USC 2007 Nat'l Champs?

[iaafan]

Just got done watching Texas get every call and break in the book to walk off with the big one. Texas is good, but they got let off the hook by the refs and stupid USC plays. USC will be back. All their receivers, LenDale White, two good QBs (Booty and Sanchez), better defense.

But the non-review on Young's pitch that went for a TD and Bush's bonehead lateral really turned the game. Leinart made a bad pass on a bad call on 2nd and 7 just before they turn it over on downs. If they run there and again on 3rd down the clock has about 1:15 and they punt it. Even if they kick it in the EZ Texas has about 1:10 to go 80 yards instead of 2:05 to go 60. Huge mistakes by USC.

[SonomaCat]

I was baffled by the TO by the USC D on the PAT as well. That really killed their chances on the last drive.

Did Young just elevate himself to the number 1 pick (and trade down, in the case of Houston)? He was amazing. He'd be foolish to not go pro this very second -- he will never command a higher price than he can right now, and there is really no reason for him to stick around (he can get a degree during summer school if he needs that touchy feely degree to go along with his millions of dollars).

[lifeloyalsigmsu]

Just got done watching Texas get every call and break in the book to walk off with the big one. Texas is good, but they got let off the hook by the refs and stupid USC plays. USC will be back. All their receivers, LenDale White, two good QBs (Booty and Sanchez), better defense.

But the non-review on Young's pitch that went for a TD and Bush's bonehead lateral really turned the game. Leinart made a bad pass on a bad call on 2nd and 7 just before they turn it over on downs. If they run there and again on 3rd down the clock has about 1:15 and they punt it. Even if they kick it in the EZ Texas has about 1:10 to go 80 yards instead of 2:05 to go 60. Huge mistakes by USC.

That was probably one of the best games I've ever seen. I'm still scratching my head over Bush's decision to lateral the ball on that play in the first half when they would have clearly punched it into the end zone on the next play or 2. That turned out to be a huge factor.

Then again, Vince Young kept USC's defense on their heels all night. He's an amazing athlete, one of the best ever, but when he opened his mouth to talk after tonight's game, that was pretty sad.

[whitetrashgriz]

Just got done watching Texas get every call and break in the book to walk off with the big one. Texas is good, but they got let off the hook by the refs and stupid USC plays. USC will be back. All their receivers, LenDale White, two good QBs (Booty and Sanchez), better defense.

But the non-review on Young's pitch that went for a TD and Bush's bonehead lateral really turned the game. Leinart made a bad pass on a bad call on 2nd and 7 just before they turn it over on downs. If they run there and again on 3rd down the clock has about 1:15 and they punt it. Even if they kick it in the EZ Texas has about 1:10 to go 80 yards instead of 2:05 to go 60. Huge mistakes by USC.

maybe, but one could argue that texas reciever had control over that pass and fumbled, and usc recovered that was ruled incomplete. from a guy who didn't give a crap who won this game, i thought it was a catch. and when usc went for it on fourth down at the end of the game, the spot was horrible. i am actually watching it right now, and if you ask me, first down usc....game over. there were some questionable calls on both sides in my opinion!

[grizzh8r]

Just got done watching Texas get every call and break in the book to walk off with the big one. Texas is good, but they got let off the hook by the refs and stupid USC plays.

Oh come on man. Lienart was intercepted twice in that game, but the scorecard only shows one. The int. by Texas that was ruled incomplete (the ground can't cause a fumble...) and not reviewed was the makeup call for the unreviewed TD pitch. Really, the only stupid USC play was the lateral by Reggie Bush. You can't blame Lienart for those passes, his job is to run the play the coaches send in. The Texas D made him hurry the throw.

The call to go for it on 4th down was the right call IMHO. USC makes that and most likely they are celebrating right now. Oh well, at least the game wasn't a stinker like last year's (or the year before that).

Edit: I think Texas would have gone in for the TD anyway had VY's knee been called down, so it's all academic (USC had no answer for Vince Young).

[GOKATS]

I had USC by 6, so I was obviously wrong. A few questionable calls by USC (what the hell was Bush thinking?), but have to admire the efforts of Vince Young.

[theblackgecko]

I'll say this: It's a shame that the first BCS game with replay managed to create controversy. SC fans will believe that their team should join the 2002 Miami Hurricanes in the case of mythical trophies.

