great, possessed of justifiably admired awesome football skills and charismatic leadership abilities. But I really don't get the degree of unmitigated fawning over him that seems to universally anoint him as the "best ever." May I be so bold as to ask what ever happened to Vince Young? You know, that Texas QB who apparently played- and only modestly at that- many, many decades ago. I do not think any player in college history ever had an incredible performance like Vince did in the vs. Michigan Rose Bowl- and THEN came his even better performance against USC!
Ted Miller: If you've come expecting me to tweak Tim Tebow, you, my friend, are in the wrong place.
Two national championships. A Heisman Trophy and a third-place finish.
And another year in which Florida is expected to at least play for another championship.
Vince Young was wonderful in a pair of Rose Bowls. In fact, I'm not sure if his twin performances weren't the best bowl performance combination in college football history.
But Tebow has a chance, if he wins a third national title, to instantly become one of college football's all-time greats.
And, you know, he seems like a heck of a guy to me.
Manny from Scottsdale writes: Ted, Where do you hear [Arizona State quarterback Danny] Sullivan is a heavy favorite? He was horrible Spring Game and can't move. When I read ESPN I expect to hear good evaluation. Who are you getting that info from? ASU needs anything but Sullivan and we all saw it but you I guess?
Ted Miller: Dennis Erickson. Where did you hear differently?
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Ted Miller
Miller has been covering college football since 1997, starting with Auburn and then heading West to Washington and the Pac-12. His columns for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer won first place in the 2007 APSE Best Writing contest. The Atlanta native and University of Richmond graduate presently lives with his wife in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Kevin Gemmell
Gemmell covered San Diego State and the Mountain West Conference for three years before joining ESPN.com. As a Santa Clara graduate, his hope is that the Broncos will one day re-institute football. Until then, he lives vicariously through his readers. Gemmell lives in California with his wife and son.
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