Above: USC’s Matt Barkley will be a key factor for the USC football team in the fall. The sophomore and his fellow Trojans begin spring practice today.

USC will take to the field for the first time in 2010 when it begins spring practice today.
But one question lingers: Can the mice run the asylum?
During the 2000s, no program in college football enjoyed success like USC, winning outright or sharing a Pac-10 title seven consecutive seasons, while also advancing to seven consecutive Bowl Championship Series bowls along with winning two mythical national titles.
That was under Pete Carroll, who has now taken his act back to the NFL to try and turnaround the Seattle Seahawks.
The optimism around Heritage Hall after Carroll left was that USC athletic director Mike Garrett, sans former offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who is at rival UCLA, was able to bring in the same coaching staff during the back-to-back championship reign, including Lane Kiffin as head coach and Ed Orgeron as one of his assistants.
But again I ask: Can the hens run the hen house without the top rooster?
We’re about to find out, and as far as Kiffin is concerned, the answer is a definite yes.

Continue reading “USC: Out with old, in with the new?” »

Above: Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, left, is back
at spring practice as Alabma began preparations to repeat as BCS champions.
(Staff Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz)/

Alabama, which won the Bowl Championship Series title game with a 37-21 victory over Texas in the BCS championship game at the Rose Bowl in January, is in the middle of its preparation to repeat, joining a handful of teams who began spring practice earlier this month.
The Crimson Tide, which lost several All-Americans on defense, include All-American’s Javier Arenas and Rolando McClain, are picked as many to repeat. Alabama, with Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram back at running back, and a much more confident Greg McElroy at quarterback, along with Julio Jones at receiver, the Tide is expected to much strong on the offensive side.
Continue reading “Tide looking to Roll again,” »

Above: Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has been sacked for the season after pleading guilty to burglary charges this week..

Oregon coach Chip Kelly, whose Ducks were expected to be favored to repeat at Pac-10 champs this coming season, laid down the law of two key players – quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and LaMichael James – who both plead guilty to misdemeanor charges in separate cases.
Masoli, the key figure to the Ducks’ high-powered offense last season,  plead guilty to a burglary charge, was suspended for the season. Kelly said he still has a redshirt year available. He will remain on scholarship.
James, who rushed for more than 1,500 yards in  his red-shirt freshman season, was suspended for the Ducks’ season opener against New Mexico on Sept. 4 in Eugene.
Here’s a story from Sports Illustrated.com about the suspensions and the disciplinary actions Kelly has issued since the Ducks lost to Ohio State 26-17 in the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1

Steve’s take: This was a move Kelly had to make, especially after reports were starting to surface that he was showing favoritism to key impact players. On the football side, the Ducks, who came into spring practice returning all they keg cogs from last season, now drop back into the mix of teams that includes USC, Cal and even Oregon State. USC should now be the favorite going into the season.

Oregon has fallen on it’s head since playing in the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1

Oregon was a team of destiny last season, surviving early-season controversy to win the Pac-10 and advance to its first Rose Bowl Game in 15 years.
The Ducks were the feel-good story, with first-year coach Chip Kelly the orchestrator for a high-powered offensive machine that include arguably one of the top quarterbacks in the country in Jeremiah Masoli and the running back tandem of LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner.
But suddenly the Ducks seemed jinx, at least it’s seemed that win since the off-season.
Four players have been arrested, with four players kicked off the team, and another suspended. James and Masoli are right in the middle of it.
James, the high-octane running back who made Oregon fans forget about LeGarrette Blount, was arrested recently after his girlfriend informed police that he grabbed her neck during an argument and threw her to the ground. He has pleaded not guilty to domestic violence charges.
Masoli’s troubles are more transparent. A report says he and receiver Garrett Embry stole two computers from a fraternity. But no charges have been filed and police have yet to make the report public. Embry has been released from the team for what Kelly said was a violation of a team rule.
But the rumors fly, the question is will the Ducks next.
Stay tuned.