[DriftCat]

I agree that Texas would have scored even if they had overturned that TD where Vince's knee was down. Overall, I was very dissapointed in the review process, they wouldn't review when it was obvious they should, then they review a play where the Texas reciever was obviously down when he was stripped of the ball. Whats even worse is that the officials WOULD NOT MAKE A CALL. They sat there after every (routine) play and looked at each other. Friggin ridiculous. One other question, when you are trying to put a game away, why do you have Reggie on the sideline? I am glad he was but you have to have your biggest playmaker on the field in a game of that magnitude.

[CatGrad00]

The incomplete pass by USC on third and six kept the clock from running......Linhert's comment that gave Texas no credit for the win after the game was bogus........I still think we are the better team......no you are not!

[CARDIAC_CATS]

I was baffled by the TO by the USC D on the PAT as well. That really killed their chances on the last drive.

Did Young just elevate himself to the number 1 pick (and trade down, in the case of Houston)? He was amazing. He'd be foolish to not go pro this very second -- he will never command a higher price than he can right now, and there is really no reason for him to stick around (he can get a degree during summer school if he needs that touchy feely degree to go along with his millions of dollars).

MVP of that game ==> TEXAS OL. Young didn't even get touched that game. Put him on a bad NFL team with a bad OL and he will be average at best in my opinion.

[iaafan]

I agree that Texas would have scored even if they had overturned that TD where Vince's knee was down. Overall, I was very dissapointed in the review process, they wouldn't review when it was obvious they should, then they review a play where the Texas reciever was obviously down when he was stripped of the ball. Whats even worse is that the officials WOULD NOT MAKE A CALL. They sat there after every (routine) play and looked at each other. Friggin ridiculous. One other question, when you are trying to put a game away, why do you have Reggie on the sideline? I am glad he was but you have to have your biggest playmaker on the field in a game of that magnitude.

Actually we'll never know what would've happened had that call been overturned. That's what is so frustrating about the whole ordeal. You don't know if they fumble on the next play, interception, end up kicking a FG, missing a FG, scoring on the next play or three plays later, or turning it over on downs, or getting hit with a penalty. I always get the feeling the game is put on a different tangent after that. It's as if someone has altered the future. [/b][/u]

[DriftCat]

I agree that Texas would have scored even if they had overturned that TD where Vince's knee was down. Overall, I was very dissapointed in the review process, they wouldn't review when it was obvious they should, then they review a play where the Texas reciever was obviously down when he was stripped of the ball. Whats even worse is that the officials WOULD NOT MAKE A CALL. They sat there after every (routine) play and looked at each other. Friggin ridiculous. One other question, when you are trying to put a game away, why do you have Reggie on the sideline? I am glad he was but you have to have your biggest playmaker on the field in a game of that magnitude.

Actually we'll never know what would've happened had that call been overturned. That's what is so frustrating about the whole ordeal. You don't know if they fumble on the next play, interception, end up kicking a FG, missing a FG, scoring on the next play or three plays later, or turning it over on downs, or getting hit with a penalty. I always get the feeling the game is put on a different tangent after that. It's as if someone has altered the future. [/b][/u]

You are right, we will never know. I am judging this solely on how Texas was moving the ball. You dont know if Texas would have fumbled on the next play or if Vince would have ran the ball in on the next play. There are many calls during any game that could change the outcome, but if USC fans say that they were hosed out of a NC they are wrong. They had plenty of chances to win and did not do so.

[Bleedinbluengold]

My broad-stroke belief is that the bad plays by both teams, more or less, balanced out, and the referee review process also balanced out over the course of the whole game.

Here are my keys to the game:
1. Bush lateral - brain freeze. Probably the only serious mistake he's made in a FB game ever.

2. Un-reviewed TD where Young lateralled. It was the wrong call. Period. That's why we have booth reviews. We'll never know if it actually changed the game, but if we have reviews to get plays correct, then we might as well make Texas run another play if they are down by contact. [The un-reviewed interception by Texas, would not have been overturned by the booth, imo. Ya, the ground can't cause a fumble, but the way I understand the rule, you have to have, and MAINTAIN, control of the ball during the catch. Obviously, the DB didn't maintain control on that play].

3. USC defense inability to stop Texas. We all know SC couldn't stop Young, but let's be serious, they couldn't stop anyone on the Texas offense last night.

4. Texas defense wasn't very effective against USC either, BUT, they forced an incomplete pass on 2nd and 7 on the second to last SC possession, and they stopped SC on 4th on 1 1/2. They also made a key (game changing) interception in the first half to stop USC from (most likely) scoring a TD.

Summary: USC did what USC always does. Texas made more game changing plays. [I also thought Leinart panicked a bit on the last play. I also thought USC coaching staff panicked at times last night, because Texas had them in situations that USC were not used to being in. The T.O. by USC when Texas was going for 2, reminded me of this memorable moment: The Soviet hockey coach did not know to pull his goalie in the last seconds of the game they lost to Team USA in 1980. In the movie, Miracle, this was exemplified when Herb turns to Craig and said, "he doesn't know what to do!" I thought USC didn't know what to do more than once last night].

Wow - that was mouthful. You can wake up now!

[SonomaCat]

I was baffled by the TO by the USC D on the PAT as well. That really killed their chances on the last drive.

Did Young just elevate himself to the number 1 pick (and trade down, in the case of Houston)? He was amazing. He'd be foolish to not go pro this very second -- he will never command a higher price than he can right now, and there is really no reason for him to stick around (he can get a degree during summer school if he needs that touchy feely degree to go along with his millions of dollars).

MVP of that game ==> TEXAS OL. Young didn't even get touched that game. Put him on a bad NFL team with a bad OL and he will be average at best in my opinion.

Isn't that true with any QB, though? Look at Alex Smith (probably will eventually be a good QB) with the 49ers. He looked awful this year, because he was running for his life. At least Young has the ability to compensate for a less than stellar offensive line with his legs.

And I do disagree ... I think he is truly something special, and he will only get better. He will be a franchise changing player in the NFL. (Now we have to wait for 4 years to see who was more correct in their NFL talent scouting abilities ).

[Bleedinbluengold]

What I would like to keep track of: How many NFL Hall-of-Famers played in that game last night?

[coachouert]

With the reviews last night, did anyone else catch Keith Jackson and Fouts talking about how they were having difficulties with the equipment in the first half and that's why there weren't reviewing or was I mishearing something?

Either way with the way that the review was used this year, I would rather just not deal with it. It seems in all games, whether BCS or not, the review booth has been doing a pretty piss poor job of either not reviewing or reviewing when unnceccessary like last night where they stop the clock and play to see if the texas receiver who was laying on the ground had actually fumbled. I was really disappointed with the way that most of the games were officiated, especially the Nebraska/Michigan debacle. I'm not trying to say the officials lost last night's game in any way, but they definately dropped the ball on a lot of calls both ways.

Either way it was a great game which is all most can ask for....maybe and a USC victory, but that's neither here nor there. If i see one more person doing the hook em horns crap, I'm going to flip out. Looks like retarded fingers Lord I apologize for making fun of the pigmies...

[Ponycat]

I was baffled by the TO by the USC D on the PAT as well. That really killed their chances on the last drive.

Did Young just elevate himself to the number 1 pick (and trade down, in the case of Houston)? He was amazing. He'd be foolish to not go pro this very second -- he will never command a higher price than he can right now, and there is really no reason for him to stick around (he can get a degree during summer school if he needs that touchy feely degree to go along with his millions of dollars).

MVP of that game ==> TEXAS OL. Young didn't even get touched that game. Put him on a bad NFL team with a bad OL and he will be average at best in my opinion.

Isn't that true with any QB, though? Look at Alex Smith (probably will eventually be a good QB) with the 49ers. He looked awful this year, because he was running for his life. At least Young has the ability to compensate for a less than stellar offensive line with his legs.

And I do disagree ... I think he is truly something special, and he will only get better. He will be a franchise changing player in the NFL. (Now we have to wait for 4 years to see who was more correct in their NFL talent scouting abilities ).

IMO, Young is going to be good but not great in the NFL unless he learns how to throw. As the sport guy on ESPN.com said. "he throws like he is trying to flick poop off his hand."

On another note. Is there anyone even close to Keith Jackson when it comes to calling a game. He is the best.

[Ponycat]

Great running diary of the game

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ons/060105

This guys bias on everything Boston is annoying but overall he is probably on of my favorite sports writers.

[SonomaCat]

My only complaint about Jackson last night (who is one of my favorites) is that he seemed to have a little bit of a Madden thing going last night. He didn't seem to be able to tell what was going on around the field, even though we could see it. In his defense, though, I think the press boxes in the Rose Bowl are about two zip codes away from the field, so that could explain a lot of the confusion they were having.

And with that, I vow to never use Keith's name in the same sentence as the blathering former MNF commentator ever again.

[bozbobcat]

He's still one of the best, even though he may have lost a step or two. I heard someone impersonate him on the radio before the game and it was really kind of like what he would say. And of course, every Texas fan will probably replay the line where he said "The Texas Longhorns are the champions of college football." I hate to use this name too, but Keith Jackson is always going to be better than Madden.